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A decision made (19.01.07) to review Wesley Chapel as Site of Special Interest

Subject:	Review of Wesley Chapel, Wesley Street, St. Helier
Decision reference:	MD-PE-2007-0007	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of report:	Written and oral	Report file ref:		HE1658
Person giving report (if oral): Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust
Written report – author: Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust
Written Report Title: Review of Wesley Chapel, Wesley Street, St Helier
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that; the main chapel building and its frontage area to the west enclosed by the boundary wall and railings should be registered as a proposed Site of Special Interest; 2. the ancillary buildings to the north, east and south are of limited interest and should be excluded from the registration.
Reason(s) for decision: The grade of pSSI for Wesley Chapel is in accordance with published historic building selection criteria and with Interim Policy HB2 that states, “Designation of buildings of architectural or historical importance as Sites of Special Interest will normally be limited to those whose authentic fabric, plan form, interior features or historical associations of the interior contribute to their special archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural, historical, or traditional interest.”
Action required:  Amend the entry for Wesley Chapel on the Historic Buildings Register  Issue a notification letter to the owner  Notify Development Control - Urban Team of decision  Prepare Notice of Intention to List for further consideration of the Minister.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

Wesley Chapel, Wesley Street, St. Helier - review as Site of Special Interest

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Review of Wesley Chapel, Wesley Street, St Helier

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to review the existing registration of Wesley Chapel, having regard to the States strategic objective ‘to protect the best of the Island’s architectural heritage’ and a key objective of the Island Plan 2002 to protect and promote Jersey’s built, cultural and archaeological heritage.

Background

This report has been prepared by the Jersey Heritage Trust as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the registration of buildings and sites. It incorporates the views of the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group (MRLAG) - a group established to provide independent, expert advice on matters relating to the protection of buildings and sites of cultural interest.

The former Wesley Chapel was included in the first Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey, published in 1992 and was confirmed as a BLI by the Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee in 2002.

The Jersey Heritage Advisory Panel carried out an inspection of the building on 3 September 2004 at the request of the Planning and Environment Department and recommended that the chapel be upgraded to pSSI. This recommendation was submitted to the Environment and Public Services Committee at its meeting on 2 December 2004. The Committee concluded that the site did not have a “sufficient level of special interest” to merit SSI designation.

In November 2006, the Planning and Environment Department requested that the Jersey Heritage Trust undertake a re-appraisal of the property ahead of discussions with the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

The Group carried out a detailed internal and external inspection of Wesley Chapel at its meeting on 11 December.

Discussion

The group agreed that Wesley Chapel has special historic interest and illustrates a significant aspect of Jersey’s social and cultural history - the development of Methodism throughout the nineteenth century as the most active religious movement in the Island. It was noted that the building was opened in 1876, designed by Jersey architects Philippe Le Sueur and Philippe Brée - who were also responsible for the Town Hall and the reconstruction of the Royal Court. The chapel was named after John Wesley - the father of Methodism who visited Jersey in 1787. Wesley Street was later named after the chapel.

The group agreed that Wesley Chapel has special architectural interest and townscape value. The chapel is of classical style with an imposing pedimented façade. There are many architectural features of note including an impressive Doric portico with triple round-headed doorways below, arched windows set between Corinthian pilasters which support a pediment with a louvered roundel, and arched windows along both sides of the buildings, each decorated with brilliant-cut patterns in orange, blue and red glass.

It was agreed that the special interest of the building extends substantially to the interior with many fine historic features including fluted cast iron columns in the schoolroom that support the chapel floor above, a decorative timber gallery, cast iron ceiling roses that disguise ventilation, and a decorative painted ceiling with moulded cornice and large central rose.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the main chapel building and its frontage area to the west enclosed by the boundary wall and railings should be registered as a proposed Site of Special Interest. The ancillary buildings to the north, east and south are of limited interest and should be excluded from the registration.

Reason(s) for Decision

The grade of pSSI for Wesley Chapel is in accordance with published historic building selection criteria and with Interim Policy HB2 that states, “Designation of buildings of architectural or historical importance as Sites of Special Interest will normally be limited to those whose authentic fabric, plan form, interior features or historical associations of the interior contribute to their special archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural, historical, or traditional interest.”

Action Required

 Amend the entry for Wesley Chapel on the Historic Buildings Register

 Issue a notification letter to the owner

 Notify Development Control - Urban Team of decision

 Prepare Notice of Intention to List for further consideration of the Minister.

Written by:	Roger Hills Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust

Approved by:	Janet Dore Principal Historic Buildings Advisor

Endorsed by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)

Attachments:

 Assessment form and plan for Wesley Chapel

 Town maps, 1907 and c.1960s

 Aerial photograph, 2003

 Photographs, September 2004 (internal photographs exempt under 3.2.1(b))

HE1658

02 January 2007