A Conservation Area in the town was established on the 18 March 1981 as a result of a recommendation to Kettering Borough Council by the members of the Burton Latimer Town Council.  Mr Douglas Ashby, a member of the town council, provided information on the suggested area to be designated for conservation – mainly the Church Street area and its environments. The buildings to be included referred to the whole of Church Street and the following numbers in High Street:  27, 29, 32, 44, 93, 111, 149 and 172.  In addition it was suggested that The Laurels in Church Street, the Round House in Thrapston Road, 1 Meeting Lane, Fernbank in Church Lane, The Limes in Meeting Lane, 14 Meeting Lane, Hall Cottage in Kettering Road and the (then) Council Offices in High Street should be considered. 

CHURCH STREET

General Character

Church Street is the historic heart of the town and has a distinct character.  It is dominated by the spire of St Mary the Virgin’s Church and notable characteristics include stone buildings abutting the highway, the predominance of traditional local building materials and extensive greenery and open spaces to the rear of the properties.

A significant feature of this area is the amount of existing open space and agricultural land close to the original core.  Land to the rear of the Manor House and the Church together with the cemetery give a very attractive rural character to this area.

Some exceptions to these characteristic buildings include 13-23 Woodcock Street and 43-53 Meeting Lane all of which are groups of brick terraces relating to the Industrial Core rather than the typical Church Street properties.  As there were so few of these terraces in the area it confirms that the late 19^th and early 20^th century growth took place to the west of the High Street.

The High Street  retains a number of buildings which positively contribute to the character of the area.  The High Street became a turnpike road in the 18^th century and formed part of the London to Carlisle Road. It later became the A6 trunk road.  There is a mix of building styles and no single dominant architectural style. 

The location of Burton Latimer along an important communication link has shaped both the town and the High Street.  In the past, the road was much narrower and the building line would mostly have followed the edge of the highway.  Progress has changed this but in comparison to many modern High Streets, the tight urban form is still in evidence.

The High Street has experienced the most change of all three character areas.  Highway improvements during the 20^th century led to the widening of the main road through the town.  Certain buildings were removed in order to facilitate this, eg ‘Rock Terrace’ which dated from 1881.  This terrace stood on the corner of what is now Pioneer Avenue and the High Street and these houses were some of the first properties in Burton Latimer to be built of brick as opposed to stone. The changing face of the High Street illustrates the combination of traditional and modern development.  Any proposed development needs to take account of local historic traditions and incorporate suitably high quality materials, learning lessons from the past.

The Industrial Core  This area has been included in view of the historical significance in the town’s development.  It is defined as the area to the west of the High Street and along Station Road.  Residential properties in this area are typical red-brick Victorian terraces.  Factories manufacturing boots, shoes and clothing were situated between these houses.  Some of these factories have now been converted to residential use.

The supply of locally available labour for the factories influenced the need for workers’ houses to be interspersed in close proximity to the factories.  With the arrival of the railway and the rapid growth of the shoe and clothing industries the town expanded in this manner with a formal, grid-like street pattern eg Duke Street, Alexandra Street, Spencer Street and Finedon Street.  These houses were built on narrow plots with long, linear rear gardens.

In the Industrial Core west of the High Street, the buildings are in a good state of repair, but unfortunately the traditional details have been lost on many properties eg the wooden frames and doors and slate roofs.  Some additions detract from the traditional rhythm of the terraces.  Parking problems are evident in this area due to the terraced streets.

Church Street

There are two distinct special areas here.  The historic agricultural layout and spaces are characterised by relatively dense development abutting the highway.  The gaps between the properties are sometimes no more than the width of a farm gate.  The area to the east of St Mary’s Church shows this characteristic. The more recent infill developments tend to be standalone dwellings set back in large, regular plots.

High Street

Approaching the High Street there is a greater density of building.  There are fewer gaps between buildings and fewer trees in the High Street than in and aroundChurch Street.  Because this area is affected by the commercial and transport requirements, the character has been affected more by development pressures.  Stone buildings are no longer apparent nor are those abutting the highway.  There is less evidence of open spaces and the surrounding countryside is lost.  Although road widening schemes have seen the removal of buildings fronting the High Street, the narrow carriageway is retained with a continuous street frontage at the northern end.

Industrial Core

The majority of the development throughout the 19^th and early 20^th centuries took place to the west of the High Street due to the rapidly expanding shoe and clothing industries.  The factories were built on vacant plots resulting in Victorian terraces and tightly-packed grid-patterned streets appearing to support the workforce.  The properties in these streets, eg Alexandra Street, Duke Street and Finedon Street, were constructed of red brick giving a uniform appearance.

Church Street

This street is the only area of the town where the agricultural character remains predominant although some of the current residential buildings were previously used as agricultural buildings.  The existing residential properties were traditionally used as farmhouses with farm workers' dwellings with agricultural land at the rear. 

The houses in Church View to the north of Church Street have been constructed on the site of the old Rectory and although mature trees have been retained, the traditional vernacular of the surrounding area is not apparent, and therefore, it is not included in the Conservation Area.

The area to the south contains St Mary’s Church, the graveyard and the town cemetery.  The rural, leafy character of the area is enhanced by the more mature trees located there.

High Street

As seen on the 1803 Enclosure Map a clear linear form of building developed along this former stage-coach route. Some of the buildings shown were still farmhouses but the dense layout of these buildings suggests that they were used for retail purposes.  The Red Cow Inn 35-37 High Street was a coaching inn, later converted in 1956 to two separate retail units and now demolished for modern development. 

The development of the High Street and the existence of the coaching inns evolved due to the existence of the Kettering to Higham Ferrers turnpike road.  This route also formed part of the London to Carlisle road (A6) which has helped to define the appearance of the area.  Although buildings have been demolished for road widening, the character is retained. There are several car dealerships fronting the High Street taking advantage of passing trade.

Industrial Core

In view of the rapid growth of both the boot and shoe and clothing industries in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the industrial core is included in the Conservation Area.  Workers' houses were constructed close to the factories following the Victorian street pattern.  These narrow streets with their red-brick terraced houses remain although many factories have since been demolished.  Some factories still exist and have been converted to residential use and the original sites of those demolished are still evident.

Church Street

The predominant views are those towards the spire of St Mary’s Church.  The spire is visible from most of the Conservation Area and is indicative of the heart of Burton Latimer.  The area along Church Street eastwards from the war memorial and westwards from the junction of Cranford Road and Wold Road offer the best views of the church spire.  Any location within the cemetery looking towards the spire gives an attractive view.

High Street

There are key vistas along the High Street, an important one being that looking from and towards the War Memorial.  Views from Kettering Road eastwards extend to open space showing the relationship of the town to the countryside.

Industrial Core

Although not looking towards open countryside, the traditional buildings in these streets delineate and frame the vistas of the area.  (See map p 28)

Trees make an important contribution to the character of historic Burton Latimer.  There are significant mature trees surrounding the Church, the Manor House and in the gaps between houses in Church Street.  An impressive beech tree is situated in front of 90 High Street.  There are numerous mature trees in the cemetery and impressive views out towards open countryside. The open areas between houses and other smaller incidental spaces such as highway verges are valuable resources and should be protected from inappropriate development.

There are two distinct groups of traditional materials used within the Conservation Area.  Those properties in and around Church Street typically have ironstone, limestone or coursed rubble stone walls and thatched roofs although many of these have been replaced with modern roofing materials.  The Industrial Core area differs in that red bricks and roofs of Welsh slate are used.  The properties in both areas traditionally had wooden window frames but in some instances in the industrial core, modern materials replace the traditional.  The High Street has no single identity as both groups of materials can be seen along with more modern materials.

Many of the buildings within the Conservation Area are fairly modest and do not tend to have ornate features.  The materials within the construction identify the properties' local character together with the simple elegance of their design.  Several buildings around Church Street have date stones and in the Industrial Core the date stones have been placed in between small rows of terraces, showing their year of construction and the name of the group of terraces. 

Stone boundary walls are a characteristic of the town.  There are stone boundary walls along Church Street and the High Street and it is typical in Burton Latimer for these walls to have been constructed at the edge of a highway.  There is a mix of low stone walls (one metre high) and high stone walls (approximately two metres high).  The quality of the material used adds to the character of the area.

Groups of terraced properties in Duke Street, Alexandra Street and Spencer Street have detailing specific to each group, such as a decorative string course (eg 6, 8 and 10 Alexandra Street) and original bay windows such as the pavilion style lead-roofed bays at 11 and 13 Alexandra Street.  There are examples of traditional street signs at Duke Street and Alexandra Street and name stones can be found identifying the row of terraces and giving the date when constructed.

9 Alexandra Street

9 Alexandra StreetThis site consists of a two storey detached house and a three storey former factory building to the rear, served by a narrow yard along the south side of the plot.  This building was constructed in 1896 as a shoe factory. The house was presumably the home of the proprietor as it is more ornate than its neighbours.  The factory, a three storey red-brick building, retained the original window openings with windows suitable for this property. It was vacated in about 2000 and is now a private residence.

44-48 Alexandra Street

On the west side of Alexandra Street stands a modest two storey building at the rear of a small house.  It was built as a clothing factory but subsequently became a shoe factory and dates back to approximately 1892.

10 Church Street

This building is St Mary’s Old School House, a stone built Victorian school now converted into a residential dwelling.  The majority of these schools were built of brick, whereas this particular school follows the same Victorian design principles but is built from materials more typical of Burton Latimer.  The direct street frontage appears quite modest, retaining its original window openings with modern timber windows along the ground floor and first floor modern dormers directly above.  The bulk of the building is to the rear and is only visible, although prominent given its scale and elevated position, when viewed from the west.

Manor House, l Church Street(Grade II listed)

Manor House

The Manor House is set back from Church Street with trees partially screening the views of the property.  The tall two storey house is dated 1704 and has been enlarged and altered during the 20^th century.  It is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with ironstone decoration.  It has a steeply-pitched thatched roof with coped gables and two stone chimney stacks that sit on the ridge.  The central projecting wing was added in the 1920s.  Most of the windows have wooden lintels and one first floor window retains leaded panes.  The mature trees, visible from Church Street, make a more significant contribution to the Conservation Area than the property itself.

Manor Lodge, 12 Church Street

This is a turn of the 20^th century lodge to the Manor House and possibly replaces an earlier building.  It appears to be influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement of the same period with its rendered first floor, barge boards and string course detail.

Church of St Mary the Virgin (Grade I listed)

The parish church is of 12^th century Norman origin.  Alterations, improvements and restorations have taken place over the years.  In the 13^th century it was enlarged and a tower was added.  In the 15^th century a porch was added and the tower and spire were rebuilt.  The church is another coursed limestone rubble building but it is obviously strikingly different to the residential properties in the vicinity and far more impressive when viewed from every direction.  The church, together with the Manor House, forms the heart of the Church Street character area.  The limestone walls have some decorative ironstone banding.  There is a steeply-pitched 19^th century graduated stone slate roof to the chancel, but the other roofs are concealed by parapets and are not visible.  The spire is the most prominent feature within the Conservation Area and is visible from the countryside around.  It was a way finder to indicate the position of the Church within the wider landscape as well as being an easily recognisable symbol identifying the use of the building.  The low churchyard stone wall is an important feature in this location enclosing the graveyard and the Church.

Fernbank

Fernbank, Church Street

This is a substantial family house of character and was originally a three-storey 17^th century farmhouse.  It is situated in Church Lane to the east of St Mary’s Church.  Extensive alterations took place in the late 19^th century and a front entrance with crenellations was added more recently.  The grounds extend to about 2 acres and are a particular feature of this property.  The main contribution made to the surrounding area is a one metre high stone wall that forms part of the boundary leading towards the cemetery.



16 Church Street (Grade II listed)

This late 17^th or early 18^th century two-storey house was built of a combination of coursed limestone and ironstone.  It has a 20^th century tiled roof that replaced the original thatch.  Each gable end has a brick chimney.  The eaves line has been raised and each gable end has the original parapet with coping stones supported by shaped kneelers (shaped stone blocks).  This has been overlaid by the current roof.  The ground floor shop window is now blocked off and the entrance is on the right gable end, rather than the street.  There is a smaller addition to the left-hand gable.  The property abuts the highway and there is a stone boundary wall on two sides of the property.

24 Church Street (Grade II listed)

24 Church Street

This early 18^th century dwelling was constructed of coursed squared limestone with ironstone dressings to front and coursed limestone rubble to rear.  It has a steeply-pitched slate roof that was originally thatched, with two brick chimneys.  It is a two storey building with an attic and the gable end facing the street.  This property has raised quoins and decorative ironstone banding, ironstone window surrounds with over-sized keystone detail.  Although there is a shaped stone panel in the gable – possibly a date stone – the date is now illegible. The ground floor has four casement windows with keystones above whereas the first floor has two windows.  There is an early 20^th century dormer in the rear slope of the roof and a small modern yellow brick addition to the right of the property

26 Church Street (Grade II listed)

This is an 18^th century two-storey cottage constructed of coursed limestone and ironstone rubble with a 20^th century interlocking tile roof.  All openings are supported by timber lintels.  It is located to the rear of No.24 .

30 Church Street (Grade II listed)

This is an early 18^th century house with attached outbuilding built of coursed limestone rubble with ironstone details.  The Welsh slate roof (with heightened eaves) would have originally been thatched.  It is a typical Northamptonshire two-storey building, which is long and low with quoins and first floor banding. It has moulded brick eaves, coped gables and shaped kneelers.  The chimneys are stone and are probably not original.  The door and its position is a 20^th century alteration – the original blocked doorway is to the right. As with house No.26, all the openings have timber lintels.  The outbuilding to the right is now a garage and it is earlier in origin than the house featuring a date stone with the inscription BH/1729.

Olde Victoria Public House

This public house was formerly known as the Horse and Groom.  It is of limestone construction with ironstone detail.  There are two bay windows on the ground floor and the first floor windows appear historic.  It has a small single storey extension to the east and there is a beer garden to the rear. The building represents one of the last remaining structures along Bakehouse Lane that is true to the original street pattern. 

45 Church Street

45 Church Street

This property has been a post office, butchery and shop at various times throughout history.  It has an elevated position within the street scene. There is still a post box at the front of the property which is encased in the attractive stone wall. This boundary wall still retains the traditional stone steps that lead up to the entrance.  The property is constructed with limestone on the ground floor and ironstone on the first floor.  It now has a 20^th century roof and windows following alterations.

51 Church Street (Grade II listed)

This former school building, known as the "Jacobean House", is one of the few remaining examples of a thatched roof property in the town although it was originally of tiles.  It is said to be one of the oldest buildings in Burton Latimer.  The most notable feature is a shaped ashlar gable with finials and inscription above the front door.  The building was converted to a house in 1972 following its use as a school in various guises.  It was constructed in 1622 and underwent numerous alterations in the 19^th century.  Its position, set back from the highway, is caused by the camber at this part of Church Street.

60 Church Street (Grade II listed)

The Laurels

This property is known as ‘The Laurels’ and was originally a farmhouse.  It was remodelled in the early 19^th century.  The construction is of coursed limestone rubble with ironstone decoration.  The thatched roof has been replaced with concrete tiles.  There are three chimneys one of stone, which may be original, and the other two of brick, probably from the 19^th century.  It is a three storey, high status building with an eaves dormer and adjacent gable.

61 Church Street (Grade II listed)

This house is dated 1859 and is constructed from limestone rubble with ashlar dressings and a slate roof.  It is a one and a half storey building.  The 19^th century detail of the eaves dormers is of particular note.  It is part of a particularly important group of buildings together with the “Jacobean House”.

63 and 65 Church Street (65 is Grade II listed)

No 63 appears to be a 19^th century cottage and is of limestone construction with ironstone banding but does not reflect the traditional vernacular of the town.  It has a steep roof with bargeboards and eaves dormer, echoing number 61. No 65 is a 17^th century cottage that has been altered.  It is built of limestone rubble with ironstone quoins and some rough ironstone banding.  The roof was probably changed from thatch to Welsh slate in the 19^th century.  It is likely that, at this time, the eaves were raised and the building became two storey, rather than one and a half storeys.

67-71 Church Street

This is a group of three stone cottages but unfortunately some of the historic detailing has been removed eg the replacement of the original windows and doors with modern uPVC versions.  The three properties are double-fronted which sets them apart from the other terraces, which are the more traditional two-up two-down.

73 Church Street (Grade II listed)

73 Church Street

Named Beech House, this property is either a late 18^th or early 19^th century dwelling.  It is constructed of ironstone with some limestone decoration to the door surround.  It has a large gable to the east which abuts the highway.  The principal range is set back from the highway behind a set of iron railings, indicating that this was once a building of higher status.  The windows are traditional eight-pane timber sash windows.

79 Church Street (Grade II listed)

This was an 18^th century two storey house but a third storey was added in the 19^th century together with the fitting of new windows.  The building is constructed from coursed limestone rubble (with ironstone banding to the original two storeys) and a slate roof.  All six casement windows on the principle elevation are beneath timber lintels.

Burton Latimer Methodist Church, Duke Street

A particular feature of the building is that it still retains the original crittal windows.  It is a typical single-roomed Methodist chapel constructed in red brick with a slate roof in 1899.  It appears to be contemporary with the surrounding terraces and was built to serve the new influx of workers required by the shoe and clothing industries.

31 Duke Street

This is Westfield House and dates back to 1899.  It is a higher status building than the surrounding terraced properties and has retained its original wooden sash windows.  The external decoration of the property is derived from the use of permanent polychromy by way of ironstone banding within the limestone construction and the use of ironstone in the quoin detail.

Front view of former police station

17 and 19 Finedon Road

This is a police station in the centre with two residential properties either side.  It is a typical early 20^th century municipal building.  The lower central gable was the police station and is flanked by two two-storey gables which were the police houses.  All windows and doors have been replaced and the original door to the police station has also been replaced by a window.





14-24 Finedon Road)

These properties are known as ‘Caroline Terrace’ and were constructed in the 1800’s.  This terrace is a row of stone cottages on the west side between the corners ofFinedon Street and Rosebery Street.  As they are made of stone they differ from the more typical red brick associated with this period of development.  Inappropriate replacement modern windows have led to the uniform character being lost.

26 High Street

Last used as a Chinese restaurant, this building is thought to have been used as a factory for Wards Clothing Company.  It is one of the few former factories constructed of stone and not of red brick.  The left-hand side of the building has three ornate arches and, although not easily visible from the High Street, they are definitely a feature of the building.

27 High Street

27 High Street

Although not built of ironstone, Osborne House was named after an ironstone contractor in the town.  It still retains the original windows and Welsh slate roof.  It forms the left-hand side of the gateway to Church Street.  The building has three very distinct parts and appears to have been separate dwellings in the past.  The striking bay windows are a 20th century addition.

Rosebank, 29 High Street

This a long, detached stone house to the north of 31-33 High Street.  It is a limestone building with 20^th century additions eg modern roof tile, chimney and windows.  There is a keystone details on the ground floor lintels.  The property is unusual as it is set back from the building line and does not abut the highway.

The rear of 29 High Street

This is a two-storey L-plan factory attached to the rear of number 29 and was built before 1884.  It is currently vacant.  David James built the factory on the High Street for the manufacture of clothing circa 1874 and it was later used by Wallis & Linnell for the same purpose c1885 to c1930.  The building is of red brick but there are stone panels remaining on the ground floor, suggesting that there may have been an earlier building on the site.  It retains its first floor projecting external access.

32 High Street

32 High Street (Grade II listed)

Named "Dolittle", this house was constructed in the mid 18^th century and is particularly striking due to its orientation and surviving thatched roof.  It has walls constructed of coursed limestone rubble with ironstone banding.  The ironstone detail, including quoins and window surrounds, is of particular merit.

31-33 High Street

Now known as the Kushboo Restaurant, this is one of the more notable and high status buildings on the High Street.  It was built for David James in about 1899 and became known as Pagoda House.  It was actually two shops with the doors in the centre and living accommodation at the rear.  This Victorian property is Jacobean influenced with a tower and ornamental gable.  The red brick and three-storey construction is a visible landmark on the High Street.  The red brick extension to the rear has a particularly fine brick door case.

44 High Street

44 High Street (Grade II listed)

This dwelling was probably constructed in the late 18^th century but has had later alterations.  It is set well back from the highway indicating its higher status compared to the surrounding agricultural buildings.  A further indication of this is the coursed ironstone rubble construction with no use of limestone, except for the string course.  The ironstone lintels are a particularly attractive detail of this property.

90 High Street 93 High Street

90 High Street This building was once the residence of Frederick Walter Preston, an important figure in the town from the 1870’s until his death in 1913.  The external appearance is characterised by white painted stone walls to the principal elevation, with limestone and ironstone visible in the secondary elevations.  It was originally a modest cottage and was remodelled in the late 19^th century.  The modern sash windows are a valiant attempt to replicate the original timber sash windows. 

93 High Street

Known as Hilly Farmhouse, this building was probably erected in the early 18^th century but with later additions to the left and right.  It is constructed in coursed limestone rubble with ironstone bands and the Collyweston slate roof is of particular note.  The Farmhouse stands in its own grounds rather than abutting the highway.  The view from the street is constricted by a two metre high boundary wall (an important feature in this part of the Conservation Area.)

90a (etc) High Street

These two stone buildings are notable for the quality of the stone work and the way in which they reinforce the character of historic Burton Latimer.  The buildings are constructed of limestone with ironstone banding.  As there are few windows in the High Street elevation the building has a lower status than the surrounding buildings, its appearance probably more agricultural than many along the High Street.

94 High Street

Electric Palace entrance in the foreground with Barclays Bank in the centre

Barclays Bank was built in 1897 as a coffee house as an alternative meeting place to the working men’s clubs.  This building had accommodated a Liberal Club between 1905-15 and by 1918 it was known as the Palace Café. It became a branch of Barclays Bank in the 1920s.  Later from about 1959 to 1975 the premises were shared with the Post Office.  Since 2007 the whole building returned to Barclays.  It is a rare example of the Arts and Crafts influence in the town with its tile hanging and rendered ground floor.

96 High Street

These premises housed the Electric Palace cinema when built in c1914 by shoe manufacturers, Joseph Westley and Henry Whitney who, together with plumbing engineer A G Miller and others, formed a company. The cinema was bought by Alfred Watts in 1924.  Later it was owned by his family until it closed in the early 1960s.  The Electric Palace has since been unsuccessfully reopened twice.  The impressive entrance arch on the High Street remains although the original building is now accessed from the gardens on High Street.  It has now been converted into a restaurant with a modern front elevation but does not retain many of the original features.

St Mary’s School, High Street

This building dates from the turn of the 20^th century and consists of a double-gabled building with a link wing.  It is constructed from red brick and slate which gives it an architectural relationship with the industrial core. 

111 High Street (Grade II listed)

To this 18^th century farmhouse, a shop front was added in the 19^th century.  This is an important feature that details the commercial history and significance of this locality within the Conservation Area.  The external walls were constructed of limestone rubble with ironstone bands (street elevation painted).  The existing slate roof was built directly over a thatched roof, remnants of which can still be seen in the roof space.  It is planned to replace the uPVC insert windows with more sensitive timber casements.  The gable end has a date stone but this is no longer legible.

117 High Street

In 1903 a house and shop was erected on this site and became the post office for the next 50 years.  As well as the post office, it was a newsagents, stationers and lending library. This building illustrates a traditional shop front although it is not the original.  The most recent use of this property was as ‘Grandad’s Toys’ – a retail premises with a small workshop and store for handmade toys. The shop is now closed. The red brick construction of this property has an architectural relationship with the industrial core, highlighting the phased development of the High Street. 

149 High Street

An old stone house situated between the Band Club and Sainsbury’s bears the date stone ‘A.A.1833’.  It was built as the first Wesleyan Chapel in the town – A.A. being the initials for Abraham Ambler, one of the residents of Burton Latimer.  The building was converted into a residential dwelling and the dwindling congregation met elsewhere until it recovered and the present chapel was built in Duke Street in 1890.

159 High Street

159 High Street This building, originally constructed as a farmhouse towards the end of the 18^th century, became known as ‘The Cottage Home’.  These homes were used nationwide during the 19^th century to house poor children.  The principal elevation is dressed stone and has coursed ironstone gable elevations.  It is the northern double-gable elevation which is most prominent in the Conservation Area and is visible from a considerable distance when viewed from the north.  A fire escape was sited on the north side of the house and served the two upper floors.  Each floor had a balcony serving two windows and each balcony had a common spiral staircase to the ground. The four original Georgian sash windows were replaced with pairs of French window doors.  Some of the changes to the stonework and mismatching of lintels can still be seen. The heavy cast iron staircase was installed in April 1897.  As a private property since 1923, the fire escape remained in situ until 1950 when concerns about its maintenance and possible domestic burglary necessitated its removal.  The present small balconies on the north side now have railings with scroll-shaped cast-iron balusters originally on the staircase.

163-165 High Street

163-165 High Street 'The New Cottage Homes’ were constructed in 1900 as a semi-detached pair of houses replacing the old ‘Cottage Home’ at 159 High Street to the north of this site. The original brickwork and Rosemary roof tiles and all of the windows have been replaced with poor modern equivalents. Initially, only one of the ‘New Homes’ was used, probably No 163 being the nearest to the old building.  It was 1915 before an internal doorway was made to connect the two new houses.  The New Homes were for the girls whilst the boys occupied the Old Home.  In 1919, in view of the declining numbers of children, only the New Homes were continued in use and closed in 1921.

172 High Street

172 High Street (Grade II listed) Crofter’s Cottage is a modest early 18^th century dwelling.  Coursed limestone rubble walls featuring some ironstone banding to the left gable end can be seen when viewing the building from the High Street.  The eaves were raised in order to accommodate a 20^th century interlocking concrete tile roof replacing the original thatch.  It is a two-storey property where the addition of modern uPVC doors and windows has eroded the character.  The small addition to the right presents a blank wall to the street which is a characteristic of this Conservation Area. 

178 High Street: The Britannia Club

The Britannia Club

The stone over the entrance reads: “established 1894”.  This building was opened in 1899 and since then its front has been extended forward to provide more space.  To the right of the property once stood the Salvation Army building which was demolished to allow the Britannia Club to expand.  Historic photographs of the building show that the original gable end facing the High Street was once particularly impressive.  The modern extensions detract from the quality of what was once a great building.

2 Kettering Road

2 Kettering Road This property used to be a shop.  It is now referred to as Bakehouse Cottage and is built in Northamptonshire stone.  It holds a prominent position at the entrance to Bakehouse Lane.

6 Kettering Road

This property next door to 2 Kettering Road is probably the best example of a stone building that until recently retained its original wooden shop front.  It is a good example of just how important the historic turnpike has been in the development of both the High Street and Burton Latimer.

17 Kettering Road

This property is referred to as ‘Spring Gardens Barn’ and includes an impressive stone archway that is very prominent and important to the character of this part of Kettering Road.  In addition, there is a stone barn with ironstone banding and a significant gable facing the highway.

24 Kettering Road – The Wagon and Horses

24 Kettering Road, The Wagon and Horses 73 Kettering Road The Yews

This building was one of the coaching inns so crucial in the town’s development.  It has London Stock brick window detailing, ironstone banding, original wooden windows and has probably been shortened at some time.  Since 2010 it has become a private home.

73 Kettering Road (Grade II listed) – The Yews

A mid 18^th century property, now a residential home, constructed from coursed rubble with ironstone bands and a slate roof.  The double gable, one of which is rendered, fronts Kettering Road, with the principle elevation only visible in glimpses when approached from the south.  It is probable that the 20^th century windows have replaced the original casement windows.  The gateway to the property is an important feature in the street scene and is also an indicator of the status of this property.

75 Kettering Road

75 Kettering Road (Grade II listed) This farmhouse has a gable end facing the street, as the previous property at number 73.  It was constructed in the 17^th century as two separate buildings, linked and altered in the late 18^th century.  It is built of the locally characteristic limestone, with ironstone detailing, a slate roof and coped gables.  The first floor windows have wooden lintels and the rest are ironstone.  A fine stable block lies opposite to the house.

1 Meeting Lane, The Thatchers

1 Meeting Lane – The Thatchers

This property was originally built in the 1800’s as The Thatcher’s Arms but has been a private residence since 1957.  Originally there was an adjoining building on to Church Street being the home and smithy of the blacksmith but has since been demolished. The existing building is constructed of coursed limestone with dressed limestone quoins and window surrounds.  A porch has been removed from the principal entrance, which now allows the building’s proportions to be appreciated.  It forms a gateway into Church Street with Osborne House on the opposite corner.  The six-pane sash windows are probably not original but they are appropriate to such a visually important property.  The original street plaque is attached to the building’s principal elevation.

Baptist Chapel

BaptistChurch,Meeting Lane(Grade II listed)

This building was constructed in 1744 and has a Collyweston stone slate roof.  The gable end to the street is characteristic of this building type, but also reflects the character found along Church Street.  The building is visually striking as it is constructed from ironstone, rather than it being used purely for decorative purposes.  There are two inbuilt boot scrapers to the front of the building which are an interesting feature.  The adjacent meeting room is also of note, including its large timber windows.  Together with 23 Meeting Lane, this Baptist Church forms an important group.

14 Meeting Lane Nutcracker Cottage

14 Meeting Lane (Grade II listed) – Nutcracker Cottage

This property dates from the 17^th century.  It is constructed from semi-coursed rubble stone which is now painted.  The 20^th century concrete interlocking tile roof has replaced the original thatch.  It has two low storeys and retains its historic board door and three-light window in the stone and brick lean-to addition to the left.  It also retains the canted bay window with small-paned casement openings and small single-light window with wooden lintel above.  To the right of the ground floor is a three-light casement window with wooden lintel.







23 Meeting Lane

This is a painted brick building pre-dating 1893.  It is an interesting end-terrace, as the gable end has become the principal elevation.  Architecturally it appears to be associated with the adjacent Baptist Church and meeting rooms.  There is an illegible plaque on the front gable which has been painted over.  The original windows are retained.

The Workshop, Meeting Lane

Because of its location behind a modern brick building and its position adjacent to a mid-20^th century industrial unit, this building is easily overlooked.  It is of stone construction and the north-west stone elevation is the more prominent when viewed from the Conservation Area.  The two-storey south-east elevation, with its rendered stone and original windows, should not be dismissed.  It appears to have single-storey storage units added to this elevation but the original form of the building is retained behind the addition.

GENERAL CONDITION OF THE CONSERVATION AREA

Church Street

Church Street and its surroundings are in good condition. Most propereties have been well maintained and only a handful of a few buildings have been altered by using modern materials or unsympathetic extensions. Recent development in this area has, more or less, tended to be designed in keeping with the character of the area, thus not detracting from the overall quality. Modern uPVC windows have replaced some traditional wooden windows and thatched roofs now have tiled or slate replacements.

High Street

This area has experienced the most change of all three character areas. During the 20th century, highway improvements led to the widening of the main road. Certain buildings were removed in order to facilitate this. Rock Terrace, dating from 1881, contained some of the first properties to be built of brick rather than stone and was removed from the corner of Pioneer Avenue and High Street at this road development time.

The changing face of the High Street shows both the traditional and modern developments eg Sainsbury's supermarket and the library. There is a variety of retail activities from individual businesses to national retailers. The area appears viibrant and active with local restaurants, cafes, takeaways and pubs.

Industrial Core

West of the High Street, this area has buildings in a good state of repair but traditional wooden window frames and doors and slate roofs have been replaced.

THE DESIGN OF NEW DEVELOPMENT

All new development should in future achieve a satisfactory relationship with its surroundiings, demonstrating a regard for the character of the immediate street scene and the wider conservation area. New development should enhance the character of the Conservation Area as a whole.

NOTE: All maps reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping.

Material taken from the Kettering Borough Council Appraisal booklet for Burton Latimer Conservation Area. In some instances factual errors have been corrected to ensure accuracy.