PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey Assessment of POW hut at Ville Canut, La Rue de la Corbiere, St Brelade
Purpose of the Report
The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider the registration of a former POW hut at Ville Canut, 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.
Ville Canut was added to the Historic Buildings Register as a BLI by the Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee in 2001.
In August 2006, the Planning and Environment Department sought advice from the Jersey Heritage Trust as to whether a former POW hut located on the site merits inclusion within the existing registration.
The JHT assessed the historic and architectural interest the building ahead of discussions with the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group at its meeting on 18 September 2006. The Curator of Historic Buildings carried out an internal inspection of the hut with the owner on 5 October.
Discussion
The hut is timber-frame covered with corrugated iron, with original 6-pane timber windows. It is understood that the hut was originally part of the POW camp built at Blanches Banques in 1915 - most likely an accessory building rather than living hut. In an article written by Major Naish, Commanding Royal Engineer in Jersey during the war, the accessory buildings at the camp are described as, “designed to be of corrugated iron (walls and roof) on wood framing”. The hut was moved to Ville Canut after the war and used as a farm shop until the early 1990s.
MRLAG agreed that a former POW hut from Blanches Banques has significant historic interest as well as rarity value. Taking this into consideration, members unanimously agreed that the former POW hut should be registered as a pSSI. The group recognised that the building has been relocated from its original site and further recommended that the POW hut be registered separately from Ville Canut.
Recommendation
The former POW hut at Ville Canut should be added to the Historic Buildings Register as a pSSI - principally for its special historic interest.
Reason(s) for Decision
The former POW hut at Ville Canut satisfies the published criteria for registration.
The proposed designation of the former POW hut at Ville Canut as a Site of Special Interest is in accordance with Article 51 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
Action Required
Amend the Historic Buildings Register to include the former POW hut at Ville Canut
Issue a notification letter to the owner
Notify Development Control - Rural Section of the decision
Prepare relevant papers associated with the proposed designation of the former POW hut at Ville Canut as a Site of Special Interest, to be the subject of a further report to the Minister
Written by: | Roger Hills Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust |
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Approved by: | Fiona Smith Historic Buildings Officer |
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Endorsed by: | Kevin Pilley Assistant Director |
Attachments:
Plans showing the location of the former POW hut at Ville Canut
Registration assessment and photographs 2006 (interior photographs exempt under 3.2.1(b))
Views of POW camp at Blanches Banques, St Ouen 1915 (Société Jersiaise Photographic Collection)
Societe Jersiaise Annual Bulletin, 1955 ‘The German Prisoners of War Camp at Jersey, During the Great War, 1914-1918’ by Major Naish
5 October 2006