Government of Jersey

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 1 March 2010 regarding: Hamptonne, La Rue de la Patente, St. Lawrence - intent to list as site of special interest.

Decision Ref:	MD–PE–2010-0025
Subject:	Notice of Intent to List as Site of Special Interest: Hamptonne, La Rue de la Patente, St Lawrence
Address and Reference Number	Hamptonne, La Rue de la Patente, St Lawrence	Historic Building Reference:	LA0123
DS Author:	Assistant Director
DS Date:	17 February 2010	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – List of Sites of Special Interest: Hamptonne, La Rue de la Patente, St Lawrence
WR Author:	Assistant Director
WR Date	07 December 2009	WR Status:	Public
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment resolved to serve a notice of his intent to add the building and place specified above to the List of Sites of Special Interest.
Reason(s) for Decision:	1. the special interest of the building and place specified above, as defined and in the schedule and relative to the published criteria for selection, justifies its inclusion on the List of Sites of Special Interest in accordance with the provisions and purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002, as assessed by the Head of Historic Buildings at Jersey Heritage and the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group and; 2. it accords with the States Strategic Plan commitment of protecting and enhancing the Island’s built heritage assets.
Legal and Resource Implications:	Article 51(2)(b) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables the Minister to include on the List of Sites of Special Interest those buildings and places that the Minister is satisfied has public importance by reason of the special archaeological, architectural, artistic, historical, scientific or traditional interest that attaches to the building or place. Article 52 of the same Law requires the Minister to serve notice of his intention to do so;
Action required:	Serve notice of intent to add the building and place the building and place specified above to the List of Sites of Special Interest
Signature:		Date of SMT approval:
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Hamptonne, La Rue de la Patente, St. Lawrence - intent to list as site of special interest

List of Sites of Special Interest

Hamptonne, La Rue de la Patente, St Lawrence

The assessment and recommendation within this report are made in accordance with Article 51 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law, 2002; Policy G11 of the Jersey Island Plan, 2002; and criteria for the identification and designation of historic buildings in SPG Practice Note 9, 2008. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

Author of report: Kevin Pilley

Date of report: 7th December 2009

File ref: LA0123

Current status

pSSI.

Relevant interests of the site (see schedule for more detail)

Hamptonne is of the greatest importance to the history and architecture of the Jersey farm, the complex of buildings illustrating the evolution of a Jersey farm from the 15th century to the 19th century - a building first recorded on the site in 1445. The property was purchased by Laurens Hamptonne in the 17th century. Laurens Hamptonne was the first to proclaim Charles II as King, in the Royal Square in St. Helier in February 1649, and Charles II rewarded Hamptonne by raising the raising the status of the property to a fief.

Hamptonne comprises three houses - named after the former family owners Hamptonne, Langlois and Syvret - subsidiary working farm buildings set around two courtyards, a square colombier, associated landscaped gardens, fields, orchard and woodland.

Hamptonne House is a rare surviving example of an early Jersey farmhouse - interpretations of its original date varying between c.1400 and the late 15th century. It has one of only two complete king-post roofs in Jersey, indicating that originally it was an open hall. When the first floor was added, access was provided by building a tourelle on to the back of the house. During the 17th century a Dower Wing was built, a porch added and oak panelling and moulded ceilings introduced. Hamptonne House is now of rectangular plan, 2-storey, with 5 irregular bays. There are granite exterior walls with volieres a pigeons to the front façade. The stone arch over the front door has double voussoirs and the chamfer stop on the left has a Fleur de Lys. The three arch stones have moulded beading, but the upright portions have a plain chamfer. To the front of the doorway is a rare 17th century porch with pillars bearing the Hamptonne Arms, a 1640 ex situ sundial, and a reconstructed roof of Normandy slate. There are many internal features of interest including three medieval fireplaces.

To the front of Hamptonne House is the main south courtyard, with an impressive double entrance arch to the roadside - one of only two examples in Jersey bearing a date before the Civil War.

Facing the south side of the courtyard is the Langlois building, a single-storey range of farm buildings with a two-storey block at the west end believed to be an upper hall house, the first floor accessed by an unenclosed external stone staircase. This style of architecture was common in medieval Brittany. The arched doorway is of late 15th early 16th century appearance and is unusual, with an eleven-stone arch (the average in Jersey being nine). The fireplace in the main room is of notable design with projecting jambs and large acanthus leaf chamfer stops.

Alongside La Rue de la Patente is a range of buildings known as Syvret House - comprising a house dated at about 1833 and an adjoining pressoir (cider barn) built in 1834. The rooms are unusually tall and grand for a Jersey farmhouse and are more typical of the townhouses built in St. Helier at this time. The pressoir contains an apple crusher and a wooden twin-screw apple press.

Integral to the interest and character of the farmstead are a number of outbuildings and associated gardens and grounds. On the north side of the upper courtyard are outbuildings added by the Syvrets in the 19th century including stables, a carriage house, bake house, washhouse and open shed. There is also a detached granite pigsty added to the south of the Langlois House. Charles II gave permission for Laurens Hamptonne to rebuild the colombier to the south of the main farmstead and this was completed in 1674. This is one of only two square colombiers on the island, the other being at La Haule Manor.

The site is of archaeological interest given the long and complex structural history from various periods of rebuild and extension.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

The site was visited and assessed (in consultation with Jersey Heritage and Mr Peter Bisson of the Société Jersiaise) by historic building architects at Conservation Architecture & Planning, who were commissioned by Jersey Heritage and the Planning and Environment Department in 2008 to provide an appraisal of manor houses in the Island. CAP recognised that Hamptonne is a property of historical, architectural and archaeological significance - as set out in the attached assessment form.

MRLAG discussed the site at its meeting on 14th September 2009. C Alluto, J Clarke, J Carter, O Finch and R Hills declared an interest and took no part in discussions.

Members were unanimous that Hamptonne should be listed as an SSI for its architectural and historical interest as detailed in the report. As the site has a long and complex structural history from various periods of rebuild and extension, it was further agreed that the SSI should include archaeological interest applying to the fabric of the standing pre-1800 structures. Members advised that the boundary should include the farmstead, fields 323 and 324 to the east of the farmstead, the pond to the south, and the colombier.

Justification relating to criteria

The listing of Hamptonne as an SSI is in accordance with Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 which defines Sites of Special Interest as buildings and places of ‘public importance’, having ‘special archaeological, architectural, artistic, historical, scientific or traditional interest’.

The listing of Hamptonne as an SSI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings, in particular:

· The special interest of the property extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form, interior features, and historical associations;

· The pre-1800 structures are of archaeological interest as the fabric of the buildings and the land beneath and around them contain, or can be expected to contain, unique and valuable evidence about the site’s development, and the culture which produced it, which can be understood through systematic investigation;

· The buildings are of special interest for their architectural design, craftsmanship, composition, and use of materials and details in the vernacular tradition - the architectural interest is enhanced by the contribution of the buildings to a larger group;

· The interiors are of architectural interest and they include the survival of major elements from before 1840;

· The property is of historical interest as it illustrates significant aspects of Jersey’s social and cultural history, and has documented historical associations with significant people.

Attachments

Conservation Architecture & Planning report 2008

SSI schedule and plan