Haut du Marais, Rue de la Croute, St. Ouen

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A decision made (11.08.08) to list Haut du Marais, Rue de la Croute, St. Ouen as a Site of Special Interest.

Decision Ref:	MD-PE-2008-0172
Subject:	List of Sites of Special Interest – Haut du Marais, La Rue de la Croute, St Ouen – Intent to List
Decision Summary Title:	DS - List of Sites of Special Interest – Haut du Marais, La Rue de la Croute, St Ouen – Intent to List
DS Author:	Janet Dore – Principal Historic Buildings Advisor
DS Date:	31 July 2008	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – List of Sites of Special Interest – Haut du Marais, La Rue de la Croute, St Ouen
WR Author:	Roger Hills – Jersey Heritage
WR Date	8 May 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Roger Hills – Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined that; A Notice of Intent be served indicating his intent to list the building as a SSI.
Reason(s) for Decision:	Listing Haut du Marais as a SSI is in accordance with the published policy and guidance as follows: the building illustrates significant aspects of Jersey’s social and cultural history, being a rare example of Jersey’s vernacular architecture from the late 1600s / early 1700s; the buildings special interest extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form and interior features; the building is of special interest for its architectural design, craftsmanship, composition, and use of materials and details in the vernacular tradition. Given the age of the building, Haut du Marais satisfies the SSI criteria that states there is archaeological significance where the fabric of the building which is the primary document for its history contains or can be expected to contain unique and valuable evidence about its development and the culture which produced it, which can be understood through systematic investigation. This will be an important consideration for any building originating before about 1750.
Legal and Resource Implications:	None
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent to List as SSI
Signature:
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Haut du Marais, Rue de la Croute, St. Ouen - intention to list as SSI

List of Sites of Special Interest

Haut du Marais, La Rue de la Croute, St. Ouen.

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 the principles of selection for designation as a site of special interest as set out in the interim policies for the conservation of historic buildings, 1998. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

The Planning and Environment Department requested in April 2008 that Jersey Heritage assess the architectural, historical and other interests of Haut du Marais.

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

Date of report: 8 May 2008

File ref: OU0032

Current status

First registered in 1992; BLI.

Relevant interests of the site (also see schedule)

Historic interest

Haut du Marais appears to date to the late 1600s / early 1700s and is an interesting and rare example of Jersey vernacular architecture of this period. The building was used as a bakehouse and stable - although may have begun as a cottage. It is historically associated with the Le Maistre family. The Richmond map of 1795 shows another south facing building (now lost) alongside the bakehouse.

Architectural interest

The building is single-storey, constructed of rubble granite with elongated and irregular quoins indicative of an early construction date. The north facing gable has an integral fireplace and granite chimney stack with thatch weathering stones. The gable contains a small door into the loft. Also present is a single support stone for the fireplace projecting through the gable, and the remains of an early pin-and-eye gate hinge.

The south facing gable has a small ventilation opening to the loft, below which are nesting holes for pigeons or doves. There is a small window to the stable below. The front of the building faces east and contains two doorways and two windows - all with unchamfered granite dressings and timber lintels. One door provides access into the stable and the other (which is unusually combined with a window) into the bakehouse room. The west facing wall has a single window into the stable.

Internally the building was previously divided into two rooms by a timber partition but is now a single space. The joinery to the loft floor and roof all appear to be late 19th century and the roof pantiles likely date to this period. There is an earth floor. The fireplace appears to have been reconfigured in the late 19th century when a new bread oven was constructed of granite with brick lining. There is a niche within the original chimney embrasure, and another niche in the west wall beside the bread oven.

Archaeological interest

As the building appears to date to the late 1600s / early 1700s, the site and fabric can be expected to contain valuable evidence about its development, and the culture which produced it.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

MRLAG discussed the interests of the building at its meeting on 6 May 2008. Members unanimously agreed with the JH recommendation to list the site as an SSI.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

Haut du Marais should be listed as a Site of Special Interest.

Justification relating to criteria

Listing Haut du Marais as an SSI is in accordance with the published policy guidance as follows:

· The building illustrates significant aspects of Jersey’s social and cultural history, being a rare example of Jersey vernacular architecture from the late 1600s / early 1700s;

· The building’s special interest extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form and interior features;

· The building is of special interest for its architectural design, craftsmanship, composition, and use of materials and details in the vernacular tradition;

· Given the age of the building, Haut du Marais satisfies the SSI criteria that states there is archaeological significance, “Where the fabric of the building, which is the primary document for its history, contains, or can be expected to contain, unique and valuable evidence about its development, and the culture which produced it, which can be understood through systematic investigation. This will be an important consideration for any building originating before about 1750.”

Attachments

SSI schedule and plan

Photographs, April 2008