Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John.

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A decision made (09/02/2009) regarding: Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John.

Decision Ref:	MD-PE-2009-0022
Subject:	Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John
Decision Summary Title:	DS - Register as Building of Local Interest: Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John
DS Author:	Principal Historic Environment Officer
DS Date:	7th January 2009	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – Register as Building of Local Interest: Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John
WR Author:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	1st December 2008	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment determined his intention to Register as Building of Local Interest Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John for its particular local interest.
Reason(s) for Decision:	The intention to Register as Building of Local Interest Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows: The culvert retains its historic form and detail, and is of interest for its design, craftsmanship and use of materials; The culvert illustrates a significant aspect of Jersey’s history.
Legal and Resource Implications:	The inclusion of buildings and places in the Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey is consistent with the purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent to Register
Signature:		Date of SMT approval
Position:	Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey: Department of Labour Culvert, La Route de Nord, St John.

Department of Labour Culvert, La Route du Nord, St John

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: 1 December 2008

File ref: JN0095

Current status

Unregistered.

Relevant interests of the site

Historic and architectural interest

The culvert is part of a longer man-made channel that runs alongside Route du Nord and is designed to direct the flow of the stream under the road. The section of particular interest stretches from a set of stone steps – down which the stream flows – to the point it disappears under the road.

The culvert exhibits high quality workmanship and the style of stonework is indicative of the early 20th century. The sides of the channel are of squared, rock-faced granite blocks with raised pointing. The base appears to be re-used paving stones of a type that were being replaced elsewhere in the Island in the 1930s, e.g. used at La Hougue Bie chapel.

The weight of evidence identifies the culvert as part of the ‘New North Road’ (later Route du Nord) construction project, 1941-1945. During the German occupation, the States Department of Labour devised projects to divert and engage available local labour. In particular, men were used to widen roads and construct new ones – their main achievement being Route du Nord.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

The Société Jersiaise Archaeology Section undertook research in November 2008 that identified the culvert as part of the Department of Labour construction project 1941-45.

MRLAG discussed the culvert at its meeting on 27 October and 24 November 2008. Members were unanimous that the historical association with the German Occupation and the quality of the stonework merits registration of the culvert as a BLI.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

Add the culvert to the Register as BLI.

Justification relating to criteria

The registration of the 1940s Department of Labour Culvert as a BLI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings:

The culvert retains its historic form and detail, and is of interest for its design, craftsmanship and use of materials;

The culvert illustrates a significant aspect of Jersey’s history.

Attachments

Photographs, October 2008

Location plan

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