Conservation Area: Churton Conservation Area (042)

Churton is situated on the Chester Road between Aldford and Farndon which dissects the village into two parts. There is a crossroads at the geographical centre of the village with Hob Lane leading to the west and Purnp Lane leading to the east. It is here with the recessed public house where the focus of the village can be found, at the point where the different morphological characters of the southern and northern parts of the village merge. The built form relates tightly to the western side of the southern part of Chester Road with the wall and trees on the eastern side contributing to the feeling of enclosure. A strong linear feel prevails although some buildings are set back. The northern part of this route is also strongly enclosed though its character is quite different as the space is defined by boundary walls in a variety of designs in red brick and sandstone with hedging and mature planting. There is another marked difference as you leave the village and the space opens up though a strong linear enclosure is maintained by the 'rural' hedges, their height accentuated by their location on grassed banks. New Lane follows the overall pattern becoming more open as you go southwards. The high 'green' hedging combines with the built form on the other side to from a tightly enclosed space. The timber framed Churton Hall is an impressive feature at the southern end of the route at Pump Lane. Pump Lane has a distinct rural feeling leading out into the open country with dispersed development along its length. This provides an important contrast to the denser development along other routes and no infill development should be allowed along it. Hob Lane provides a tighter space with a more intimate scale defined by planting though there is dispersed development. This leads to another area of definite rural character with good views out into the open countryside. The area to the north of here is open and contains incidental modern infill placed within large gardens. The overall feel of this area is again green and rural though not necessarily in-keeping with that of the village. Further infill development in this area should be resisted. Sandstone and brick walls can be found throughout the village and together with the hedges in the greener areas contribute strongly to the overall character of Churton. These features define the streetspace and help unite and delineate the built form.