Introduction

The physical environment is an important aspect of the village but it is not the only one. The village design statement concentrates on this element of the village and once this document has been accepted by the planning authority it then forms part of the statutory supplementary planning guidelines in determining planning applications. Thus it is very important that we get this part of our work right.

Many of the current planning applications are for redevelopment of existing bungalows and houses with more housing. For example, a few years ago one bungalow in the built up area of Church Road was replaced by several houses comprising Wickhams Way.

However, planning permission for two large houses has recently be refused at Orchard Lea, Church Road as the site is adjacent to the Green Belt

Conservation Areas

Hartley has no conservation areas. These areas are designated by the planning authority as being of special visual or historic value which warrant special measures to protect them. The planning authority is reviewing its conservation areas and Hartley Parish Council has been asked for its views. Two areas have been suggested for Hartley:- namely Hartley Green and Hartley Court Green.

Hartley Green is situated at the junction of Ash Road and Steep Hill. To the west is Hartley Cottage and to the north is Yew Cottage; both listed historic buildings. On the green are the village sign, the village war memorial and a fine red chestnut tree.

Hartley Court Green is situated to the south of All Saints Church and Hartley Court in the narrow part of Church Road. The triangular green is at the junction of Church Road and Grange Lane. This view was taken on the day of the vintage bus service last October.

Listed buildings (National List)

Hartley has a number of listed buildings. These are building which are of national importance and are protected in law. The oldest in Hartley is the parish church of All Saints which is Norman. Others include Hartley Court, Fairby Grange (see photograph), Middle Farm Brickend Cottages (see photograph) and Red Cow Farm.

Listed buildings (Local List)

Sevenoaks District Council is consulting all parishes to compile a list of buildings which are of local importance. It has completed this task for 4 villages. Hartley has been consulted to compile such a list. Hartley has buildings of all ages from the sixteenth century onwards. Most of the early ones are on the national list. Most of the nineteenth century ones are not and they do contribute to beauty of the village. Here are two examples. You will be able to think of others. The Black Lion is not on the National List!

Open Spaces

Hartley is surrounded by open spaces which are an important contribution to the physical enhancement of the village. The major sites include Northfield, Foxborough Wood (shown below), Hartley Wood and Rectory Meadow. Two newer developments have small open spaces incorporated, namely Billingshill Shaw (shown below) and Round Ash Way. Hoselands Green, Old Downs Wood and Gorse Wood are other examples apart from the recreation grounds and allotments.

Tree preservation orders are made to protect trees which make a significant impact on their local surroundings. This is particularly important when trees are immediate danger. It is an offence to cut down, lop or destroy a tree with a tree preservation order. All types of trees are covered including a single tree, groups of trees and woodland. Hedgerows are covered by different legislation.

A number of orders have been made for trees in Hartley. For example, at least 8 orders have been made for trees in Gorsewood Rd. This is an exception. The poplars trees on both sides of Manor Drive are covered by an order as are a few round the corner in Church Rd (see photograph). There are several others and Sevenoaks District Council maintains a complete list.

Some pretty trees in Ash Road not covered by a tree preservation order. This is just one example.

Archaeological Sites

There are two major archaeological sites in Hartley. Both have been partially excavated by the local group, the Fawkham and Ash Archaeological Group. The aim of the group is to identify archaeological sites within the immediate the area and to ensure that they are recorded, particularly before destruction.

The Roman site at Wellfield

The Roman site at Wellfield was found by one of its members when this estate was being developed in 1975. This site comprised a number of ditches dug into the hillside and showed that the area was occupied during the first and second centuries AD.

The Roman ditches at Wellfield looking west on site of houses in Caxton Close

(The old house, View Point has been demolished and 28 to 42 Pitfield were built on its site.)

The Medieval Site at Chapel Wood

The archaeological group excavated some houses, a chapel and some outbuildings at Chapel Wood when proposals were published in 1967 to construct a bypass from New Ash Green into the Fawkham Valley to Longfield. The photograph shows the foundation of a house under excavation in the wood.