York Historic Environment Record

The terraced streets in this area are not in unusual or special in a national context. However, their homogeneity in scale and mass make a powerful contribution to the character of the area and have a strong local value. The housing designs are subtly different as a result of being built in small groups by different builders. Narrower streets have small houses which front on to shallow pavements. There are small yards to the rear accessed via alleyways and occasional corner shop. The arrangement of buildings with a common roof line encloses the streets strongly. The lack of street trees emphasises the dense urban character. Pavements on most streets are grey concrete slab. Together these streets are an excellent example of a Victorian community. Since these streets can be seen from the city walls, their roofscape is particularly important. The regular rhythm of slate roofs, chimneys and dormer windows, is attractive. The overwhelming majority of buildings are late 19th century terraced cottages of nearly identical design. Larger terraces include Baile Hill Terrace and Newton Terrace. The latter’s houses are more substantial in the material and design than the small terraces, probably designed for the lower middle classes. They have white brick facades, slate roofs, canted bay windows and small dormer windows with attractive decorative barge boards. Identified as Buildings of Merit in the Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal.