List of Sites of Special Interest; Issue Notice of Intention
Rozel Barracks (Beau Couperon Hotel), Le Mont de Rozel, St. Martin.
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 historic buildings and sites.
The Planning and Environment Department requested on 4 December 2007 that the Jersey Heritage Trust assess the architectural, historical and other interests of Beau Couperon Hotel ahead of discussions with the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.
Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Curator of Historic Buildings
Date of report: 30 January 2008
File ref: MN0242
Relevant interests of the site (also see schedule)
The Beau Couperon Hotel occupies the former Rozel Barracks (aka Le Couperon Barracks). The remains of the C19 barracks are currently registered as a BLI but it is proposed that listing as an SSI would be more appropriate given the site’s special historical, archaeological and architectural interest. The C20 hotel buildings are of no interest.
Rozel Barracks was built as part of the programme of increased fortification of Jersey’s coast in response to the threat of French invasion in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century and is significant as one of the few purpose-built military barracks of this period surviving in the Island – the others being at Greve de Lecq and Pointe des Pas (also within Elizabeth Castle and Fort Regent).
The barracks were built in 1810 both as accommodation for regular army troops and as a strongpoint to defend the landing place at Rozel Bay – with a tall screen wall with musket loopholes facing the sea. Behind the screen wall were barrack blocks originally designed to quarter 65 men and 3 officers with stabling. The screen wall was underpinned in 1814.
In the 1820s the barracks became the residence of Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Halkett while Government House was being made ready. The Prince de Vienne also used it as a residence in 1860.
The site was again put to military use during the Franco-Prussian War in the 1870s. Extra troops were stationed at Rozel and a cookhouse, ablution house and washhouse were added to the barracks.
The War Department sold the barracks to a private individual in 1924 and the site was converted into a hotel in the late 1950s.
Advice received (MRLAG or others)
MRLAG discussed the interests of the site at its meeting on 14 January 2008. Members noted that the nineteenth century barracks are partially demolished and have been altered as a result of the hotel works, but agreed that a significant proportion of the military site survives – including its original footprint and boundary walls, the loopholed screen wall and parts of the barrack buildings. It was also agreed that archaeological evidence of the earlier buildings and potentially pre-barrack evidence are likely to survive.
Members were unanimous that the site should be listed as an SSI for its historical, architectural and archaeological interest.
JHT recommendation
The surviving elements of the nineteenth century barracks are of special historical, architectural and archaeological interest and should be listed as a Site of Special Interest.
It is recommended that the Minister for Planning and Environment:
· Re-grade Rozel Barracks on the Historic Buildings Register to a pSSI;
Approve the serving of the Intention to List Notice in accord with the requirements of the Law.
Justification relating to criteria
The registration of Rozel Barracks as a pSSI is in accordance with the published principles for selection.
The special interest of Rozel Barracks, as defined and assessed relative to the published criteria for selection, justifies its inclusion on the List of Sites of Special Interest in accordance with the provisions and purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002
Attachments
SSI schedule and plan
Photographs mid-C19 to 1907
Photographs 2007