Upton Cheyney was designated as a conservation area on 24th October 1983. A copy of the full statutory conservation area leaflet and maps - the result of a public consultation process, can now be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.
Setting
Upton Cheyney is a picturesque village situated on the steep slopes of Lansdown Hill within the greenbelt and the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It consists of a cluster of traditional natural lias stone buildings and walls which, together with mature trees and hedgerows, create an attractive enclosed environment. The village setting is one of open countryside characterised by varied and sloping topography, open fields and mature trees. Designation is intended to protect this attractive rural character along with the traditional buildings, stone boundary walls, trees and other features which make this area 'special'.
History
It is thought that the name Upton Cheyney is derived simply from the words 'upper farmhouse'. Archaeological records indicate the site of a Roman settlement to the south-east of the village and at nearby Pipley Bottom the stepped terraces, cut by Romano-Britons for vine cultivation can still be seen. It is likely that the present settlement grew up around springs and above the marshy river valleys. Manor Farm at the junction of Wick Lane was mentioned in the Domesday Book and most of the buildings in the village were constructed between 1690 and 1830.
Cottages tend to be of simple design whilst the larger farmhouses tend to have more variation in style, height and roof type with gable dormers - for instance Upton Farm and Holisters Farmhouse. Upton House, which dates from the early 18th century, has a gabled belfry, dormers, stone-tiled roof with diagonally set chimney stacks and is particularly attractive acting as a focal point to the village centre. The non-residential buildings tend to be of a larger scale and include the recently-extended Upton Inn which was built around 1710, the United Reform church, built in 1834 and the former school dating from 1849. Despite the variation in the style of the traditional buildings they generally have steep pitches and narrow, vertically-proportioned windows.
Character
The approaches to the village are via narrow winding country lanes with buildings scattered at intervals along the route. They are bound by hedges, walls, steep banks and trees which create a strong sense of enclosure or 'tunnel' effect. From the south and east via Brewery Hill and Mill Lane, the approach is very steep and the roads have many sharp bends which provide interest by giving a changing sequence of views and surprises with a number of buildings such as Uptown Inn acting as focal points along the routes. Most of these dwellings are located alongside and at right angles to the road to take advantage of the contours - for example Uptown Farmhouse and Springfield Terrace. They also contribute to the sense of enclosure by acting as 'pinch points' along the lanes.