Notice of Intent to List as Site of Special Interest
14, Hilgrove Street, St. Helier.
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 in February 2008 that the Jersey Heritage Trust assess the architectural, historical and other interests of 14 Hilgrove Street 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: 5 March 2008
File ref: HE0270
Relevant interests of the site (also see schedule)
14 Hilgrove Street is currently registered as a Building of Local Interest.
The building is of architectural and historical significance as a substantially complete 1830-34 shop that is illustrative of the unprecedented expansion of the town from its historic core in the early years of the 19th century.
The building can be dated from documentary records and maps, and from its design, construction and detailing. The Public Registry shows that the land was acquired by Jean Aubin in 1830 – the purchase included an existing building on the site described as being set back from Hilgrove Lane with land in front of it and Le Grand Douet on its west side. It appears that this building was soon after demolished and No.14 constructed (originally a pair with No.16) as the site is shown fully developed with buildings on the road edge on the Le Gros Map published in 1834.
The 2002 report by Jonathan Carey concludes that the design, construction and detailing of No.14 dates it to the early 1830s. The building is representative of the sorts of shops with living accommodation above erected from the 1820s – but a building type that is becoming increasingly scarce in St Helier.
The Carey report, and inspection of the building, shows that No.14 substantially survives as originally constructed. The external walls are of rendered rubble granite with a timber shopfront, a pair of 12-pane sash windows without horns on the first floor, and a pitched slate roof with dormers, that accommodates second floor rooms. The rear yard appears to have been built over in late 19th century / 20th century.
Evidence shows that the shopfront dates to the 1830s with some alterations. Principal surviving elements from the original are the cornice, fascia, doorframe, fanlight, right hand pilaster and probably the fixed, flush-beaded shutter panel by the pilaster. A matching pilaster on the left hand side appears to have been removed – perhaps when No.12 was built. The door may be a later replacement although its design echoes the original. The shopfront appears to have been modified in the later 19th century when the shop windows were replaced with four large square panes, and glazed opening lights were inserted in the stall riser to give light into the cellar (currently covered by modern matchboarding).
The original 1830-34 plan form and interior layout of the building substantially survives, with the exception of the removal of internal partitions on the ground floor to create a larger shop space. There is a cellar accessed via stone steps. On each of the other levels the building is arranged with a front room across the full width of the property and a narrower room at back, to allow for a dog-leg staircase and landings in one corner at the rear.
Evidence shows that the 1830s fabric of the internal walls, the floor structures, the floorboards, wall and ceiling plaster are largely original and there is an almost complete set of window, door, skirting and stair joinery with echinus and ovolo shaped mouldings dating to that period, as well as original fireplaces and integral cupboards.
Advice received (MRLAG or others)
The Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group carried out an external and internal inspection of the property on 25 February 2008.
All members were impressed with the high level of original fabric and the historic integrity of the building as described above. 9 members advised that SSI would be appropriate for the building’s special historical and architectural interest. 2 members acknowledged the level of survival and integrity of the building but felt that the architectural quality of the surviving interior is modest and advised that BLI would be more appropriate.
JHT recommendation
14 Hilgrove Street is of special historical and architectural interest and should be listed as a Site of Special Interest.
It is recommended that the Minister for Planning and Environment:
- Re-grade 14 Hilgrove Street 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
14 Hilgrove Street is of architectural and historical significance as a substantially complete 1830-34 shop that is illustrative of the unprecedented expansion of the town from its historic core in the early years of the 19th century.
14 Hilgrove Street complies with the essential criterion for the listing of an historic building as a Site of Special interest in that its special interest extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form and interior features.
Listing 14 Hilgrove Street as an SSI is in accord with the selection criteria that states the survival of the major elements of historic interiors from before 1840 are likely to justify designation.
14 Hilgrove Street is a building type that is becoming increasingly scarce in St Helier.
Attachments
Report on the history and significance of Nos.12 & 14 Hilgrove Street by Jonathan R Carey, Dip.Arch., RIBA, of Donald Insall Associates, dated November 2002.
SSI schedule and plan
Photographs, February 2008
Board of Trustees
Chairman: Jurat John de Veulle OBE Vice-Chairman: Philip Le Brocq
Rowland Anthony, Geoffrey Crill, Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Blair Gould, Clive Jones, Deputy Carolyn Labey, Paul Nicolle, Jane Stubbs,
Jonathan Voak
gov.je