©Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
| Landscape Character Assessment | HertsDirect | Environment | |||
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©Crown
Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
This area is located between the valleys of the River Chess to the west and the River Gade to the east. Chipperfield marks the northern limit and Croxley Green the southern.
©Crown
Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
A gently undulating plateau area locally divided by steep-sided narrow chalk valleys. The area has a mature settled appearance with a number of traditional farm buildings, parklands and a predominantly pastoral land use. There is minimal impact from intrusive 20th-century development. Chipperfield Common and Commonwood Common are sites of importance for nature conservation and recreation.
Deadmans Ash Lane to Bottom Lane dry valley (HCC Landscape Unit)
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Geology and soils. To the north the soils are characterised by a mix of well-drained fine loamy over clayey soils and coarse and fine loamy over clayey soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging (Marlow and Hornbeam 2 associations). Some soils are very flinty. The underlying geology is a combination of plateau and river-terrace drift. To the south of the M25 the soils comprise well-drained flinty coarse loamy and sandy soils over plateau gravel and river-terrace drift (Sonning 1 association). In the narrow valleys, chalk forms the underlying geology. Westwood Quarry SSSI is a key site for an understanding of the early history of the Thames, with deposits of bedded sands and gravels.
Topography. The plateau is a gently undulating area. A distinct feature within the plateau is a steep-sided dry valley system.
Degree of slope. Across the plateau slopes are generally less than 1 in 30. However, in the narrow chalk valleys slopes are often as steep as 1 in 6.
Altitude range. From 133m in the north-east down to 85m in the south towards the Colne Valley.
Hydrology. There are no significant streams; however, there are a number of ponds associated with parklands, farmsteads or field corners.
Land cover and land use. The land-use pattern is wooded farmland. To the west and around the village edges equestrian and livestock pasture predominates, while to the east and in the open tracts between settlements land use is typically larger arable units.
Vegetation and wildlife. The plateau is a transitional area for the natural woodland species mix. To the north oak/ash/beech predominates while to the south, on the more acidic ground, the mix is oak/hornbeam. The woodland pattern is one of discrete blocks, with a number of conifers in the plantations. In the steep-sided valleys there is an interlocking pattern along and at the edges, particularly in the south where beech is the dominant species on calcareous loams. Hedges are occasionally tall, particularly along roads and with mixed species including holly. Field trees are mainly oak.
Parkland trees are locally important and include cedar, pine and avenues of lime, e.g. Redheath School. The two main commons have largely reverted to secondary woodland. Commonwood Common sits on the edge of the chalk valley. The higher part of the site is on very acidic clay-with-flints while the lower part is on pure chalk. Chipperfield Common is a distinctive area of wet acidic common with some gravels and heathy conditions. There are also a number of veteran limes, oak and sweet chestnut.
Individual features of interest include 'Apostles Pool' (a monastic fish pool) on Chipperfield Common and the earthwork at Marginia Wick at Sarratt.
Field pattern. The field pattern is largely pre-18th century in origin with both organic and irregular sinuous enclosures. These traditional patterns are still relatively intact around the villages, particularly at Bucks Hill which has an ancient feel. There has been field enlargement for arable cropping throughout the area, but the presence of woodland and hedgerows with field trees contain this impact. The exception to this general pattern is in the east, where there has been more extensive post-18th century parliamentary enclosure. Some of this followed the 'disparking' of the former medieval deer park around Langley Lodge (see also Upper Gade character area) between 1558 and the 18th century, where large rectangular fields were created. Further parliamentary enclosure followed. Now there is an open estate feel, with isolated farms, e.g. Model Farm. Current field shapes are typically irregular and medium in scale apart from in the east, where there is a move to larger geometric units. Post-and-wire fences provide some enclosure in the narrow chalk valleys.
Transport pattern. The pattern of roads comprises a number of secondary and minor roads that are typically sinuous in form and locally sunken on the steeper slopes. Verges are variable, some wide with bracken and others non-existent on the steeper slopes. The M25 and A41 sever the area, but they are mainly located in cuttings.
Settlements and built form. The area has a planned and settled appearance with a number of dispersed farmsteads, particularly to the south and west. There are a number of traditional settlements with wayside properties located around greens or fronting commons, e.g.Croxley Green and Chipperfield. Sarratt, located on a drovers' route, with its three ponds, wide green and five inns, provided an ideal stopover. There is a good range of traditional buildings in the area using brick, flint, timber frame, weatherboard, render, clay tile and 'puddingstone' (in the foundations of Sarratt church). Most of the large houses are set in small parkland areas, e.g. Micklefield Hall, Great Westwood Farm and Redheath School, while some are within the villages, e.g. the Manor at Chipperfield. There is little 20th-century development that adversely affects the area.
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The area generally has a strong sense of historical continuity due to the intact field patterns and groupings of traditional architectural styles within the settlements. It feels relatively remote despite the close proximity to the M25. Views of the area from outside are generally restricted by vegetation and the elevated landform. Views within the area are generally filtered by woodland and contained by hedgerows along narrow roads. The area has a coherent and unified character with mature trees having a strong influence. It is medium in scale, being relatively wooded and well treed which helps to create a visually contained and coherent landscape. Along the narrow Bottom Lane the meandering landform creates very strong enclosure.
Rarity and distinctiveness. A frequent landscape type. Distinctive features are the commons and dry chalk valley.
The M25 and its associated pylons and radio masts are the major detracting features in the area. The A41 is generally well integrated. Localised fly-tipping is a problem on some of the minor roads. Pylons along Bottom Lane detract from its enclosed character. Inappropriate use of conifers on Oldhouse Lane locally detracts from the area. The Westwood quarry is a large area of disturbed and unrestored ground concealed from the local minor roads but highly visible from the M25. There has been considerable land-use change from pasture to arable with loss of field boundaries, particularly around the M25.
There is a good network of footpaths and bridleways, including routes through some of the parklands. There are a few car parks, e.g. Chipperfield Common, which has an adjacent cricket pitch, and Commonwood Common and an equestrian centre at Coltspring School of Riding. The attractive and contained character of the landscape adds to the enjoyment of the recreational facilities.
Much of this area is hardly remarked upon by the community (E) with the notable exception of Chipperfield Common (D).
Re Chipperfield: 'more thickly wooded'; 'fine trees on the edge of this lovely common'. 'Opposite the manor house gates one can walk into the woods to see some exceptionally fine old trees. One is a Spanish chestnut said to be over 300 yrs old'.
('Common Heritage' Herts Countryside Vol. 19, No. 77 April/May 1965, pp 214-5.)
Chilterns AONB (part-north of Sarratt).
Landscape Conservation Area (majority).
SAM: two barrows on Chipperfield Common.
SSSI: Westwood Quarry (geological interest).
| CONDITION | |
|---|---|
| Land cover change: | localised |
| Age structure of tree cover: | mature or young |
| Extent of semi-natural habitat survival: | fragmented |
| Management of semi-natural habitat: | variable |
| Survival of cultural pattern: | interrupted |
| Impact of built development: | low |
| Impact of land-use change: | moderate |
| ROBUSTNESS | |
| Impact of landform: | apparent |
| Impact of land cover: | apparent |
| Impact of historic pattern: | interrupted |
| Visibility from outside: | locally visible |
| Sense of enclosure: | partial |
| Visual unity: | coherent (locally unified) |
| Distinctiveness/rarity: | frequent |
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Chipperfield Common (J. Billingsley)
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