3.0 The bypass has left a crescent-shaped, meandering Main Street (dark green on the map), 3 main ribbon routes (shaded light green) with individual large detached houses, or short irregular terraces. The houses facing inward along the street scene are surrounded by farms, and more recently suburban development.

Street Scences

3.1 Detached houses are widespread in these areas (Main Street, Church Street, Back Lane) with some irregular terraces and semi detached houses that break up the street scene slightly. In these locations a gable roof is most common with the occasional hip roof. Most of the eaves are front facing onto the street. Houses are set behind short front gardens and a low hedgerow or brick wall to the front, with large gardens in various sizes to the rear. The building line is irregular along this meandering street, as some houses are staggered. Overall however there is an obvious line. A wide footpath is found on both sides of the road.

Materials and Features

3.2 The dwellings in this area are constructed in a light brown-orange coloured brick featuring decorative brick detail such as dentil coursing to the eaves or tumble brick work to the gables. With no two properties having quite the same brick, this adds to the unique character of this area.

3.3 Gable walls tend not to feature windows above ground floor. Building footprints are generally rectangular with few protruding extensions or wings. There is a strong horizontal emphasis where buildings are wider than are tall, with many double-fronted.

3.4 Houses are of two storey construction, with no roof windows but the slight change in building size results in some variation of ridge and eaves heights, adding to the variety in the street.

3.5 Chimneys are short but wide, with lots of decorative pots. Roof materials are mainly orange pan tile, with the occasional purple slate.

3.6 The occasional shallow pitch with raised gable and corbelled kneeler is evident. Other detail features along the street include stone ridge, with some properties having water table constructed from thin stone. There are no ostentatious designs, but many are well kept, neatly detailed and have a smartness beyond neighbouring villages.

3.7 Windows are multiple paned vertical sash with soldier brick lintel and stone sill, or Yorkshire sash window with arch brick lintel and canted brick sill set into the wall.

3.8 Traditional doorstyles in Riccall include four and six panels, as well as braced and battened plank doors. Three pane or semicircular fanlights are a dominant feature. Entrance doors are often beneath lean-to canopied porches or arched brick headers. A stone step is very common.

Other Characteristics

3.9 By evening Riccall is dimly lit, adding to the charm of the historic village, the street furniture is unusual and probably unique to the village such as the old disused telegraph poles recycled as street lights along Main Street.