Government of Jersey

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A decision made (12.01.2009) to determine that only part of Field 5/5a, La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity be designated as an area of archaeological potential/interest.

Decision Ref:	MD–PE–2009-0001
Subject:	Designation of sites of archaeological interest: Field 5/5A, La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity
Decision Summary Title:	DS - Designate as AAP: Field 5/5A, La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity
DS Author:	Kevin Pilley, Assistant Director
DS Date:	02 January 2009	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – Designation of sites of archaeological interest: Field 5/5A, La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity
WR Author:	Olga Finch, Curator of Archaeology
WR Date	02 December 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Olga Finch, Curator of Archaeology
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that only part of Field 5/5A, La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity be designated as an Area of Archaeological Potential;
Reason(s) for Decision:	The designation of part of Field 5/5A is in accordance with the published criteria for assessment and designation of archaeological sites.
Legal and Resource Implications:	The designation of areas of archaeological potential is in accordance with the purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002
Action required:	Update the schedule of sites of archaeological interest published as supplementary planning guidance Notify the owner
Signature:
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Field 5/5a, La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity - area of archaeological potential/interest

Designation of sites of archaeological interest

Field 5/5A ‘Clos de la Belle Hougue et du Gros Rocher’,

La Chemin de la Belle Hougue, Trinity

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 published criteria for assessment and designation of archaeological sites as set out in Supplementary Planning Guidance Archaeology and Planning.

Authors of report: Olga Finch, Curator of Archaeology & Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings

Date of report: 2 December 2008

File ref: TR0218

Relevant interests of the site (also see assessment form)

The potential archaeological interest of the site was identified via the research included in Jersey Place Names (1986) which highlights Belle Hougue headland as a possible major promontory fort and suggests that field 5/5A is the site of La Belle Hougue. Research notes by Stevens add that the field is ‘probably the site of the principal tumulus’. Also of interest is the field name ‘Clos de la Belle Hougue et du Gros Rocher’ which is likely in part to be derived from the prominent local landscape feature but may also indicate the location of another mound which is no longer visible. The potential archaeological interest of the site and its designation as an AAP was supported by the Société Jersiaise Archaeology Section and MRLAG when the site was first proposed for protection in 2007.

An appeal against archaeological protection of the site was submitted by Dr J Renouf on behalf of the JMCLCC in September 2007. Dr Renouf’s view was that the field name refers to the natural outcrop alone; that the sloping site seems an unlikely location for a hougue; that the thin soil is unlikely to contain archaeological evidence; and that there have been no archaeological finds to support activity in the area. A site visit was subsequently undertaken by the JH Curator of Archaeology with the Minister for Planning and Environment, after which the evidence was re-evaluated.

JH recommendation

It is the view of JH that the archaeological potential suggested in Jersey Place Names has not yet been disproved. It is, however, accepted that the landscaping of field 5/5A and its use as a motor sport venue have greatly reduced the likelihood of archaeological discovery in some areas of the site, and it is therefore proposed that only part of field 5 (as shown on the plan) be defined as an AAP.

Justification relating to criteria

Defining Field 5 as an Area of Archaeological Potential (AAP) is in accordance with the published criteria for assessment and designation of archaeological sites as set out in Supplementary Planning Guidance Archaeology and Planning which states, “AAPs may also be defined on the basis of evidence which suggests the potential for archaeological remains. This might include find spots of limited artefact evidence, field names or old maps which indicate the potential presence of earlier land use or structures”.

Attachments

Assessment form, revised December 2008