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Period
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She and Paul are selling The
Dial House (pictured), built of the same Chilmark stone and with
a history dating to 1650, for £1.5m. It comes with six bedrooms,
woodland, swimming pool and tiered garden. "The quality of
the village is such that it will perform well in whatever market,"
says Andrew Grice, who is handling the sale. "In harder times
there is more and more demand for period architecture, the feeling
of being in a place with heart. Buyers are keeping an eye to the
future and know it is assured in a Conservation Area like this."
A comparable house outside the protected halo might cost up to
25 per cent less. The findings accompany the publication of the first comprehensive survey of the nation's 9,300 Conservation Areas, ranging from the well-heeled streets of London's Belgravia to the fishermen's village of Clovelly in North Devon, to Thirties suburbs filled with classic semi-detached houses. This Domesday collection of historic buildings will be launched on June 23, together with a campaign to nurture the best and save those under threat. It is particularly timely, following the recent demise of the Civic Trust and swift move to put something in its place by its former president Griff Rhys Jones and Tony Burton, who has left the National Trust to head what is provisionally called the Civic Society Initiative. Areas of period charm are enjoyed by all, says Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage. "Millions of us live in or near one, go to work or shop in one or visit them for leisure." It also shows that the mesmeric effect of the beauty and character of Conservation Areas is more potent that we realise. Comments from agents gathered by English Heritage indicate a deep attraction. "Owners are more aware," said one. "They will have residents' committees, and Neighbourhood Watch helps keep up values," said another. "There is a better sense of community." Yet many are under threat, lying in "forgotten small towns and villages" affected by economic downturn. Clive Fletcher, historic areas adviser for the East Midlands, cites Tuxford, in North Nottinghamshire, which has a beautiful centre with a large old Georgian coaching inn, now boarded up. "It is incredibly quaint, with an old lock-up, farms, a delightful village green," he says. Luckily Tuxford Community Regeneration Group has been formed to halt the slide into neglect. The pulling power of historic areas in the boom time was examined by Savills' research department, which found that where there was more than a sprinkling of listed buildings, prices could lift by 30 per cent. Where there was an intense concentration, it created hot spots where prices were up to 37 per cent higher. This led to the emergence of "trophy towns" such as Stockbridge in Wiltshire (carrying a 79 per cent premium), Pulborough in Sussex (44 per cent) and Burford in the Cotswolds (43 per cent). Join a conservation group and inform English Heritage of your own battles and successes, receive how-to information and support the campaign on www.english-heritage.org.uk/conservationareas For sale:
Stockbridge, Hampshire May Cottage, Grade II listed old coaching inn with three bedrooms at £330,000. Burford, Cotswolds Manor Farmhouse at Nether Westcote, with four bedrooms, former farmyard, former coach house, stable block, tennis court, and an acre in a Conservation Area and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, at £1.1m. Abbotts Ann, Hampshire Ash Cottage, Grade II listed
with three bedrooms at £565,000. Source: CountryLife Online
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