Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence: Notice of Intent to list as Site of Special Interest

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A decision made on 14 September 2009 to express intention to list Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence as a Site of Special Interest

Decision Ref:	MD–PE–2009-0158
Subject:	List of Sites of Special Interest: Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence.
Decision Summary Title:	DS - List as Site of Special Interest: Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence.
DS Author:	Tracey Ingle, Principle Historic Environment Advisor
DS Date:	3rd September 2009	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – List as Site of Special Interest: Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence.
WR Author:	Roger Hills, Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	8th July 2009	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Roger Hills, Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment expressed his intention to List Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence as a Site of Special Interest by reason its special interest.
Reason(s) for Decision:	The intention to List Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence as a Site of Special Interest is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows: The House of 1918 is a neo-Elizabethan / Arts and Crafts style retaining its original form and features including many internal features. The property is associated with both Sir Jesse Boot, later Lord Trent and was built by Frank Walker a prominent business person.
Legal and Resource Implications:	Article 51(2)(b) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables the Minister to include on the List of Sites of Special Interest those buildings and places that the Minister is satisfied has public importance by reason of the special archaeological, architectural, artistic, historical, scientific or traditional interest that attaches to the building or place
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent to List;
Signature:				SMT Approved? Y / N
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence: Notice of Intent to list as Site of Special Interest

List of Sites of Special Interest

Millbrook Manor, La Rue de Haut, St Lawrence

This report has been prepared by Jersey Heritage as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the architectural, historical and archaeological significance of buildings and sites.

The assessment and recommendation are made in accordance with Article 51 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law, 2002; Policy G11 of the Jersey Island Plan, 2002; and criteria for the identification and designation of historic buildings in SPG Practice Note 9, 2008. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings

Date of report: 8th July 2009

File ref: LA0111

Current status

Currently registered as proposed Site of Special Interest.

Relevant interests of the site (see SSI schedule)

Historical interest

Not a true manor and has no association with any fief or seigniory.

The house was built c.1918 for Frank Walker, a prominent local businessman. It is in simple neo-Elizabethan / Arts-and-Crafts style, and replaced an earlier house called ‘The Poplars’.

Home to Sir Jesse Boot (later Lord Trent and founder of the Boots chain of chemists) from 1921.

Architectural interest

The house is in simple neo-Elizabethan / Arts-and-Crafts style. The principal building is 2-storey plus roof accommodation. The garden (south) elevation is 4 double bays. It has a rectangular plan with a small internal courtyard, some parts one storey high. There is a double-storey rectangular music room on the north/west corner with independent pitched roof. There are 2 tall, symmetrically positioned window bays on the south elevation. Recently added is a balcony on round stone columns to the west elevation. The house has external cavity walls, which are innovative for the time. The internal leaf is in brick, the external in granite with stone window and door surrounds. The metal framed windows were replaced in the 1980s with the same pattern, double glazed. The roof is in clay tile. The interiors retain many original features, including a 1920s music room, original stairs to the first floor, and a 1920s Art Deco bathroom interior at first floor.

The gardens are an example of open garden landscaping, and contain some original features of interest: stone steps, fountain basins, planters and sculptures.

Artistic interest

Of particular note is the music room which contains 1920s features of high interest - particularly thematic murals by Rene L. Joulmes, and Art Deco ironmongery - double gate doors to the dining room and a matching musicians’ gallery balustrade.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

The site was visited and assessed (in consultation with Jersey Heritage and Mr Peter Bisson of the Société Jersiaise) by historic building architects at Conservation Architecture & Planning, who were commissioned by Jersey Heritage and the Planning and Environment Department at the beginning of 2008 to provide an appraisal of manor houses in the Island. CAP recognised that Millbrook Manor is not a true manor and has no association with any fief or seigniory, but is a property of historical and architectural significance - as set out in the attached assessment form.

MRLAG discussed the site at its meeting on 12th January 2009. Members unanimously agreed that Millbrook Manor merits being listed as an SSI for the reasons set out in the schedule.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

Millbrook Manor should be listed as a Site of Special Interest as set out in the attached schedule.

Justification relating to criteria

The listing of Millbrook Manor is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings:

• The house is of special interest for its architectural design, artistic decoration, craftsmanship, composition and use of materials and details - as a result of conscious design. The house is also of special interest for its internal arrangement, and the survival of significant elements of the historic interior;

• Millbrook Manor is of special historical interest as it illustrates significant aspects of Jersey’s social and cultural history; and has documented historical associations with significant people;