Medieval West Yorkshire village set to be designated conservation area
Plans have been put forward by Wakefield Council to award Felkirk the protected status to help preserve the area.
An historic Wakefield village which dates back to the medieval period looks set to become a conservation area.
Plans have been put forward by Wakefield Council to award Felkirk the protected status to help preserve the character of the area.
All councils are required to designate conservation areas of special architectural or historic interest.
There are currently 29 across the district but the local authority has proposed the creation of two more, in Felkirk and Castleford town centre.
The village, close to the Wakefield-Barnsley border, is home to a number of historic buildings, including the Grade I-listed St Peter’s Church, and a scheduled ancient monument.
St Peter’s is believed to be the first stone church to have been commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Harrying of the North, around 1070.
An assessment document outlining proposals for the creation of the Felkirk and Hodroyd Conservation Area said: “The area surrounding the medieval parish church of St. Peter’s forms an attractive rural landscape and includes listed buildings and the sites of scheduled monuments.
“This area has gradually evolved over time, being shaped by agricultural use, industrial processes and associated transport systems.
“It is important that the historic interest and distinctive character of the area is conserved for future generations.”
Conservation areas are designed to preserve the whole character of an area, not just individual buildings.
They feature a number of planning controls, including more stringent guidelines on development and the demolition of buildings, as well as special provisions for the protection of trees.
The document added: “The rural location of Felkirk has been of prime importance to the economic history and development of the parish.
“The designated green-belt land surrounding the hamlet and mature woodland contribute greatly to its character, landscape and the setting of the built environment.
“Set in a peaceful rural location, with little noise or disturbance from vehicular traffic, the settlement enjoys open views of a gently undulating agricultural landscape interspersed by mature trees and ancient woodland.”
The earliest reference to Felkirk is as “Fjolkirche” in the Domesday Book.
The Anglo Danish word means “the church of wood or planks” which would have been erected shortly after the local community accepted the Christian faith around the 9th century.
The report said: “Felkirk is one of the few parishes in the country named after the first church on the site rather than the local village.
“The ancient parish served six villages, which accounts for the church’s location in open countryside.
“The church of St Peter was originally built in the 10th century and has been repeatedly altered and added to, indicating some degree of wealth in the settlement.
“The church tower has a landscape presence.
“This is important in relation to the fact that the church was the central worship point for the surrounding villages of the Felkirk parish.”
Members of the public have until November 27 to comment on the proposals, which also include extending the conservation area boundaries in Horbury and Ossett.
Matthew Morley, the council’s cabinet member for planning and highways, said: “These areas – along with the new ones being suggested – really matter and it’s vital we protect them.
“Some hold important historic significance but this isn’t just about the past.
“It’s about the future too – making sure generations to come can enjoy the benefits that conservation brings.
“We know how much residents value the green spaces and conservation areas that make our district special.”