Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary.

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A decision made (09/02/2009) regarding: Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary.

Decision Ref:	MD-PE-2009-0023
Subject:	Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary
Decision Summary Title:	DS - Register as an Archaeological Site: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary
DS Author:	Principal Historic Environment Officer
DS Date:	7th January 2009	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – Register as Building of Local Interest: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary
WR Author:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	1st December 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined his intention to Register as an Archaeological Site: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary
Reason(s) for Decision:	The intention to Register as an Archaeological Site: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows: The site meets the existing criteria for assessment and designation of archaeological remains because of its standing remains, historic landscape value and evidence of below ground structures which are judged to be of archaeological value.
Legal and Resource Implications:	The inclusion of buildings and places in the Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey is consistent with the purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent to Register
Signature:		Date SMT approved
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary.

La Fontaine, La Rue des Potirons, St Mary

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 the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings, and supplementary planning guidance Archaeology and Planning. 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: 1 December 2008

File ref: MY0007

Current status

La Fontaine is currently unregistered.

Relevant interests of the site

The former farmstead (now a ruin) dates to the mid-18th century and is shown on the Richmond map of 1795.

The Channel Islands (Property) Rehabilitation Scheme, Jersey application submitted by the owner Mr E J Le Ruez for La Fontaine, La Dimerie Hill, St Mary in 1946 describes the property as a granite cottage with 2 living rooms on the ground floor, 2 bedrooms and a cabinet with loft over; granite exterior with granite lintels over doors and windows. Slate roof. The site included a washhouse, stable, pigsties and shed. The application records that the property was used for housing farm labour but became vacant in 1942. German troops stationed in the vicinity broke in and gutted the interior of all timberwork including floors, ceilings, doors, windows and stairs.

There has clearly also been significant post-war deterioration of the property as all that appears to remain today is the lower parts of walls of the buildings, incomplete granite corbelled fireplaces in the cottage and some original brick flooring to outbuildings. The owner advises that some of the loose stonework was used to line the nearby stream.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

MRLAG discussed the site at its meeting on 24 November 2008. Members were unanimous that there is an inadequate survival of the buildings to merit consideration for historic building registration.

The group further discussed the archaeological value of the site and all members were keen to ensure that the ruined structures are archaeologically recorded ahead of further works to the site. It was observed that there has been limited opportunity to examine 18th century buildings at foundation level. The applicability of the archaeological criteria in the case of this ruined structure was debated and 13 members concluded that the site should be registered as an AS. 1 member abstained on the grounds that the criteria are principally tailored towards below-ground remains and do not sit comfortably with assessing standing structures.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

The remains of La Fontaine should be registered as an Archaeological Site (AS).

Justification relating to criteria

The registration of La Fontaine as a protected historic building is not justified as the buildings are ruinous and do not retain their historic form and detail, thereby failing to make a significant and positive contribution to the architectural and historical character and appearance of Jersey, as required in the criteria.

It is proposed that the registration of La Fontaine as an Archaeological Site is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of archaeological remains which states that registration as an AS can be applied where there exists specific information about the nature and location of archaeological remains including any building, historic landscape feature or structure, or the remains thereof; which is judged to be of archaeological value.

Attachments

Photographs, 2008

Plan of AS

1795 Richmond map & 1935 OS map

Channel Island (Property) Rehabilitation Scheme documentation

Board of Trustees

Chairman: Clive Jones Vice-Chairman: Philip Le Brocq

Rowland Anthony, Geoffrey Crill, Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Blair Gould, Deputy Carolyn Labey, Paul Nicolle, Jane Stubbs, Jonathan Voak