Background
Bourne Heritage, which was set up in September 2020, represents the culmination of thirty years experience in the heritage sector, initially in field archaeology and then moving above ground to assess and evaluate the significance of built heritage. Both spheres of activity have been informed by a variety of historical research skills acquired along the way.
These historical research skills have served the needs of clients in both the public and private sectors, whether it be proving the existence of lost rights of way, determining land title for registration purposes, assisting with the de-registration of common land or simply ascertaining former land and building ownership. Over the last few years, desk-based historical research and trips to the archives have focussed on assessing the heritage significance of historic buildings for the purposes of listed building consent and planning applications.
Research is undertaken in national and local archives, including The National Archives in Kew (where I am registered as an independent researcher), the British Library and the Parliamentary Archives in Westminster.
Although based on the South Coast, Bourne Heritage provides heritage consultancy across London and the Home Counties, with a particular focus (and expertise) on West & East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Advice and support has been given on a wide variety of schemes ranging from simple projects involving alterations/extensions to listed buildings all the way through to assessment of heritage impacts on large housing developments and mineral extraction schemes. Some examples are listed below.
Projects
Built Heritage
A selection of successful schemes which have called upon the services of Bourne Heritage is provided below (examples of our supporting heritage statements can be found under the relevant planning application reference)
39 High Street, West Malling, Kent (Tonbridge & Malling Council Borough Council ref: 21/01394/LB): Internal alterations to the rear extension of a Grade II listed 18th/19th century shop, with residential accommodation above; CONSENT GRANTED 28/07/ 2021
10 Maidstone Road, Lenham, Kent (Maidstone Borough Council ref: 21/505923/FULL): Erection of end of terrace dwelling and alterations to existing 19th century building in Lenham Conservation Area; CONSENT GRANTED 20/01/2022
Richmond Arms, 224 London Road, Bognor Regis: SUCCESSFUL APPEAL DECISION (24/05/22) against Arun District Council (ref: APP/C3810/W/21/3280743) to allow demolition and conversion of a 19th century public house within the setting of a locally listed signal box and footbridge on the railway leading into Bognor Regis
Former Bull Inn, Market Road, Chichester (Chichester District Council ref: 22/00158/FUL): Conversion and extension of a 19th century public house identified as a positive contributor to the Chichester Conservation Area; CONSENT GRANTED 27/06/2022
Cow Roast Inn, Tring Road, Hertfordshire (Dacorum Borough Council ref: 22/02976/LBC): Extension of, and alterations to an at risk Grade II listed public house, with Post-Medieval origins, on the outskirts of Berkhamsted; CONSENT GRANTED 22/12/2022
2-10 Queensway, Bognor Regis (Arun District Council Ref: BR/238/22/PL): Redevelopment & extension of a building on the edge of the Steyne & Waterloo Square Conservation Area. CONSENT GRANTED 01/03/2023
3 Meeting House Lane, Brighton (Brighton & Hove City Council ref: BH2023/00726): Installation of gas pipe from ground level into the front of Grade II listed building and internal pipe connection to new first floor kitchen. CONSENT GRANTED 11/05/2023
1-4 Gosmore Ley Close, Gosmore, nr Hitchin, Herts (North Herts District Council ref: 23/01229/FP): Erection of 4 detached dwellings within the Gosmore Conservation Area, adjacent to the Grade II listed Gosmore House. CONSENT GRANTED 08/11/2023
5 Camelot Close, Wimbledon, London (London Borough of Merton ref: 23/P2374): Extension of, and alterations to a modern family home in the Wimbledon North Conservation Area. CONSENT GRANTED 20/11/2023
4 White Lodge Close, London (London Borough of Barnet ref: 23/4160/FUL): Demolition & replacement of a house in the Hampstead Garden Suburb Conservation Area. CONSENT GRANTED 10/03/2024
Old Mill, Godalming, Surrey (Waverley Borough Council ref: WA/2024/01057): Conversion of Grade II listed 18th century watermill from office use to residential use. CONSENT GRANTED 01/08/2024
9 Cannon Hill, Southgate, London: SUCCESSFUL APPEAL DECISION (19/09/24) against the London Borough of Enfield (PINS ref: APP/Q5300/D/24/3336856) to allow rear extensions on a 1950s dwelling within the Southgate Green Conservation Area
CURRENT projects (DECEMBER 2024) include consultancy on a rear extension to a Grade II listed house in Kew, London and a provision of a heritage impact assessment of a farmstead re-development on the outskirts of Winchester.
Rights of Way Research
Bourne Heritage was engaged in 2023 by the Open Spaces Society to test the contribution made by 1910 Finance Act Survey data to the modern rights of way network. This ongoing pilot project has involved a study of Finance Act maps and books for ten test sheets in the county of Berkshire, followed by data analysis.
Clients
Bourne Heritage has provided consultancy for DHA Planning, Verve Planning, Arrow Planning, Shepherd Neame, Milliken & Co., Regent Property, The Haywoods Group, DLPB Ltd, Marleston Developments, The CDS Group, DMH PLanning, Sphere25 Planning, Rohacs Architects Ltd, Sorbon Estates, Simon Kaufman Architects, Chiltern Developments, ABL3 Architects, McLean Quinlan, Abrams Archaeology and the Open Spaces Society, amongst others.
Adrian Parry, Bourne Heritage