PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance
Review of St Juste, Belvedere Hill, St Saviour
Purpose of the Report
The purpose of this report is for the Minister to review the existing registration of St Juste, having regard to the States strategic objective ‘to protect the best of the Island’s architectural heritage’ and a key objective of the Island Plan 2002 to protect and promote Jersey’s built, cultural and archaeological heritage.
Background
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 buildings and sites. It incorporates the views of the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group (MRLAG) - a group established to provide independent, expert advice on matters relating to the protection of buildings and sites of cultural interest.
St Juste was not included in the 1992 Historic Buildings Register and was not considered for registration by the Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee during its review of historic buildings in St Saviour in 2002.
In February 2006, the Planning and Environment Department requested that the Jersey Heritage Advisory Panel assess the architectural and historic interests of St Juste in light of observations made about the building in a report on cottage ornée prepared by The Paul Drury Partnership in July 2005, and in response to a request from a member of the public in January 2006 to add St Juste to the Historic Buildings Register.
The Curator of Historic Buildings (JHT) carried out an evaluation of the significance of St Juste in February 2006. Taking into account the architectural and historical interests of the building, the rare survival of cottage ornée in Jersey and the positive contribution St Juste makes to the scenic value of the area, it was concluded that the cottage satisfies the criteria for inclusion in the Register - with the appropriate registration grade properly assessed once an internal inspection had been undertaken.
These conclusions were presented for discussion by the Jersey Heritage Advisory Panel at its meeting on 10 April 2006. The Panel carried out an inspection of the property and concluded that the interest of the cottage does not extend substantially to its interior and recommended that the octagonal cottage be added to the Register as a BLI. It was agreed that other buildings on the site do not meet the criteria for registration.
The Minister for Planning and Environment added the octagonal cottage at St Juste to the Register as a BLI on 3 May 2006. In September 2006, the Minister requested that the registration of St Juste be reassessed by the newly formed Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.
The Group carried out a detailed internal and external inspection of St Juste at its meeting on 13 November. Its deliberations were supplemented by a brief assessment of St Juste prepared by The Paul Drury Partnership on behalf of the Planning Department in November 2006.
Discussion
Members were advised that St Juste was built pre-1834 (perhaps as early as 1822) in the cottage ornée style, with several extensions added in the late nineteenth century / early twentieth century.
It was agreed that the cottage is of architectural interest with an unusual octagonal plan and interesting details such as windows with tracery details and square hood-moulds, a steep roof (originally thatched) with ‘eyebrow’ dormers and a prominent central cruciform chimney stack. It was noted that the original windows in the eyebrow dormers have been lost.
The interior was inspected and it was observed that the unusual internal plan form of the cottage survives, as does most of the internal joinery with details typical of polite buildings of the early nineteenth century - including a dogleg staircase with stick balustrade and swept mahogany handrail and original doors and doorcases - but that the fireplaces have been lost. It was also noted that substantial parts of the original radiating wings to the rear of the cottage (as shown on the 1834 Le Gros map) survive in the basement of the extension along with a cobbled surface formerly part of the garden.
Members agreed that the cottage is of an unusual building type and has scenic and group value with the other cottage ornée in Jersey (one of only four surviving) - in particular with La Fantaisie immediately to the south.
It was unanimously agreed that the surviving cottage ornée at St Juste merits inclusion on the Historic Buildings Register and that the other buildings on the site do not meet the criteria for registration. The group debated the appropriate grade for the cottage and reached a split decision with 7 members concurring with the earlier recommendation of BLI and 5 members in favour of SSI status.
However, there is a strong argument for designation of the cottage as an SSI when comparing the special interests of the cottage against the published criteria (please see also The Paul Drury Partnership report November 2006):
St Juste has special historic interest as it illustrates a significant aspect of Jersey’s social and cultural history, being one of only four surviving cottages ornée in the Island.
The structure of the cottage contributes significantly to its special interest because of its distinctive character. The cottage has a highly unusual organisation of space over three storeys in an octagonal plan which demonstrates the inventiveness that could be displayed in this period by designers released from the usual constraints of classical formality.
The internal plan form of the cottage contributes significantly to its special interest by virtue of its distinctiveness and innovation, and its ability to shed light on the cultural traditions of Jersey. The original, unusual, plan form of the octagonal core building survives with very little change and is fully legible at all floors. It is an elegant use of an unusual plan form.
The major elements of the pre-1834 historic interior survive - not only the plan but much of the interior fit out of the core building survives from the primary phase. It is typical but good quality work of its time which illustrates the polite status of the building.
There is archaeological significance of the fabric of the cottage ornée with the potential of additional evidence about it - particularly the former wings - being considerable.
Recommendation
The pre-1834 cottage ornée at St Juste (comprising the octagonal cottage and radiating wings) should be included on the Historic Buildings Register as a proposed Site of Special Interest as it is considered, on the basis of all the evidence, that this is in accordance with Article 51 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 and with the published criteria for the selection of SSIs.
On the basis of the above, it is further recommended that the Minister authorises officers to progress with the preparation of the formal process of adding this site to the List of SSIs, to be the subject of a further report to the Minister.
Reason(s) for Decision
The registration of the pre-1834 cottage ornée as a pSSI is in accordance with Interim Policy HB2 that states, “Designation of buildings of architectural or historical importance as Sites of Special Interest will normally be limited to those whose authentic fabric, plan form, interior features or historical associations of the interior contribute to their special archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural, historical, or traditional interest.”
The registration of the pre-1834 cottage ornée as a pSSI is in accordance with the following published criteria for designation:
Archaeological significance of the fabric: Where the fabric of the building, which is the primary document for its history, contains, or can be expected to contain, unique and valuable evidence about its development, and the culture which produced it, which can be understood through systematic investigation;
Architectural interest of the exterior: Where buildings are of special interest for their architectural design or style, artistic decoration, craftsmanship, composition, or use of materials and details, whether it be in the vernacular tradition, or as a result of conscious design;
Architectural interest of the structure: Where the structure of the building contributes significantly to its special interest, because of its distinctive character;
Architectural, cultural or traditional interest of the plan form: Where the internal plan form contributes significantly to the special interest of the building, by virtue of its distinctiveness, innovation, or ability to shed light on the cultural traditions of Jersey;
Architectural, artistic or cultural interest of the interior: The survival of substantially complete domestic rooms from before 1700, the major elements of historic interiors from before 1840, and domestic interiors of particular quality and interest of later date, are likely to justify designation;
Historic interest of the building: Buildings which illustrate significant aspects of Jersey’s social, economic, cultural or military history.
Action Required
Amend the entry for St Juste on the Historic Buildings Register
Issue a notification letter to the owner
Notify Development Control - Urban Team of decision
Prepare Notice of Intention to List for further consideration of the Minister.
Written by: | Roger Hills Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust |
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Approved by: | Janet Dore Principal Historic Buildings Advisor |
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Endorsed by: | Kevin Pilley Assistant Director |
Attachments:
Assessment form and photographs, April 2006 (revised November 2006) (internal photographs exempt under 3.2.1(b)
Extract of report on Jersey Cottage Ornée by The Paul Drury Partnership, July 2005
Report on St Juste by The Paul Drury Partnership, November 2006
Maps 1834 & 2003
SA0280
16 November 2006
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