Character Assessment Area No 5 - Gordon Road Neighbourhood
Small scale two storey dwellings developed as groups of terraces during mid to late Victorian period. Terraces have been developed around a coherent grid layout located towards the west end of Fareham Central Area.
The terraces create a strong sense of
enclosure with a strong definition of public and private space.
The unity of form also creates a strong sense of place as a
residential neighbourhood. The area has excellent pedestrian
links to the town centre, the rail and bus stations and is
bounded to the north by Park Lane Recreation Ground. The sense of
enclosure together with on-street parking ensures that vehicle
speeds are low thus enhancing the sense of a definitive
neighbourhood.
The cul-de-sac streets are conducive to the creation of home zones and already display some of those characteristics. The area gives the impression of a quiet and pleasant residential neighbourhood with a tangible sense of community.
The plots are
very narrow, generally measuring between 4-5m. Terraced groups
are only separated by narrow accesses to the rear. This creates
an almost continuous frontage and emphasizes the intensity of the
settlement and indicates a very fine urban grain. Density is
generally about 44 dwellings per ha.
Landscaped planting has been restricted to the front and rear gardens. The intense feel of the development is slightly balanced by the open space to the north.
The most
significant aspect visible from the settlement is the avenue of
trees creating the southern border of the space.
The dwellings are of a domestic scale and predominantly two storeys but form the most dominant feature of the development restricting views to focus on the immediate properties or alternatively the skyline.
This area is a
typical example of Victorian construction. Moderate artisan
dwellings of brick and tile, with decorative brick or stone arch
details to doors and windows. Some units have stone projecting
bays but the majority of original doors and sash windows have
been lost.
Although such properties would have been constructed as functional housing, there is a distinct and consistent character to their appearance and as such the area has a sense of an attractive compact community.
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