RMBC Scholes Conservation Area Report

Peter Thornborrow
Conservation & Urban Design Officer
Forward Planning, Planning & Transportation Service
Economic & Development Services

The Scholes Village Association is pleased to provide access to this report. Please note that the views expressed in the report are not necessarily those of the Scholes Village Association. Please direct comments and questions to Peter Thornborrow via RMBC.

Origins and Development

The origin of the village name is believed to have derived from the Old Norse ‘skali’ meaning a hut or temporary shelter. If this is true it would certainly explain why the village wasn’t recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 if there was no recognisable settlement to record. Although there may not have been a settlement here during the Norman period we do know that there was human activity in the area in ancient times.

Scholes Coppice contains several archaeological features, most notably Caesar’s Camp. This is a well defined oval camp on high ground in the wood. It was probably built for defensive purposes and could possibly be related to the Roman Ridge which is still visible in various locations across the Borough. Like the Roman Ridge the earthwork seems to be misnamed as it is likely to date to the Iron Age and not the Roman Period.

The first real evidence of Scholes being a settlement is in the 12th century. Tenanted land referred to as Scal to the north of Kimberworth Manor is recorded in 1160. It appears that Scholes was becoming an established settlement, a feudal society to Kimberworth Manor. However, in addition to agricultural activity the area was early to witness a level of industrial activity. In 1161, Cistercian monks of Kirkstead in Lincolnshire were given the right to mine and work coal and ironstone at Thorpe Common. It is likely that wood from the coppice was used for the smelting of iron which is believed to have taken place at nearby Kirkstead Abbey Mews. The local woodland would also have been a useful resource for building.

Throughout the medieval period the Scholes area was part of the deer park of Kimberworth Park. Deer parks were bounded by a wall (which can still be seen today in parts) or bank and included open areas of ground but frequently contained woodland which was often coppiced. It is likely that Scholes Coppice was part of 300 acres of coppice woodland within the Kimberworth deer park that was recorded in the late 16th and early 17th centuries for the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury.

In the mid 17th century the area ceased to be used as a deer park and by the 18th century the Scholes area was part of the Wentworth Estate. The coppice itself was brought into the Estate in 1714 and appears to have become an area for enjoyment. In 1726 it is recorded that the coppice had been ‘cut into walks for beauty’.

A clear reminder that Scholes and Scholes Coppice was part of the Estate and subjected to landscaping as part of the parkland can be seen with Keppel’s Column at the most southern boundary of the Wentworth Park. Standing at 75 feet the Column dominates the landscape and can be seen from many miles around. It was designed to be seen from the East Front of Wentworth Woodhouse and work commenced in 1773.

The development of much of Scholes is associated with the Wentworth Estate. Many of the cottages, community and recreational facilities were built during the 18th and 19th centuries for the Estate workers. One such building was the Methodist Chapel built in 1817. However, the lack of an Anglican church meant that some villagers would have to walk across the fields to the church at Thorpe Hesley, but this wasn’t built until 1837, so for many years an Anglican church was not even easily reached.

Activity in the village was mostly connected to agricultural activities, but as the monks in the 12th century had realised the land beneath the village and surrounds was rich in minerals. The 1841 census reveals that there were 23 ironstone miners and 13 nail makers who no doubt were provided with materials from the miners. Nail making was a domestic activity and common in the area. Nearby Thorpe Hesley was very much regarded as a nail making centre.

However, as seen across the Borough these mineral resources came to dominate activity in the area. By 1871 nail making had almost disappeared from the village and many residents had taken a new line of work, mining. By this date there were two coal mines in Scholes, Mangham’s Pit, to the west of the village, a newer colliery near Thorpe Common. In addition there were still the bell pits to the south.

The increase in collieries within walking distance of the village during the late 19th and early 20th centuries meant that mining was to dominate the local industry, this became evident in 1926 when the miners of Scholes built their own Miners Welfare Hall. Most mining was below ground, but this was all to change in the 1940s when wartime necessities lead to the open cast mining of many of the fields around the village. The mining also resulted in the destruction of approximately half of Scholes Coppice in the area that is known today as Keppel’s Field.

By the mid 20th century Scholes had seen very little development with the exception of industrial activity. Sadly it was also subject to very little investment in many of the existing properties, so much so that by the 1970s many houses were empty or derelict. The Estate village had become very run down, but this undoubtedly provided good reason for the village to be designated as a conservation area in 1976. The lack of investment and new development had to a large extent preserved the character of the village.

When Earl Fitzwilliam died in 1979 proceedings began to transfer some of the Estate lands, including the village of Scholes to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. By the 1980s plots of land and the derelict buildings were sold, new houses were built some on new roads off Scholes Lane and existing properties were renovated and for the first time Scholes was connected to the main sewerage system. Therefore, Scholes today has seen many changes since the area was first designated as a conservation area but it is still a village that is enhanced by its secluded setting in a mature landscape.

Setting

Scholes village is spread out along a half mile winding lane with modern houses interjected amongst much older properties or grouped in small cul-de-sacs off Scholes Lane. The older properties tend to sit directly on to the pavement, which is very narrow, whilst the newer houses are set back from the road in their own gardens.

The surrounding landscape is particularly important to the character of the village. The boundary between the built village and the surrounding countryside is not clearly defined making the surrounding countryside an integral part of the village. There are numerous footpaths that extend out from the village across the surrounding countryside.

Architectural style

As to be expected the architectural style of the village is divided between that built mainly during the 18th and 19th century when the village was part of the Wentworth Estate and the more recent development from the 1980s onwards when the village was given to the council. There isn’t any significant development during the 20th century before the 1980s. The buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries vary from large farm buildings and barns to small cottages, mainly built in rows, some of which have been converted into one residence.

The 19th century saw some larger, individual detached buildings, including Red House Farm House, Scholes Lodge and the Old Post Office but the majority of detached houses in the village were built during the 1980s and 1990s.

Many of the newer buildings sit comfortably in the village mainly because they have been built from traditional materials. Sandstone is the predominant building material with it being thinly coursed in the older properties; however there are some exceptionally good quality brick built buildings such as Red House Farm House and a row of cottages (14-18 Scholes Lane) which appear to be built from handmade brick.

The majority of roofs are of simple pitch form, often with brick built chimney stacks with slate being the most common roofing material, however some buildings still retain their original sandstone slates. These are seen particularly on the farm buildings at Red House Farm, Yew Tree Farm and at numbers 164-166 Scholes Lane. Traditionally guttering was timber, such gutters are still seen on many of the properties.

There are few properties that retain original features such as windows and doors. Many windows have been replaced with small paned timber casements. Historically many of the windows in the cottages would have been of Yorkshire sash variety. These are still seen in the Bay Horse public house accompanied by pintles for shutters that once would cover the windows.

As already mentioned many of the buildings were built whilst under the ownership of the Wentworth Estate. However one particular building predates this period. Number 146 Scholes Lane is a Grade II barn, which is now partly a house. Although it first appears to be built from sandstone, it is in fact a timber framed building that probably dates from the early 16th century. This is a feature building in the village.

Boundaries

Boundaries are primarily denoted by low thinly coursed sandstone walls with vertical coping stones. Old entrances are denoted by stone gate piers and in some places these have been blocked up. The use of the 5 bar gate is seen throughout the village at field entrances and driveways at both new and old houses. The heights of boundaries are raised by the planting of hedges and trees behind some of the walls.

Scholes Coppice itself is denoted by boundaries. Keppel’s Field edge (once part of the coppice) is bounded by sandstone walls that can be seen along Scholes Lane on approach into the village. In the coppice there is evidence of what may be a bank and ditch boundary (woodbank). Such ditches were often topped with drystone walls; their main function was to keep out grazing animals which would damage growing coppice.

Open spaces and trees

The majority of the land within the conservation area is countryside which provides an attractive and secluded setting for the village. However, despite the amount of new development in the village since the 1980s there is still a significant amount of open space. This space is important in maintaining the rural character that the village still retains. The open spaces include;
• Gardens
• Allotments
• Fields
• A recreational ground
• Scholes Coppice

Whilst open spaces are important to the character of the village so are trees. The Coppice is immensely important to the area and dominates the south eastern aspect of the conservation area. In addition to the coppice there are other large groupings of trees that are important. These include:
• Upper Ox Close Wood
• Trees on the land between The Paddock and Scholes Green including the spine of trees that extends to the east.
• Trees along Scholes Lane on entry into the village from the south.

However, all trees have the potential to contribute to the appearance of the conservation area whether as part of a group or as an individual tree.

Views

The winding nature of Scholes Lane creates a series of short views throughout the village where the focus is often on a particular building. Examples include Red House Farmhouse and Scholes Lodge when leaving the village to the north or south respectively.

The topography of Scholes and the surrounds allows for far reaching views these are obtained through the spaces that exist between the buildings and more generally from points along Scholes Lane. The undulating nature of the landscape allows for views across the village from higher points. There are some particularly good vantage points from the footpaths that extend out from the village.

The follies and monuments of Wentworth Park can be seen clearly from Scholes. The Rockingham Mausoleum can be glimpsed between buildings to the east or more easily across the field opposite Primrose Cottage. A key view is that from the field opposite Scholes Lodge at the southern end of the village. From here, looking northwards no less than 7 features of the Wentworth Estate can be seen, these include;
• Spire of All Saints’ Church, Wentworth.
• Ionic Temple
• Doric Temple
• Wentworth Woodhouse
• The South Terrace
• Hoober Stand
• Peacock Lodge

Another folly of the Wentworth Estate is Keppel’s Column. This structure is at the most southern point of Keppel’s Field and dominates numerous views when looking southwards across the village.

Detrimental Aspects

Since the area was first designated as a conservation area in 1976 many new properties have been built and existing buildings renovated. Fortunately much of this has been carried out sensitively however there are some aspects that detract from the overall character of the area.

Replacement windows and doors

Due to permitted development many windows and doors have been replaced frequently with uPVC. Such windows and doors are not traditional materials and affect the overall appearance of many of the 18th and 19th century buildings as well as the overall appearance of the conservation area.

Re – Pointing

Some walls have been re-pointed with techniques that detract from the stonework and with cement based mortars that lead to erosion of the stonework. This is seen at some properties and boundary walls.

Gateways

The 5 bar gate is the traditional treatment for entrances however some driveways have introduced ornate iron gates which are out of character with the area.