SK5803 : 7-17 New Walk, Leicester
taken 5 years ago, near to Leicester, England
This was developed by the Corporation of Leicester as part of an enclosure scheme which would enable new building in an area above the Soar flood plain, where development had become increasingly cramped. New Walk itself was created as a path leading out to agricultural lands, and the town's racecourse.
Initially no development was allowed along New Walk itself, but it was permitted from 1824 onwards with restrictions - only footway access to the path was allowed, and buildings had to be set back at least 10 yards. Owners were to provide an iron palisade fence along their frontages, whereon the Corporation would remove the existing hedge and ditch. Development, as with the remainder of the newly enclosed area which covers largely the area of the current New Walk Conservation Area, was piecemeal, with only the street layout being determined from the outset. As a result, New Walk includes buildings from between 1825 and the 20th Century with a wide variety of architectural styles.
See Link for details of the New Walk Conservation Area.
Listed buildings and structures are officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. There are over half a million listed structures in the United Kingdom, covered by around 375,000 listings.
Listed status is more commonly associated with buildings or groups of buildings, however it can cover many other structures, including bridges, headstones, steps, ponds, monuments, walls, phone boxes, wrecks, parks, and heritage sites, and in more recent times a road crossing (Abbey Road) and graffiti art (Banksy 'Spy-booth') have been included.
In England and Wales there are three main listing designations;
Grade I (2.5%) - exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
Grade II* (5.5%) - particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II (92%) - nationally important and of special interest.
There are also locally listed structures (at the discretion of local authorities) using A, B and C designations.
In Scotland three classifications are also used but the criteria are different. There are around 47,500 Listed buildings.
Category A (8%)- generally equivalent to Grade I and II* in England and Wales
Category B (51%)- this appears generally to cover the ground of Grade II, recognising national importance.
Category C (41%)- buildings of local importance, probably with some overlap with English Grade II.
In Northern Ireland the criteria are similar to Scotland, but the classifications are:
Grade A (2.3%)
Grade B+ (4.7%)
Grade B (93%)
Read more at Wikipedia Link