Conservation Area: Malpas Conservation Area (010)

Malpas is arguably the village which shows most clearly its medieval origins and surviving medieval plan within west Cheshire. It is a particularly important settlement from a historic and architectural viewpoint, and of outstanding townscape value. The remains of the Motte and Bailey Castle are sited on the former Roman Road, leading from Wroxeter northwards to Chester, by the Church. Malpas stands on a slope of the Bickerton Hills and there are good views in and out of the village. The changes in the topography are evident right into the centre of the village providing interesting views along the streets. The village lies quite unobtrusively within its setting, approached along lanes lined by hedgerows from all directions. The built fabric within the conservation area has remained relatively intact with a hierarchy of scale and density which increase from all directions towards the centre. The built form follows the street plan, closely defining a tight street edge and providing a good townscape, especially on the bends. This is supported by individual building elements providing incident in the facades and interesting vistas and views. The building line gets closer to the road edge as you move towards the centre with the majority of the property abutting directly onto the road. Some properties are set higher than the road with steps leading up to the doors. However some properties are set back or the building line is stepped to negotiate a corner, providing interest and different levels of enclosure to the townscape. As you move out of the centre the properties lie further back with their boundaries defined by brick or sandstone walls or hedging. The Village Cross is the central focal point of the village, situated at the junction of the main routes. There is a severe change of height here with the road climbing up towards the Church. The townscape value of the area around here is of exceptional quality, particularly looking up towards the Church, with the Churchyard gates and Market House with its colonnade providing fine features. There are fine stone steps leading up towards the Church by the cross. Throughout this area there are views up lanes and alleys into the built edge of the buildings behind, or the landscape behind to the east. These are vital to the overall character of the area, highlighting the medieval origins of the plan form and giving depth and interest to the built form. In view of this no backland development should be allowed as this would weaken the built fabric, affect views into the village from the surroundings and generally undermine the integrity of the existing plan form. The central core of the village has a strong urban character supported by the numerous retail and service outlets with some good shop fronts remaining. However, this becomes diluted as one moves from the centre. The density of development then decreases, views of the rural surroundings opening up and the inclusion of green elements like hedgerows within the street space. The red sandstone Church, mostly built in the 14th and 15th centuries stands on an elevated site surrounded by sandstone walls with impressive· gateways. The road to the west of the Church leading to the rectory provides a quiet space enclosed by trees, contrasting with the busy, hard townscape of the central streets.