Rushcliffe Borough Council has an obligation under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to review, from time to time, its Conservation Area designations.

A Conservation Area, as defined under Section 69, is ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’.

Flintham Conservation Area was first designated in 1972. Prior to this appraisal of 2023, the most recent appraisal of the Flintham Conservation Area was carried out in 2009.

Section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 highlights the local planning authority’s duty to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of the conservation areas. This document, therefore, aims to identify and reaffirm (or redefine) the special architectural or historic interest of the area which warrants its designation.

Conservation Area Appraisals are not, and never have been, tools for to fossilise a place against change, instead, the processes of change which allow places to grow and evolve are recognised as being unavoidable, and it is also recognised that change can be a positive and desirable force. The designation instead allows greater scrutiny and control to manage change to positive effect and to ensure that any changes which require planning permission do not harm, and ideally serve to actively enhance, the existing character of the place.

Flintham Conservation Area: Summary of Special Interest

The approaches to the village vary in character, ranging from narrow lanes lined by hedges to wider roads with verges. Approaching from the South, there are a variety of trees with open views of the village.

The linear Main Street is distinctive with a consistent level of materials and design. Main Street is defined by buildings or walls built alongside the road which gives the area an enclosed feel.

A key feature of the village is Flintham Hall with its surrounding parkland. Although some of this area is used for agriculture it retains its historic character due to mature clumps of trees and individual trees within the fields.

The village is closely bordered by a network of small fields and paddocks.

1.2 The Purpose of a Conservation Area Character Appraisal

The purpose of a Conservation Area Character Appraisal is to:

Identify and record the special interest of the Conservation Area to ensure there is public awareness and understanding of what is worthy of preservation.
To define and reassess current boundaries to accurately reflect what is now perceived to be of special interest.
To identify opportunities to safeguard and enhance the special interest of the Conservation Area.

It should be noted that the content in this document is not a comprehensive account of every significant building, structure, tree, wall, feature, or space. Therefore, any omission should not be assumed to imply that they are of no interest.

Generally, the character and appearance of a Conservation Area will be preserved or enhanced by:

Providing controls and regulating development through the planning system.
Applying the extra controls that designation provides over demolition, minor development, and the protection of trees.
Environmental enhancement schemes and possibly providing financial assistance for the repair and restoration of specific buildings.
Encouraging public bodies such as the local highways authority or utility companies to take opportunities to improve the street scene through the appropriate design and sensitive sighting of street furniture (and retention of historic features of interest), or the removal of eyesores and street features that have a negative impact such as overhead wires.

1.3 The Planning Policy Context

This appraisal provides a firm basis on which applications for development within the Scarrington Conservation Area would be assessed. It should be read alongside the wider development plan policy framework produced by Rushcliffe Borough Council and other National Planning Policy Guidance documents. The relevant documents include:

Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy, with a specific focus on:
- Policy 10 (Design and Enhancing Local Identity) [in part]
- Policy 11 (Historic Environment)
Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 2: Development Policies, with a specific focus on:
- Policy 28 (Conserving and Enhancing Heritage Assets)
- Policy 29 (Development Affecting Archaeological Sites)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (Revised -2021)
The National Planning Practice Guidance (2015 - Subject to Continual Review)
By Design: Urban Design in the Planning System – Towards Better Practice (2000)
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

Flintham Conservation Area: Summary of Key Issues

None identified

2 Flintham Location and Landscape Setting

Rushcliffe Borough forms the southern tip of Nottinghamshire, which borders Leicestershire. It is predominantly a rural Borough that contains a mixture of city suburbs, market towns and villages. Rushcliffe is located about half a mile South of Nottingham city centre, with the River Trent forming the majority of its northern boundary and the River Soar defining its western boundary.

The A46 (Fosse Way), a distinctive Roman Road, runs through the centre of the Borough and leads to Newark in the North and Leicester in the South. In the northern half of the Borough, the A52 forms Nottingham’s primary transport link to Grantham and the East of England. Junction 24 of the M1 and East Midlands Airport are located about 1 mile from the western border.

Flintham is located just to the East of the A46 adjacent to the Borough’s northern boundary. The village has a church, pub, school, museum, a community run shop, a sports pavilion with playing field, and a village hall. The A46 forms a barrier between the village and housing located to the West, adjacent to Syerston Airfield. Flintham is located on a slight ridge running East to West.

Figure 1- A Map of the Borough of Rushcliffe

2.1 The Flintham Conservation Area

The Flintham Conservation Area is one of Rushcliffe’s largest Conservation Areas and contains the most listed buildings or structures – 39 in total. The Conservation Area has two distinct parts, the core of the village with adjacent small fields and paddocks and Flintham Hall with its parkland and woodland. Areas not included within the conservation area are the housing on Inholms Gardens and areas of large-scale arable farming located to the north of the village.

Conservation Area Boundary covers: 139.50 hectares (approximate)
Number of Grade I listed buildings: 2
Number of Grade II* listed buildings: 0
Number of Grade II listed buildings: 37

A full list of Flintham Conservation Area’s Listed buildings can be found in Appendix 1. Details accurate as of January 2023.

3 Historical Contexts

3.1 Location and Historic Activities

A Roman road, dating from the first century AD, cuts through the parish as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3. The road, which became known as The Fosse Way, follows the line of a pre-Roman trackway and forms the boundary between most communities along its route. Flintham is an exception, indicating that there may have been a settlement here before the Romans upgraded the trackway to a road. The village appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Flinteham.

Flintham’s history is intimately linked with the evolution of its principal estate and the families who shaped its character over the centuries. The Thoroton family, established as small landowners in medieval Nottinghamshire, became a prominent local influence. Originally taking their name from the village of Thoroton, the family’s fortunes were notably advanced by Dr. Robert Thoroton (1623–1678), whose celebrated work, Antiquities of Nottinghamshire (1677), highlighted the county’s rich heritage.

A pivotal development occurred when Thomas Thoroton (1636–1695) acquired Kirketon Hall (later known as Screveton Hall) and the manor of Screveton in 1685, establishing it as the family’s principal residence. In the early 18th century, further prosperity was secured when Robert Thoroton (1692–1751) inherited land in Derbyshire, bolstering the family’s wealth through involvement in local mining ventures.

The family's connection with Flintham was cemented in 1789 when Thomas Thoroton (1723–1794) sold the Derbyshire estate, likely to finance the purchase of Flintham House in Nottinghamshire. This transition marked Flintham House’s emergence as the family’s primary seat, a status that has continued through successive generations despite subsequent estate sales in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Hildyard family, through marital alliances and inheritances, further enriched the legacy of Flintham, with significant improvements made to the house, its parkland, and the parish church.

Flintham’s historical narrative is also reflected in its landscape. The hall is set against a backdrop of mature woodland that stretches towards the River Trent, visible from key local routes such as the Fosse Way. The parish church, with origins in the 13th century, retains many historic elements—including a distinctive tower with a pyramidal roof, a 14th-century font, and a variety of later period fixtures—that attest to the enduring legacy of the area’s ecclesiastical and social history.

The appearance of the countryside around Flintham is primarily a result of the enclosure movement from the 16th to the 18th centuries, modified by the requirements of modern farming. The maps below show that while many field boundaries remain unchanged, pressure for more economical farming techniques resulted in larger fields being created. Many of the fields and paddocks immediately adjacent to the village have remained relatively unchanged.

In A Topographical Dictionary of England, Samuel Lewis, (1848), the village is described as containing ‘611 inhabitants… and comprises by admeasurement 2101 acres, whereof 1471 are arable, 420 pasture, and 210 woodland; the soil is a red marl in the lower part of the parish, and in the upper part sandy.’ From the 1860's onwards the number of inhabitants decreased as villagers moved to Nottingham and north Nottinghamshire in search of regular work.

3.2 Archaeology and Scheduled Monuments

There is one scheduled ancient monument in Flintham, the remains of a mud walled dovecote, located South of Main Street at the rear of Cottage Farm and The Broadmarsh. Grid ref: SK7420 4590. Before the use of brick, mud would have been a common building material.

3.3 Historical Mapping

Figure 3 - Flintham, 1900. Note the creation of a lake in the grounds of Flintham Hall

4 Spatial Analysis

The relationship between open spaces and the built form within a conservation area can be central to its character. This section describes the village’s layout, highlighting the significant views, landmarks and historical focal points. The contribution of open green spaces, trees and other natural elements to the conservation area’s character is also described within this section.

4.1 Plan, Form and Layout

The historic maps above show the road layout has remained much the same. There was a footpath running across the Hall grounds at one time being a route into the village, another from Kneeton which led to what is now the Hall’s main drive.

The only notable infill has been along the road that links the village with the A46. As this is slightly set apart from the historic core of the village it has had little impact on the character of the Conservation Area. The village has always had a linear nature with properties being close to the adjacent roads (see Figure 4).

Figure 4 – Properties fronting the street, Main Street, looking west

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Rushcliffe Borough Council - 100019419

4.2 Landmarks, Focal Points and Views

The view from the lane which runs from the corner of Main Street and Inholms Road gives a tantalising glimpse of Flintham Hall, which isn’t readily visible from other parts of the village.

Figure 6 - The church of St Augustine of Canterbury looking towards Flintham Hall

Figure 7 - The corner of Main Street and Inholms Road showing the village hall and a glimpse of Flintham Hall in the background

The Townscape Appraisal map illustrates these key views and other views which link the village to the adjacent countryside.

4.3 Open Spaces, Trees and Landscape

The Hall’s grounds are a Registered Park and Garden, giving the feel of a natural English landscape with rolling grassland dotted with trees, lakes and woodlands. However the grounds are predominantly manmade including the lake which was created when the Hall was redeveloped in the mid-19th century.

The main approach to the village from the A46 is enhanced by mature woodland to the South and additional tree planting located along the wide verge and the edge of the adjacent public open space to the North. This entrance to the village is a stark contrast to the character of Main Street, which due to the density of housing and its close proximity to the road leaves very little space for many prominent trees.

The orchard located on the corner of Main Street and Spring Lane has distinctive timber fencing which enhances the rural character. Woods Lane also has a strong rural character where the property frontages are dominated by hedgerows.

The most prominent and traditional hedging plant is Hawthorn which complements the surrounding countryside. There is some loss of character when non-native plants such as Laurel have been used for hedging in this rural context.

Figure 9 – Town End Lane where one of two windmills was situated

Figure 11 – A pond and meadow area at the side of the Flintham Museum

Figure 12 - Part of a footpath off Spring Lane, looking towards Belvoir Castle

The most significant trees, hedges, open spaces, grass verges and gardens are marked on the Townscape Appraisal map.

Works to Trees

You must contact the Local Planning Authority (LPA), Rushcliffe Borough Council before any works (cutting OR pruning) are carried out to trees within the Scarrington Conservation Area.

Six weeks’ notice is required before any works to trees within the Conservation Area is carried out, even if they are not protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

If there is a tree which undergoes annual maintenance, include this information with the notice. It may be possible, upon agreement with the tree officer, that only one notice is required to cover the future annual maintenance.

Standard notification forms (a section 211 notice), further information and contact details.

A flow chart of the decision-making process regarding works to trees.

4.4 Public Realm

Boundary treatments are particularly important in Flintham. Woods Lane mentioned above is dominated by hedgerows, while Main Street is dominated by red brick and stone walls. These, along with the unusual design of timber fencing around Flintham Hall, all help to define Flintham’s special character.

There are many examples of walls and timber fencing in the village. Many of the walls have either flat brick coping or a triangular brick coping.

Significant walls and hedges are marked on the Townscape Appraisal map.

Figure 13 - Inholms Road looking towards the A46

Figure 14 - Main Street just before Town End Lane

Figure 15 - The Lane towards the church and Flintham Hall

Surfacing also makes an important contribution to the character of the Conservation Area and a number of properties still show examples of stone cobble paving. Any loss of this paving would drastically reduce the character of each property.

5 Buildings of the Conservation Area and Key Characteristics

5.1 Building Types and Activity

The older buildings in Flintham are a mix of farmhouses, cottages, Georgian houses and outbuildings, many of these can be seen on the historical maps shown in 4.1.

Figure 18 - Inholms Road, opposite the village hall

Figure 19 - Walnut Cottage, Inholms Road

Figure 20 - Outbuildings on the lane towards the Church and Flintham Hall

5.2 Key Characteristics and Building Materials

5.2.1 Materials

Historically, most building materials in Flintham were sourced locally, as transportation was limited before the arrival of the railways. As a result, bricks were typically produced and used close to their place of manufacture. Roofing materials also reflected local resources, with thatch being common until the widespread adoption of clay pantiles.

The key traditional building materials within the Conservation Area are as follows:

Walls: Red brick is the predominant material, often featuring remnants of stone walls at the base.

Roofs: Clay pantiles are the most common roofing material, with some examples of Welsh slate. Gable ends generally fall into two categories:

Small parapet gables.
Plain close verge gables, where the tiles extend to the edge of the brick gable.
Most chimneys are built into the gable wall.

Windows: Timber sliding sash windows are characteristic, often creating a symmetrical façade. Many retain traditional glazing bars, with arched brick lintels being a distinctive feature.

Doors: Timber doors are typical, with six-panel designs frequently seen on larger properties. Many buildings are positioned close to the road, with doorways often located at the side or rear of the property.

5.2.2 Overall Character

The consistency of materials and overall design, along with variations in individual property layout and scale, complement each other and create an interesting and varied street scene.

Note the lack of doors facing the road and the differences in gables with parapet gables on the left and a plain close verge on the right of the foreground buildings. The Main Street is dominated by walls