Listed buildings and places
Les bâtisses et endraits historique
1860 Hospital & Gatehouse, Gloucester Street, St. Helier.
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, archaeological and other significance of buildings and places.
The assessment undertaken and the recommendation given in relation to the above building and place is made under the auspices of Article 51 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law, 2002; and the criteria for the listing and grading of heritage assets adopted and published by the Minister for Planning and Environment.
The report also includes the views and advice offered by the Listing Advisory Group in relation to the assessment of this building and place.
Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC - Head of Historic Buildings
Date of report: 19/12/2012
File ref: HE1003
Special interests of the site
Historic interest
Originally completed as a hospital 1768; used as a barracks until 1793 when it was reopened as a hospital; burned down 1859. The present building is Victorian by Thomas Gallichan.
Architectural interest
Hospital: a dignified principal front to Gloucester St.: 3 storey, semi-basement; 2:6:3:6:2 bays, outer pair of bays and central 3 bays projecting. Roof behind granite parapet and moulded granite cornice. Front/south elevation: small granite rock-faced blocks above massive dressed blocks to semi-basement; dressed granite surrounds to openings and quoins: long and shortwork blocks in Gibbsian style; blockwork string courses linking tops of keystones to each storey. Central bay pedimented with a clock; central round-arched doorway at piano nobile level up granite steps, recessed, double timber doors, each 3 panel, fanlight, large keystone holding armourial shield with 3 lions; inscription over portico: 'Hopital General, Fonde 1765, Reconstruit 1860'. Arched windows, imposts at 1st floor linked by moulded string course. Rear/north elevation: 3 storey, 1:3:5:1:5:3:1 bays; granite block string course to parapet. Coursed granite rubble, openings dressed with granite blocks in long and short work, also as quoins to projecting bays 2 and 18. Small doorway to bay 4 from east. Round-arched windows, some timber sashes 8 pane (4/4), no horns, most pvc; 2 Venetian stair windows to centre bay at ground/1st & 1st/2nd floor levels, elongated round-arched windows to end bays and lighting stairs in bays 4 & 15 from east. Gatehouse: single storey, 1:3:1. Pitched slate roofs, granite copings and chimneys to either end of central block.Front/south elevation: to central block coursed small rock-faced grey granite, larger dressed pink granite blocks as quoins in long and short work; to wings blank uncoursed orange granite rubble curving down to outer corners as screen, part of former high boundary wall flanked by gateways, now reduced to low wall. Central full height entrance arch, timber 6 panel pair of doors, carved as a piece as a single arch with Italianate arches in relief; subsidiary arches, timber door to each in similar but simpler style as entrance arch; all 3 arches topped by rather surprising billet mouldings with projecting keystone in neo-Norman style; machiolation with quatrefoil motif below stepped parapet of 3 narrow granite courses.Rear/west elevation: similar materials as central front block across elevation including lower recessed wings, rusticated voussoirs to central full height arch and flanking louvred subsidiary openings; timber sashes to wings: round-arched, 4 pane (2/2), horns.Side/north and south elevations: central doorways to wings, rusticated voussoirs, each a timber plank door, that to south has round quatripartite glazed panel to top of door.Granite freestanding bellcote and bell to south.Low granite rubble boundary wall to street, reduced from original height, remains of quoined gateways flank gatehouse.
Legal reasons for listing
Architectural
Historical
Statement of significance
An important example of a substantial 19th century general hospital, typical of the period, retaining most features. Gatehouse unusual building of high quality, retains fine features in muscular hybrid classical/neo-Norman style. Together a fine ensemble.
Advice offered by MLAG (and others if stated)
At their meeting on 09/11/2009 MLAG agreed with the Jersey Heritage recommendation that the building be Listed as grade 2.
Jersey Heritage recommendation
Listed Building Grade 2
Attachments
Schedule
Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Scate BA (Hons), Dip TP, MRTPI