Notice of Intent to Register as a Building and Site of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey
Ruined building at La Ponterrin Villa, La Rue du Ponterrin, St. Saviour.
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 January 2008 that the Jersey Heritage Trust assess the architectural, historical and other interests of the ruined building at La Ponterrin Villa 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: 27 February 2008
File ref: SA0096
Relevant interests of the site (also see assessment form)
The ruined structure sits within the garden of La Ponterrin Villa - which is currently registered as a BLI.
It is a small, square ruined building with rubble granite walls – apparently built in 2 phases and dating to the C16 or C17. On the east side of the building is the remains of a small doorway with roughly dressed jambs. A substantial west gable survives incorporating a granite fireplace with dressed corbels and jambs, and another decorated corbel high up.
The 1795 Richmond map shows a rectangular building with a roughly east-west alignment on the site. The building is referred to in ‘Old Jersey Houses’ volume 1 and ‘Chapels and Priories of Jersey’ by Charles Stevens 1977 (unpublished). These state that La Chapelle de St Maur may have been at Ponterrin where there is a strong ecclesiastical tradition, and suggest that the building may be the ruins of the chapel. A stone basin found here was believed by former owners to be a holy water stoup.
Another interpretation is that the structure is a rare survival of the earliest known form of vernacular building in the Island - a single-storey, single-celled cottage with large gable end fireplace. The building is certainly of some considerable age.
Advice received (MRLAG or others)
MRLAG discussed the building at its meeting on 25 February 2008. Members unanimously agreed that the ruined building is of importance and that there is potential archaeological interest in the site around the building, given its possible association with a medieval chapel.
JHT recommendation
The ruined structure should be considered as part of the existing BLI for La Ponterrin Villa. In addition, it is recommended that the ruined structure be registered as an Archaeological Site (AS) and the area surrounding the building designated as an Area of Archaeological Potential (AAP) as shown on the attached plan.
Justification relating to criteria
The ruined structure satisfies the criteria for registration as an AS taking into consideration the standing structures that survive, the age of those structures and the rarity of the building type - be it remnants of a chapel or early vernacular cottage.
The area around the ruined structure satisfies designation as an AAP taking into consideration its association with the standing building, and the documentary and artefact evidence relating to the site.
Attachments
Assessment form and images