Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey
Northfields, Byron Lane, 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 and archaeological significance of buildings and sites.
The assessment and recommendation are made in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.
Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings
Date of report: 28 November 2008
File ref: HE0077
Current status
Northfields is currently registered as a BLI.
Relevant interests of the site
Historic interest
The Public Registry (1189:854) shows that the house was built at the bottom of the garden of 22 Temple Crescent, St Mark’s Road by Nathaniel Prigg in 1924.
Architectural interest
The house has roughcast walls with a façade decorated in the ‘faux bois’ style (popular from the late 19th century and in France in the 1920s for garden structures) - the porch, door-case, window and door architraves and terminal pilasters all constructed of cement to give appearance of rustic woodwork. The windows are 4-pane timber sashes from the period and the remainder of the house is plain roughcast.
Scenic interest / group value
Makes a positive scenic contribution to Byron Lane. Northfields is one of a small group of buildings in St Helier with a similar ‘faux bois’ treatment to the façade, the others being 7 Pomona Road and 21 Esplanade - plus the mock-rustic porch at Inglehurst in Nelson Avenue.
Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)
MRLAG discussed the site at its meeting on 24 November 2008. Members were unanimous that Northfields should be retained as a BLI.
Jersey Heritage recommendation
Northfields should be retained as a BLI - principally for its faux bois decoration.
Justification relating to criteria
The registration of Northfields as a BLI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings:
- The house retains its 1920s external historic form and detail, and so makes a significant and positive contribution to the architectural and historical character and appearance of Jersey;
- The house is significant for its architectural decoration, craftsmanship and use of materials;
- The house illustrates aspects of Jersey’s social history;
- The house makes a positive scenic contribution to Byron Lane.
Attachments
Photographs, November 2008
Location plan
1935 OS map
Board of Trustees
Chairman: Clive Jones Vice-Chairman: Philip Le Brocq
Rowland Anthony, Geoffrey Crill, Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Blair Gould, Deputy Carolyn Labey, Paul Nicolle, Jane Stubbs, Jonathan Voak