http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1143-247X
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ABSTRACT
This research examines the significance of the Victorian and Edwardian back-to-back houses in Leeds and whether the built heritage (plan-form typology, urban character, style, traditional materials and construction) might be at risk. The methodology is based on a historic area assessment of the Harehills district. The development of the area is traced from historic maps and archival documents, and is supplemented with a survey of the houses. The plan-form typologies and decorative designs are identified, and mapped to show groups of like houses, which cross-references to a gazetteer detailing the main identifying features of each group. A second level of analysis is concerned with the houses as they stand today, focusing particularly on the extant decorative features and construction materials, the modifications that have compromised the architectural composition of the houses, and the uniformity of the urban setting. The research concludes that the back-to-back houses do have heritage significance, but a review of national and local policy reveals that this has never been recognised. The lack of protection has resulted in diminished significance and presents an ongoing risk. Suggestions are made for future research and protection strategies.
Acknowledgments
I give thanks to my husband and children for their support and patience over the last five years -the research has at times been all-consuming, and for that I apologise. Thanks also to Dr. Gill Chitty for her comments, guidance and encouragement throughout.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Geolocation information
Harehills, Leeds, England. 53°48ʹ45.0”N 1°31ʹ02.1”W/53.812515, −1.517255
Notes
1. See Harrison, “The origin, development and decline of back-to-back houses” for a full account.
2. Beresford, “The back-to-back house in Leeds”; “The face of Leeds, ”106–107; East end, west end; and Burnett, A social history of housing, 70; 74.
3. Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 1, 18.
4. Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 1, 18; 32–36; and Addressing the challenge, Vol. 2.
5. See Harrison, “Heritage Conservation” for a detailed account and case study.
6. Harrison, “Heritage Conservation”; and Wilson, Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders, 1–2.
7. NAO, Housing Market Renewal, 10.
8. Ibid., 12.
9. Leather and Nevin, “The housing market renewal programme,” 870; Mark Hines Architects, Reviving Britain’s Terraces; NAO, Housing Market Renewal, 15; and Wilkinson, Pathfinder.
10. Cole and Flint, Demolition, relocation and affordable housing, 8.
11. Harrison, “What is heritage?” 13.
12. Beresford, “The back-to-back house in Leeds”; “The face of Leeds”; East end, west end; Burnett, A social history of housing; Caffyn, Workers’ housing in West Yorkshire; Daunton, House and home in the Victorian city; Gauldie, Cruel habitations; Rimmer, “Working mens’ cottages in Leeds”; Trowell, “Nineteenth-century speculative housing”; and Yeadell, “Building societies in the West Riding of Yorkshire.”
13. Harrison, “The origin, development and decline of back-to-back houses.”
14. Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 1.
15. Anon. Back to backs. A portrait of a house.
16. Powell, Leeds. Must old still mean bad?
17. Earl, Building conservation philosophy; Jokilehto, A history of architectural conservation.; Miele, From William Morris; Muñoz Viñas, Contemporary theory of conservation; Richmond and Bracker, Conservation: principles, dilemmas and uncomfortable truths; Schmidt, Architectural conservation; and Shacklock, Architectural conservation.
18. English Heritage, Conservation area designation, appraisal and management; Historic area assessments; and Historic area assessments in a planning and development context.
19. DCLG, National planning policy framework; English Heritage, “Conservation principles”; Historic England, “Conservation principles”; ICOMOS, The Burra Charter; and Kent, “Conservative repair.”
20. Communal value is not listed in the 2017 Conservation Principles consultation draft, but is still referred to within the document. While communal value appears to be unexplored in Leeds, qualitative research to explore it was outside the scope of this initial research. It is now being explored fully in the author’s PhD, the overall aim of which is firstly, to determine the heritage significance of the back-to-back houses in Harehills, by analysing and interpreting their spatial characteristics, use, and value to their communities, and then to consider the factors that will inform their future in Leeds, culminating in a design guide that ensures an appropriate balance is achieved between heritage conservation and twenty-first century living. This work will promote a ‘bottom-up’ approach, engaging communities and building capacities, prioritising the needs and desires of the communities, while negotiating the realities of statutory requirements and dominant heritage discourses in England.
21. Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 1, 22.
22. Ordnance Survey, “County Series ‘Shire View 4ʹ 1st Edition.”
23. Ordnance Survey, “County Series ‘Shire View 4ʹ 1st Revision.”
24. Ordnance Survey, “County Series ‘Street View 2ʹ 2nd Revision.”
25. Leeds Building Control Plans.
26. Ordnance Survey, “County Series ‘Street View 2ʹ 3rd Revision.”
27. Ordnance Survey, “National Grid ‘Shire View 4ʹ Scale 1:10560.”
28. Ordnance Survey, “National Grid ‘Shire View 4ʹ Scale 1:10000.”
29. Leeds City Council, “Banstead Park, children playing”; and Powell, Leeds. Must old still mean bad?
30. Muthesius, The English terraced house, 122–123.
31. Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 2, 19; 23.
32. Google Maps, “Google Maps”; and Rightmove, “Find sold house prices.”
33. See note 13 above.
34. See Beresford, “The face of Leeds,” 106–7; and Burnett, A social history of housing, 8.
35. See note 13 above.
36. English Heritage, “Conservation principles,” 28.
37. English Heritage, “Conservation principles,” 29.
38. Chapman and Bartlett, “The contribution of building clubs,” 234.
39. English Heritage, “Conservation principles,” 30; and Historic England, “Conservation principles,” 11.
40. Trowell, “Nineteenth-century speculative housing,” 74.
41. See note 25 above.
42. Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 1; Barraclough et al., Addressing the challenge, Vol. 2.
43. English Heritage, Designation listing selection guide.
44. Historic England, “List entry summary. List entry no. 1034462”; and National Trust, Birmingham back-to-backs exhibition.
45. Upton, Back to backs, 12.
46. National Trust, Birmingham back-to-backs exhibition.
47. English Heritage, Conservation area designation, appraisal and management 3; 16.
48. Alan Baxter and Associates York Central Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal,16; 384–387.
49. Jones et al., “The roofs over our heads: housing supply and demand.”
50. Anon, “The back-to-backs in Harehills.”
51. Jones and Brown, Harehills housing market assessment, 13.
52. Leeds City Council, Chapel Allerton.
53. DCLG, National planning policy framework.
54. DCLG, “What is development?”
55. Anon, “The back-to-backs in Harehills”; and Jones, “The back-to-backs in Harehills.”
56. Leeds City Council, Householder design guide.
57. Anon, “The back-to-backs in Harehills”; and Jones, “The back-to-backs in Harehills.”
58. DCLG, “Planning practice guidance. What are permitted development rights?”; and “What is development?”
59. DCLG, Explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning; “How change of use is handled in the planning system – tell us what you think. Issues paper,” 16.
60. DCLG, Explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning.
61. English Heritage, Conservation area designation, appraisal and management, 17.
62. Ibid., 2.
63. See note 55 above.
64. See note 50 above.
65. DCLG, National planning policy framework, 15; 43–44; and “Planning practice guidance. What is neighbourhood planning?”
66. See note 25 above.
67. Upton, Back to backs, 3; 28.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Joanne Harrison
Joanne Harrison RIBA completed MA Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) at the University of York and is now extending her dissertation research on the back-to-back terraces in Leeds for her PhD.