Government of Jersey

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A decision made 23 October 2008 regarding: 7 Francis Street, St. Helier - intention to list as site of special interest.

Decision Ref:	MD–PE–2008-0234
Subject:	List of Sites of Special Interest: 7 Francis Street, St Helier
Decision Summary Title:	DS - List of Sites of Special Interest: 7 Francis Street, St Helier
DS Author:	Kevin Pilley, Assistant Director
DS Date:	15 October 2008	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – List of Sites of Special Interest: 7 Francis Street, St Helier
WR Author:	Roger Hills, Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	01 October 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Roger Hills, Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined his intention to List 7 Francis Street, St Helier as a Site of Special Interest for its historical and architectural interest.
Reason(s) for Decision:	The intention to list 7 Francis Street as an SSI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows: · The special interest of 7 Francis Street extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form and interior features; · 7 Francis Street is of special interest for its 19th century architectural design and style, craftsmanship, composition, and use of materials and details; · 7 Francis Street is of special interest for the survival of the major elements of its historic 1813-1825 interior; · 7 Francis Street is of historic interest as it is illustrative of St Helier’s social, economic and cultural history..
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
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent
Signature:
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

7 Francis Street, St. Helier - intention to list as site of special interest

List of Sites of Special Interest

7 Francis 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 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 published principles of selection for designation as a site of special interest. 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: 1 October 2008

File ref: HE0217

Current status

Registered a pSSI.

Relevant interests of the site (also see schedule)

Historic interest

7 Francis Street is an early 19th century house. The Land Registry shows that the land was purchased by Jean Simeon Ahier in 1813, with Gédéon Ahier later selling the house to Thomas Ahier on 17 September 1825. The house provides an important historic element to the street and has notable townscape value with the adjacent 1836 town pump.

Architectural interest

The house retains much of its 1813-1825 form and fabric - with later 19th century additions to the exterior façade. The building frontage is a traditional 5-bay, 2-storey with attic, constructed of rubble granite. The façade has a later 19th century render finish scored in imitation ashlar and voussoir, with applied cement ornament to the window sills and a cement cornice on console brackets above the doorway - as was fashionable at that time. The windows are original early 19th century 12-pane timber sashes without ‘horns’. The front door, with its glazed upper panels, appears to be a later Victorian replacement. There is a pitched pantiled roof with small cambered dormers.

To the roadside is a small front garden enclosed by a cement rendered wall with butterfly pattern iron railings and gate - likely added in the later 19th century. The rear elevation of the house has a traditional pierre-perdu finish showing the granite construction of the house. There is a central catslide dormer and the majority of original 12-pane sash windows - although a 16-pane sash has been lost on the ground floor. A small rear outbuilding and garden survives.

The house retains its original rectangular double-pile plan - two rooms deep with a central corridor. The majority of rooms retain an original timber fireplace of simple early 19th century design, with flanking integral cupboards (some with a variation of doors), and plain shallow skirting. The interior of the windows has a moulded architrave with plain lining and window back. There are 6-panel doors at ground and first floors and 4-panel doors of matching joinery details to the attic.

The staircase is at the centre rear of the house, and is of an unusual design that seems to hark back to an earlier tradition and style. It has a square plan with half-landings and a continuous central newel post. There are panelled strings (with moulding pattern matching the doors) and moderately robust turned balusters. The newel posts at ground and first floor appear to be later replacements.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

MRLAG discussed 7 Francis Street at its meeting on 29 September 2008. Members noted the architectural and historical interest of the property as set out in the Jersey Heritage report and unanimously advised that the property should be listed as an SSI.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

7 Francis Street should be listed as a Site of Special Interest for its historical and architectural interest.

Justification relating to criteria

The listing of 7 Francis Street as an SSI is in accordance with the published policy guidance as follows:

· The special interest of 7 Francis Street extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form and interior features;

· 7 Francis Street is of special interest for its 19th century architectural design and style, craftsmanship, composition, and use of materials and details;

· 7 Francis Street is of special interest for the survival of the major elements of its historic 1813-1825 interior;

· 7 Francis Street is of historic interest as it is illustrative of St Helier’s social, economic and cultural history.