The Dower House & Bay Tree Cottage, Le Pont Farm, La Route d'Ebenezer, Trinity

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A decision made (26/06/07) to review The Dower House & Bay Tree Cottage, Le Pont Farm, La Route d'Ebenezer, Trinity.

Subject:	The Dower House & Bay Tree Cottage, Le Pont Farm, La Route d'Ebenezer, Trinity
Decision ref:	MD-PE-2007-0147	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of report:	Written and oral	Report file ref:		TR0141
Person giving report (if oral): Principal Historic Buildings Advisor
Written report – author: Curator of Historic Buildings
Written Report Title: Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Review of The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage, La Rue du Pont, Trinity
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that the former outbuilding at Le Pont Farm (now known as The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage) shall be removed from the Historic Buildings Register: i.e the extent of the registration of Le Pont Farm, La Rue du Pont, Trinity shall be amended to include OakTree House and Le Pont Farm
Reason(s) for decision: Para 5.1 of the Interim policies states that ‘Buildings included in the Register are those which retain their historic form and detail’. The former outbuilding at Le Pont Farm (now The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage) does not satisfy the published criteria for registration as its historic character and fabric was severely damaged as a result of its conversion to residential use in 1986.
Action required: · Notify owner · Notify development control · Amend register entry accordingly
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 26 June 2007

The Dower House & Bay Tree Cottage, Le Pont Farm, La Route d'Ebenezer, Trinity - review

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Appeal against registration

The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage, Le Pont Farm, La Rue du Pont, Trinity

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to review the existing registration of The Dower House, 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 Dower House (and adjacent Bay Tree Cottage) are part of a former outbuilding to Le Pont Farm and are currently included within the pSSI registration for that farm.

The Planning and Environment Department received a request from the owners on 16 April 2007 to review this registration and subsequently requested that the Jersey Heritage Trust undertake an appraisal of the property ahead of discussions with the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group. JHT carried out an external and internal inspection of the property on 3 May, and MRLAG viewed a powerpoint display of the site at its meeting on 14 May 2007.

Discussion

The former mid-C19 outbuilding that now comprises The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage was converted to residential use in 1986. The conversion works were wholesale and included raising the building to 2-storeys, inserting new openings, reconstructing areas of external wall, replacement of all windows and doors and a complete rebuild of the interior.

Given the extent of alteration to the historic fabric and character of the former outbuilding, MRLAG unanimously agreed with the JHT recommendation that The Dower House & Bay Tree Cottage be removed from the Register.

Recommendation

The former outbuilding at Le Pont Farm (now known as The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage) should be removed from the Historic Buildings Register: i.e the extent of the registration of Le Pont Farm, La Rue du Pont Trinity shall be amended to include OakTree House and Le Pont Farm only as shown on the attached plan.

Reason(s) for Decision

Para 5.1 of the Interim policies states that ‘Buildings included in the Register are those which retain their historic form and detail’. The former outbuilding at Le Pont Farm (now The Dower House and Bay Tree Cottage) does not satisfy the published criteria for registration as its historic character and fabric was severely damaged as a result of its conversion to residential use in 1986.

Action Required

 Amend Register

 Issue decision letters to the appellant and to the owners of Bay Tree Cottage

 Notify Development Control - Rural Section of the decision

Written by:	Roger Hills Jersey Heritage Trust

Approved by:	Fiona Smith Historic Buildings Officer

Endorsed by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director

Attachments:

 Location plan

 Assessment form and photographs, May 2007

 Photograph, pre-1986

 Elevation drawings, 1989

 Appeal letter dated 12 April 2007 (exempt 3.2.1(b))

File ref TR0141

Date 06/06/2007