Register for Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey
Fauvic Farm, La Rue de Fauvic, Grouville.
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 principles of selection for registration as set out in the interim policies for the conservation of historic buildings (1998). The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.
The Planning and Environment Department requested on 18 April 2008 that Jersey Heritage assess the architectural, historical and other interests of Fauvic Farm.
Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings
Date of report: 12 June 2008
File ref: GR0051
Current status
First registered in 1992; pSSI.
Relevant interests of the site
Historic interest
Fauvic Farm is early-to-mid 19th century farmstead.
Architectural interest
Fauvic Farm is early-to-mid 19th century, comprising a circa 1820s farmhouse with front and rear gardens, with adjoining farm outbuildings set around a regular courtyard plan to the east. The layout and historic character of the farmstead survives, including an unusual pair of through-ways.
The farmhouse substantially retains its external historic form and detail including finely dressed granite quoins and ashlar surrounds to openings, an original 6-panel door with transom light and embossed marriage stone on lintel above IDM YY IPR1824, a pair of ashlar chimneystacks with thatch driptones and dressed stonework to the openings at the rear of the house. The interior of the house, however, is in a dilapidated condition and has been stripped of most of its original features.
Adjoining in a row to the east gable of the house is a 2-storey granite outbuilding and a through-way from La Rue de Fauvic into the farmyard - on the opposite side of which is a small single storey granite building with large low-set openings dressed with granite. The external character of these outbuildings is also substantially retained and clearly has architectural and historical interest.
Butting up against the front wall of these outbuildings - and built off an existing boundary wall - are two late 19th century granite lean-to’s with brick dressings.
To the east of the house is a farmyard enclosed by an east and west range, with a second through-way on the south side that originally accessed fields and glasshouses beyond. The original farm building adjacent to this through-way has largely been replaced with inappropriately designed late 20th century accommodation with box dormer.
The east range comprises a circa 1860s 2-storey outbuilding of rubble granite with granite quoins and brick dressings - the character has been somewhat damaged by the later insertion of windows at first floor and the infilling of the cart entrance. At the north end of the building is a line of brick pillars which are the remains of a 19th century open shed.
The west range is single-storey with lean-to slate roof. At one end is a rubble granite building with brick quoins and dressings, and brick chimneystack. The remainder of the range is 4-bays of former open storage sheds with brick pillars - now infilled and used for accommodation.
Scenic interest / group value
The farmhouse and outbuildings make a positive scenic contribution to La Rue de Fauvic. The other farm buildings have group value.
Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)
MRLAG discussed the interests of the site at its meeting on 9 June 2008. Members unanimously agreed with the JH recommendation to downgrade the registration from a pSSI to BLI given the loss of the interior of the house and various detrimental alterations to the farm outbuildings.
Members were unanimous that the buildings bordering La Rue de Fauvic - the house, outbuildings and throughway - should be registered as a BLI. There were differing opinions on the interest of the other farm buildings enclosing the yard - 5 members agreed that they should be included within the BLI for group value; 2 members agreed they should be excluded from the BLI; 4 members remained undecided.
Jersey Heritage recommendation
Fauvic Farm should be downgraded from pSSI to BLI. The BLI registration should apply to the entire farm group.
Justification relating to criteria
The comprehensive loss of the interior of the house precludes Fauvic Farm from being listed as an SSI.
The registration of Fauvic Farm as a BLI is in with the published policy guidance as follows:
- The principal farm buildings retain their external historic form and detail, and so make a significant and positive contribution to the architectural and historical character and appearance of Jersey. In addition, an important aspect of the interest and character of Fauvic Farm is the layout of the site with its ranges of outbuildings and twin through-ways;
- The principal farm buildings are significant for their architectural design, decoration, craftsmanship, composition and use of materials;
- The farmstead illustrates aspects of Jersey’s social, economic and cultural history. The attendant outbuildings are also of historical interest as they are illustrative of the function and evolution of the farmstead
- The farmhouse and outbuildings make a positive scenic contribution to La Rue de Fauvic. The attendant outbuildings are also of group value.
Attachments
Assessment form and photographs, May 2008
Plan of site
Board of Trustees
Chairman: Jurat John de Veulle OBE Vice-Chairman: Philip Le Brocq
Rowland Anthony, Geoffrey Crill, Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Blair Gould, Clive Jones, Deputy Carolyn Labey, Paul Nicolle, Jane Stubbs,
Jonathan Voak