HOUSES IN DUMARESQ STREET & PITT STREET ST HELIER JERSEY

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1 HOUSES IN DUMARESQ STREET & PITT STREET ST HELIER JERSEY Chris Aubin, Paul Drury, Kirsty Rodwell for The Paul Drury Partnership January 2005

2 CONTENTS 1 The commission 3 2 The evolution of the buildings in detail No 6 Dumaresq Street No 7 Dumaresq Street No 8 Dumaresq Street Nos 5 & 6 Pitt Street No 4 Pitt Street 10 3 The evolution of the buildings: Discussion and conclusions 11 4 The significance of the buildings Architectural and historic Townscape and context Conclusions 14 5 Towards a conservation strategy Key issues Conservation guidelines 15 APPENDIX: The documented history of the properties 19 1 Sources 19 2 Site location 19 3 Documented history: Charles & Guillaume Dumaresq 21 4 Documented history: 6 & 7 Dumaresq Street and 4 Pitt Street 22 5 Documented history: 8 Dumaresq Street 23 6 Documented history: 10 Dumaresq Street and 5 & 6 Pitt Street 24 7 Road names and street numbers 24 8 Conclusion 25 9 Summary of ownership of Nos 6, 7, 8 & 10 Dumaresq Street and 4, 5 & 6 Pitt Street 26 REFERENCES 29 Figures The evolution of the buildings 30 Figure 4.1 The significance of the buildings 45 Figure 5.1 Towards a conservation strategy 46 The Paul Drury Partnership 114 Shacklegate Lane Teddington TW11 8SH Tel: Fax: info@pdpartnership.com 2

3 1 The commission 1.1 In September 2004, the Jersey Co-operative Society and the States of Jersey Planning Services Department jointly commissioned The Paul Drury Partnership to undertake an analysis of the origins and development of the historic properties owned by the Society in Pitt Street and Dumaresq Street, St Helier. Its purpose was to form the basis of an assessment of the significance of the buildings, both as a whole and in their elements, which in turn would provide the foundation for considering how that significance might be reconciled with the objectives both of the Society and of the Department, and so hopefully lead to a mutually acceptable strategy for both conservation and development. 1.2 The detailed survey covers the three surviving properties on the south side of Dumaresq Street (nos 6, 7 and 8) and three more on the north-west corner of Pitt Street (nos 4, 5, and 6). They form a continuous block backing onto the premises of the Jersey Co-operative Society. 1.3 Chris Aubin undertook research into the documented history of the buildings, primarily in the Public Land Registry, to assess what could be ascertained from these sources about the history and construction of the existing buildings and the origins of the street layout in the vicinity. This established documentary dates for the initial construction of several of the buildings, which has informed the account of the evolution of the buildings in Section 2. His detailed report is included as an appendix. 1.4 The fieldwork and analysis of the standing structures was undertaken by Kirsty Rodwell on October 2004, based on survey drawings kindly made available by Digby Gibbs Architects. She has brought together the both the archaeological and documentary evidence in Section 2 of this report. Discussion of the issues and a potential conservation and development strategy are then considered in Sections 3 and 4 respectively. 2 The evolution of the buildings in detail Figures illustrating this section are grouped together at the end of the report. 2.1 No 6 Dumaresq Street (Figs 3.2-5, 3.6, 3.8) The exterior This building forms the west end of the surviving row and is two bays wide, of two storeys with a dormered attic. The street elevation is rendered and lined-out to simulate ashlar. Wall thickness suggests that the ground floor is built of stone and the first floor of brick. The three sash windows are of later 19 th century type, having paired lights divided by a wide glazing bar. The wooden shop-front has a moulded cornice and a part-glazed panelled door; the mouldings match the internal doors. The roof is pantiled and the chimney stack at the east end has been heightened to clear the gable of the adjoining house. The demolished building to the west was also taller; its reduced gable and stack have been rendered over. This building had large granite quoin blocks, exposed at first floor level over a door with a squared granite lintel and jambs. 3

4 2.1.2 The rear elevation, visible in the narrow yard, is exposed granite rubble with quoin blocks at the east end and a single sash window on each floor. A twostoried brick extension with windows in the east wall has been added at the west end and three brick-built lavatories are butted against the rest of the elevation. The interior The ground floor has been opened up to form a single room; a cased ceiling beam west of the door indicates the former partition line. The walls are hidden by modern boarding but the thickness of the east wall indicates an original fireplace position; a wall cupboard has been removed at the north end to introduce the display window, accounting for the change in wall thickness. There is a secondary fireplace in the west wall and plain wooden newel stairs in the south-west corner There are two rooms on the first floor, opening off a small landing. They are divided by an old planked partition on the line of the ceiling beam. This is chamfered without stops and repaired with a wooden plate at the north end. The east room has pine ceiling joists with angle-beads which were originally exposed but latterly plastered over. They are lodged on top of the beam and the gap infilled with a board. The joists in the west room are largely replacements; three plain squared originals remain. The brick chimney stack in this room is exposed and butted against the stone end wall of the adjoining property. Both rooms have simple cast-iron fireplaces of later 19 th century type and four-panelled doors of the same period The attic has a large front room with a dormer window and small back room with a roof light divided by tongue and groove boarding. A door on the landing opens on to the roof of the rear extension. Plaster has been stripped to expose the roof of common rafters, almost all of which are replacements. One reused older rafter survives with small open mortices for a studwork partition and a collar, indicating that the original partition bisected the roof space. Dating The stone walls of this house suggest an 18 th century construction date but it retains no more closely dateable features. Structurally it was built after the larger house to the west (now demolished) but its relationship with No 7 to the east is more ambiguous; it is the wider building, with a free-standing rear quoin, but the original junction between the houses is hidden and the party wall is sufficiently thick for two builds to be butted together. The documentary evidence indicates that it is the later building, new in 1754, whereas No 7 was built in the 1740s. The interior was divided into two rooms without a hallway; the western rooms were unheated. The only original features to survive unaltered are the first floor ceiling beam and associated partition The building was modernised in the later 19 th century when part of the ground floor became a shop. To this period belong the sash windows, the roof, the stairs, the western chimney stack, the attic partitions and probably the brick rear extension; this may be a slightly earlier addition. 4

5 2.2 No 7 Dumaresq Street (Figs 3.2-5, 3.6, 3.8) The exterior The street elevation is of three bays and three storeys with a dormered attic; it is rendered and lined-out to simulate ashlar with mock keystones over the windows. On the ground floor is a shop-front with a plate glass window in a plain wooden frame and an adjoining four-panelled door with chamfered mouldings of late 19 th century type. A second door, giving access to the upper floors, has been converted from a window; it is of part-glazed earlier 20 th century type. The windows on the upper floors are regularly spaced but asymmetric to the elevation; they have plate glass sashes of later 19 th century type. The first floor windows are set on a continuous cement cornice moulding; the second floor windows have small console brackets to the cills. The fabric is not visible but wall thickness indicates that the two lower floors are constructed of stone and the top floor of brick. The back wall of the original building is now internal; a brick-built rear extension was added at the time the building was heightened. A two-storey bathroom block filling the re-entrant angle was added at a later date. The interior The greater part of the ground floor is a self-contained two-roomed shop. In the front room the original stone back wall has been knocked through and the end of the ceiling beam picked up on an iron hanger when the shop window was inserted; other features are hidden. The back room has a boarded fireplace in the east wall, a blocked window and corner door to the yard in the west wall, and a pair of doors (one of stable type) to the covered passage at the rear. The corner door is a modification of an earlier opening which retains part of an early 19 th century door with reeded panels An oblique partition divides the shop from the hall and staircase. This has a modified straight lowest flight but on the upper floors is a plain wooden newel stair. The first and second floors share the same plan and have few surviving features; the front of the house formerly had two rooms, now thrown together, with a lath and plaster partition on the line of the central ceiling beam. The east rooms have wall cupboards; doors are of four-panelled 19 th century type. The only surviving fireplace dates to c The back rooms have ceiling beams, small cast iron fireplaces and originally, paired west windows; two of these have been modified with the addition of the bathrooms. On the first floor a blocked door communicated with the warehouse at the rear. There is a single front room on the top floor with boarded eaves and a dormer to the street. The six-paned sash window and cast iron fireplace in the east wall are of early 19 th century type. The back room has no distinctive features. The common rafter roof of machinesawn pine spans both rooms and has a ridge parallel to the street. Dating This house originated as a stone-built cottage of 18 th century date but only the shell remains. Documentary evidence indicates that it was built between 1740 and 1749, at the same period as No 8; the latter seems to have been built as a detached house. It antedates No 6 to the west. The house was probably modernised in the early 19 th century as it retains a few fittings of this date, although these are likely to be reset. 5

6 2.2.5 The heightening of the building seems to have taken place towards the end of the 19 th century when the ground floor became a shop. The street elevation was modernised, and a new wing added at the rear; the whole has a common roof. There was access at two levels from the back wing to the warehouse at the rear, which was built c This modernisation was probably carried out after 1889 when the house was sold out of the Roussel family, who had owned it since it was built. 2.3 No 8 Dumaresq Street (Figs 3.2-5, 3.6, 3.8, ) The exterior This four-bay, two-storeyed house was originally detached; the roof gables have granite copings and kneelers overbuilt by the upper floors of adjoining properties. Both chimney stacks have been heightened; the eastern is rendered, the western built of large squared granite blocks. The walls are granite rubble set in loam, rendered externally. The four symmetrical first floor windows have sixlight sashes with narrow glazing bars in beaded frames. There is another of the same pattern on the ground floor with external shutters. The central fourpanelled front door is flanked by Ionic pilasters and incorporated into a shop front under a common dentilled cornice. This has a separate shop door at the west end of the elevation with a terminal pilaster of the same type (now incomplete) Wings have been added at the back of the house; the earlier, on the west side of a flagged central passage is stone-built with a lean-to roof and a pair of six-light sash windows on the upper floor. On the ground floor a large window with a door at either end is set under a common lintel; this is a secondary alteration and the south door appears to be a replacement for the north. The later wing on the east side is brick-built with a gabled roof (originally hipped at the north end). It had a similar ground floor window arrangement under a long lintel, now void and in poor condition. The first floor oversails to form a covered passage at the back of the property. The interior A central passage leads to a wide rear doorway, an original opening formed in rubble and occasional bricks with a heavy oak lintel. Externally this has been refaced in brick of a different, early 19 th century, type. The heavy doorframe is of pegged construction with an angle-bead. A pine plank and muntin partition forms the east side of the passage and rises through two storeys. On the ground floor it has been plastered over and a panelled dado applied on the hall side. The room to the east has a 20 th century fireplace flanked by full height wall cupboards missing their doors; architraves and skirting boards are in early 19 th century style. There is a third original recess for a wall cupboard in the rear wall, which has been stripped back to bare stone; a few bricks are used in the jambs. The ceiling is plastered and has no ceiling beam The room to the west of the hall was used as a shop; there was formerly an oblique connecting door at the foot of the stairs. The partition, which is partly on the line of the ceiling beam, is plastered over. The fireplace and cupboards have been stripped out and the rear wall knocked through. The end of the ceiling beam is carried on a hanger where the shop window has been inserted. The back 6

7 room is fitted out with panelled cupboards of early 19 th century type and has a fireplace in the south wall; the surround dates to the 1930s. The end of the ceiling beam is carried on a hanger where the large window in the east wall has been inserted The brick rear wing has external access only on the ground floor. It was formerly a kitchen; there is a cast iron range in a brick-built stack which is butted against a pre-existing stone east wall. This in turn is butted against the north-east corner of the earlier house; the fabric here is exposed and there are no external openings The staircase is set against the back wall on the west side of the hall and has flights of unequal width, determined by the position of the rear door. It is built round a square newel post with angle beads which rises to attic level. The lowest flight was remodelled with the hallway in the early 19 th century; it has a round mahogany handrail and bulbous turned newel with stick balusters. On the first floor the detailing is mid 18 th century; with a second angle-beaded end post to the upper flight and a T-section handrail. The stick balusters are probably replacements. The upper flight was boxed in, probably in the 20 th century, and the head of the stairs has been altered. The central newel is in place but the terminal post has been sawn off and repositioned, leaving the base projecting from the first floor ceiling. A short length of original handrail has been reused and two sections of turned baluster, split longitudinally, have been pieced in underneath. The steps of the upper flight are made of oak The lower stair is lit by a sash window in the rear wall, which is an enlargement of an original opening. This can be seen internally where the jambs are formed of soft orange bricks. The angle of the reveals changes where the opening has been widened in harder dark red brick. Externally it has a segmental brick arch cut into the older stone wall On the first floor the plank and muntin room divisions are exposed. Both rooms have original doors with two large fielded panels and long iron strap hinges set in narrow moulded architraves mounted on the partitions. Between the rooms at the front of the house is a closet accessed from the larger east room. The side walls to this are replacements of the early 19 th century although the partition to the landing is original. The closet appears originally to have opened into the west room as here the ceiling beam is moulded on both edges; where it coincides with the partition to the stairs it is only moulded on one. As this is the tie beam to one of the roof trusses it indicates that these elements are contemporary. The other ceiling beam is free-standing and has angle beads on both lower edges. The east room has a fireplace of early 19 th century type like those in the Pitt Street houses. The west room has a fireplace of early-mid 18 th century type with a floating moulded mantelshelf mounted on a plain pine surround with angle beads. The cast iron grate is later. This room has wide pine floorboards which may be original Both rooms have secondary doors to the rear wings. The west wing has a fireplace surround of simple later 18 th century type flanked by wall cupboards lacking doors. The east wing has two plain rooms divided by a panelled partition. 7

8 Two roof trusses are visible in the attic. They are made of pine half trunks, halved and lapped at the apex; the joint is secured by four pegs. The ridge piece is lodged between the principals but has been renewed together with the common rafters. The junction of the principals with the tie beams is not visible. There is a single tier of flat purlins lodged on the back of the trusses; some are pine, others an unidentified wood To provide headroom over the stairs the central section of the back roof slope is raised. The heightened wall which incorporates a window is built of early 19 th century brick but appears to be a replacement for an earlier structure which was possibly timber-framed. In the roof space over the rear wing to the west and in line with the original partition is a projecting wooden wall bracket with an ogeemoulded terminal which probably formed one end of such a structure. The adjoining section of roof to the western attic was raised in the late 19 th century and incorporates a dormer window of this date The attic partitions are tongue and groove boarding of 20 th century date. The eaves are enclosed, trapping earlier plaster on the gable wall and wallpaper on one of the roof trusses. The rear wing at the west end of the house has a lean-to roof with a pine half-trunk principal and a back purlin. The walls are exposed granite rubble in bond at the south-west corner. Dating This house was originally detached, with a symmetrical four bay elevation and squared granite chimney stacks. It retains its central passage plan and original boarded room divisions and has a number of good quality fittings which suggest an early-mid 18 th century date for its construction (see discussion). These include the staircase, doors and a fireplace. The roof trusses are also original. Documentary evidence suggests it was built in the years after The back range west of the passage was added later in the 18 th century and the house was modernised in the earlier 19 th century. The lowest flight of the staircase, the east bedroom fireplace and the sash windows are all of the type used in the Pitt Street houses. The brick back range on the east side of the passage may have been added at this time or slightly later, when the west end of the building was converted into a shop; the shop front dates to the mid 19 th century. 2.4 Nos 5 & 6 Pitt Street (Figs 3.2-5, 3.7, 3.9, ) The exterior This pair of buildings occupies a large corner plot with the principal elevation to Pitt Street. They are constructed of rendered brick; the principal elevation is lined-out to simulate ashlar. Both houses are three bays wide and three storeys high with dormered attics. No 5 retains original six-light sash windows with narrow glazing bars, No 6 has two-light replacements. The ground floors are occupied by a double shop front of unequal height; No 5 has a triple window set between squared granite piers which carry massive wooden console brackets flanking the fascia board. The only door is in No 6; it has a slightly lower fascia set on a double wooden pilaster at the north end. The side elevation is blank and bears a large, faded advertisement with the HMV logo of a dog looking into a 8

9 gramophone horn. Across the base is a banner reading F. Foot authorised HMV dealer. The rear wing to No 6 is of three bays with a double door on the ground floor and a parapeted roof. The sash windows have been removed from the upper storeys. There was originally a small yard at the rear of No 5 which has been wholly built over. The interior The ground floor rooms have been thrown together to form shop premises but would originally have followed the plan of the upper floors. No 5 is fitted out with modern boarding and no features are visible apart from a staircase with heavy turned pine newels of late 19 th century type. In No 6 the original staircase has been replaced by a back stair running in the reverse direction. The large adjoining room is fitted out with a miscellaneous collection of late 19 th century shop fittings which have been constructed over pre-existing 19 th century wallpaper. The back room has an original kitchen fireplace and an external double door, added when it became a store room to the shop. Beyond it the yard has been progressively roofed over with small lean-to rooms. The original door to No5 has been reused on its side in an outside WC. It is of early 19 th century type with six raised fielded panels On the two upper floors both houses have the same plan, with a large room at the front and a smaller room at the rear. In the attic this is reversed and the larger room runs from front to back. The staircases rise in a single flight to attic level. They have turned mahogany newels inlaid with ivory discs, round mahogany handrails, stick balusters and open strings with applied mahogany scrolled brackets. Both houses were handsomely fitted out and retain most of their original fixtures. Doors, cupboards and windows have reeded architraves with bull s-eye corner mouldings and the fireplaces are in matching style; several retain their original florid cast iron grates. In addition most rooms do not appear to have been decorated since c The first floor of No 5 formed part of the shop; the rooms have been combined and the fireplaces removed, together with two of the wall cupboards. The door to the landing is half-glazed and has SHOW ROOM in applied enamel letters. The room was last decorated c.1930 with brown wallpaper and a yellow and orange floral frieze. On the landing there is a late 19 th century connecting door between the houses. On the first floor of No 6 there are double doors between the front and back rooms which have a complete suite of original fittings, with the exception of the grate to the front room fireplace. The fireplace surround in this room is painted to simulate marble and the rest of the woodwork has a midbrown grained finish; there is dark red wallpaper and a deep frieze in Art Nouveau style of trees in a landscape The second floor rooms are plainer, without bull s-eye mouldings to the door and window architraves. Both front rooms have been used as living rooms since the end of the 19 th century but were originally bedrooms and mortices for studwork partitions can be seen in the floors. These divided the space into a bedroom, a dressing room and a small internal lobby. Both rooms have full-size wall cupboards flanking the fireplaces; a late 19 th century wooden surround with a later tiled centre in No 6 and early 19 th century white marble, probably moved from a lower floor, in No 5. The grate is late 19 th century cast iron with 9

10 polychrome tiled side panels. The decorative schemes are probably contemporary; both rooms are papered with floral stripes on a white ground. The woodwork is grained in No 6 and painted blue and cream in No 5. The backrooms retain early 19 th century fireplace surrounds of standard type and in No 6 an elaborate cast iron grate. The end room in this house was adapted as a kitchen and is plainer The attics have simple fireplaces flanked by small wall cupboards and boarded eaves. An opening has been cut through the back roof slope of No 6 into the roof space over the rear wing. This roof is a 20 th century addition, built onto an earlier parapet. A door on the half landing below leads to a high level platform which provided access to the previous roof. This appears to have been flat and was used for drying washing; No 5 had shared access to it (see documentary report). Dating This pair of houses is a new build stylistically of c with high quality interiors whose style matches other houses of this period on the island (see discussion). Documentary evidence indicates that they were constructed in At the end of the 19 th century the properties were combined and the ground floors altered to form a shop with a first floor showroom. 2.5 No 4 Pitt Street (Figs 3.2-5, 3.7, 3.9, 3.13) The exterior This house is three bays wide and three storeys high with an attic set back behind a parapet. It is built of brick in English bond and has six-light sash windows like those in No 5; the lintels to the second floor windows are renewed. The front door is raised three steps above street level and set at the back of a plain reveal. It has six fielded panels with reeded mouldings and an original rectangular fanlight with geometric tracery. A mid 19 th century shop front replaces the ground floor windows. It has an integral part-glazed door with an opening fanlight and a fascia carried on square pilasters with moulded caps. The rear elevation is rendered and the small back yard has been roofed over; there was formerly a window in the rear wall. The interior The house occupies a trapezoidal plot and the rooms are correspondingly irregular in plan. Although uncellared the wooden ground floor is suspended and a trapdoor in the hall gives access to a sub-floor space c.1m deep. This appears to contain a brick culvert. There are two main rooms per floor and the detailing is very similar to that of Nos 5 and 6; the best rooms have reeded architraves and fireplaces with bull s-eye corner mouldings and the staircase has a mahogany handrail and turned newels, although the string is closed. The ground floor rooms, converted into a shop, have an original connecting door and the fireplaces are missing. The best room is on the first floor; it has an original fireplace surround with a late 19 th century grate, paired wall cupboards and fulllength window architraves. The second floor is plainer and the attic is unheated. The front wall has sash windows rather than dormers, set back behind a parapet with access from the top landing. 10

11 Dating The external appearance and detailing of this house is very similar to that of Nos 5 and 6. As it matches the height of these buildings but has a much smaller, irregular floor plan it is likely to be the later building, constructed in the early 1830s; there is no documentary evidence to suggest an exact date. It incorporates no earlier fabric but replaced a house on the same site built The only alteration appears to be the mid 19 th century shop front. The yard at the rear With the exception of 4 Pitt Street, the houses have a common rear property boundary. The area to the south bounded by the Co-op buildings is partly an open yard of trapezoidal shape and partly occupied by a warehouse at the rear of No7 with communicating doors at ground and first floor level. This is later than all surrounding buildings and has a brick east elevation incorporating a shop front on the ground floor and early 19 th century six-light sashes on the two upper storeys. These all appear to be reused and there is a possibility that they were derived from the façade of 6 Pitt Street. The interior is a series of workshop and storage spaces constructed of machine-sawn pine. Some partitions are made of reused 20 th century packing cases. Stairs with late 19 th century handrails give access to the upper floors; a loft in the roof is reached by a ladder The north and east walls of the yard bounding the survey properties are brickbuilt; the east wall is the later and the south end has been built up to form the back wall of a 20 th century building. The high south wall is earlier; it is built of granite rubble and incorporates a blocked doorway. This is inserted and has brick jambs. A lean-to WC has been demolished in this corner. Dating The rubble wall which forms the south side of the yard and the boundary of the Co-op buildings is the earliest and appears to be part of a building shown on the 1834 map. The brick back wall of the Dumaresq Street plots is early-mid 19 th century but marks an older boundary and the east wall is slightly later. The warehouse is the latest feature and was constructed c The evolution of the buildings: Discussion and conclusions 3.1 The Dumaresq Street properties share a common back boundary, which suggests that they were part of a planned development. This is borne out by the documentary evidence. The road was laid out by Guillaume Dumaresq before 1725 and the rear plot boundary was defined by a pre-existing prison (see documentary report Fig A1). Pitt Street was laid out before 1735/6. The 1795 map of the island (Richmond; Fig 3.1), although at a small scale, shows the relationship of these streets to the older town, which essentially still had a medieval plan with just one wide main street. By this time new development was beginning to fan out along the streets radiating from Charing Cross at the west end of St Helier, including the Dumaresq/Pitt Street block and Hue Street to the north. This road also appears to have been laid out by Dumaresq at much the same time. 11

12 3.2 The earliest (and only pre-20 th century) large scale map of the town of 1834 (Elias le Gros; Fig 3.1) shows individual properties. However there are difficulties in reconciling the number of houses shown in Dumaresq Street with the actual number on the ground. Eight properties are indicated on the map as opposed to only six actual buildings, including the two demolished houses. However, the back range of 6 Pitt Street is shown as a separate property which would account for one of the extra buildings. If the largest house is equivalent to No 8, placing it in the correct relationship to Hue Street, there is then the right number of properties to the west, albeit in the wrong proportions, but one too many to the east, where Pitt Street is too narrow to allow for a demolished building. These differences must be put down to inaccuracies in surveying. 3.3 The map clearly shows a ditch or stream running obliquely across the south-east corner of the block. This defined the back of the medieval plots on the north side of King Street and can also be seen on the Richmond map. It changed alignment at Pitt Street, passed under Charing Cross and returned eastwards across the plots on the south side of Broad Street. Some oblique walls within the Co-op building complex appear to define its course. Several of the Dumaresq and Pitt Street properties had shared access to a washing place on its bank. The watercourse appears to have passed north of 4 Pitt Street, as there is evidence that a house stood on the site from c The later and smaller scale map of 1849 (Godfray; Fig 3.1) is too schematic to be useful except for documenting the burgeoning growth of St Helier over the previous 50 years. 3.4 Structural evidence suggests that the plots on the south side of Dumaresq Street were developed piecemeal over a short period of time, and this is borne out by the documentary evidence. The demolished house at the west end of the street antedated 1754 and probably abutted the corner property in Charing Cross. A pre-demolition photograph (Bois et al 1989, pls 12, 13) shows that it was subsequently heightened and rendered like No 7. The dressed granite quoin blocks and doorway suggest that it was a good quality building. Nos 7 and 8 were both built in the mid 1740s; only the shell of the former remains, the latter was originally detached and is a well-preserved example of a mid-18 th century townhouse. No 6, the latest of the group, was new in 1754; it infilled the gap between No 7 and the gable wall of the demolished house. It is a small building without a through-passage and retains little original detail. Eighteenth century houses to the east of No 8 and in Pitt Street are documented but were completely redeveloped on a larger scale in the early 19 th century. 3.5 The local style of architecture changed abruptly c.1700 (Stevens 1977, 3; Fig 3.15 here) and No 8 conforms to the 18 th century norm with a plain symmetrical façade of Georgian proportions, dressed granite end stacks and a two room plan divided by a central passage. It has good quality internal woodwork with detailing that places it in the middle years of the century. The staircase with a continuous central newel (ibid 72-7) is of a type which uses a minimum of space and is derived from the older stone tourelle form. The bottom flight is rebuilt but the handrail, newel posts and caps at first floor level are original, as may be the reused balusters on the top floor, although stick balusters of this period are known (ibid 76; 19 Hue Street dated 1748). 12

13 3.6 There were formerly a number of houses with comparable fittings in Hue Street, which runs north from Dumaresq Street and is shown fully built up on the 1795 map. The plots have a common but rather more spacious back boundary on the east side of the street and are bounded by Old Street to the west. Most of these houses were pulled down in the 1970s (ibid 142-4) although a few remain on the west side of the street. In general they were slightly larger, of five symmetrical bays with dressed granite end stacks. Some bore date stones ranging from 1739 to 1767 and an extant house has a stone dated Whilst these may not necessarily reflect the construction date, No 19 had an internal beam signed and dated by the builders 23 rd September 1748 (ibid 143, fig 71). Taken together, the map and structural evidence suggests that the two streets were a planned mid 18 th century development on what was then the edge of St Helier, and this is confirmed by the documented history of the buildings. 3.7 The Pitt Street properties date to the early 19 th century, a period of rapid growth in the size of the town with the influx of a sizeable middle class English population after the end of the Napoleonic wars. The street is shown as a thoroughfare on the 1795 map and would then have been fronted by the original 18 th century properties. Nos 5 and 6 were built as a pair; they are constructed of brick and do not incorporate any earlier fabric. They are much taller than the 18 th century houses, with greater ceiling heights and an extra storey. They have high quality fittings which survive in a very complete state and suggest a construction date of c (documented 1829/30). The staircase design was particularly popular at the time and dated examples range from 1815 to 1835 (ibid 42). Comparable fireplaces and doorcases can be seen in the merchant s house at 9 Pier Road (now part of the Jersey Museum) which was built soon after 1817 (ibid 175). Older houses such as 8 Dumaresq Street and some of the demolished Hue Street properties were updated with staircases, fireplaces and other woodwork of the same type. No 4 Pitt Street was probably constructed soon afterwards, redeveloping an irregular plot. Its overall appearance and internal detailing is very similar in style to the adjoining houses, although the staircase is plainer. 3.8 During the course of the 19 th century the ground floors of all these houses were converted into shops. No 8 has the earliest and most elaborate shop front which dates to the middle of the century; 4 Pitt Street is plainer but probably comparable in date. The others are late 19 th century and the whole of both 6 and 7 Dumaresq Street appear to have been substantially modernised at the same time, leaving little of the original fabric. The largest establishment was Foot s which occupied the lower floors of both 5 and 6 Pitt Street. This shop is sufficiently unaltered to be a period piece in its own right. 4 The significance of the buildings 4.1 Architectural and historic In terms of intrinsic architectural and historic significance, the most important of these buildings is no 8 Dumaresq Street, an essentially complete mid-18 th century town house, the later alterations to which, up to the early-middle the 19 th century, generally add to rather than detract from its primary significance. It retains its original interior structure and many of its fittings, including joinery, from its primary phase and some from the early 19 th century. However, its later, eastern rear wing, of brick, is of less importance, and is in very poor condition. 13

14 4.1.2 Nos 4-6 Pitt Street are of comparable significance, as early 19 th century town houses with remarkably complete contemporary interiors and, in the case of 5-6, some interesting later 19 th century alterations, although the later rear additions to no 5 are not important. The only area within them which is essentially a modern shell is the ground floor of no Nos 6-7 Dumaresq Street are of less intrinsic architectural significance, being smaller 18 th century houses heavily altered in the 19 th century and retaining little early joinery or other details internally. But as a group, 6-8 Dumaresq Street graphically demonstrate both the way in which St Helier developed in the mid 18 th century, and the wide range of house type and size at that time. In this instance, the physical evidence of the buildings is complemented by unusually complete and revealing documentary evidence about how that development took place. What at first sight, from the physical evidence of buildings and plots, appears to have been a regularly-planned urban expansion turns out to have been a much more complex and ad hoc process in terms of the development of the individual plots. Whilst architecturally modest, therefore, nos 6-7 are, with no 8 and their common, sinuous, southern boundary, historically significant as a group; the whole is more than the sum of its parts No 7 as it now stands is essentially a composite of the mid 18 th and late 19 th centuries. Separating the two would now be impractical, and in any case the building is itself of interest in illustrating how a small 18 th century house could become a substantial late 19 th century shop and living accommodation However, the small and utilitarian additions to the back of nos 6-7 are of no intrinsic significance and merely serve to detract from the interest, quality and usability of the principal buildings. 4.2 Townscape and context In the context of the historic townscape of St Helier, all these frontage buildings form a group, not only with each other but with the restored buildings on the opposite side of Dumaresq Street and the west side of Hue Street. The group as a whole provides perhaps the best surviving example of early-mid 18 th century townscape in St Helier, as well as demonstrating, in the group considered in this report, the change of style and scale of urban building which took place early in the 19 th century. If the buildings on this site were to be lost, the value of the retained 18 th century buildings on the opposite side of the street would be seriously diminished by their further isolation and loss of context. 4.3 Conclusion The buildings and the boundaries shown on Fig 4.1 are all of special architectural and historic interest and should be retained in any future proposals for the development of the Co-operative store. Appropriately repaired and brought back into use, they have the potential to make a major contribution to the character, appearance and amenity of St Helier. The east rear wing of no 8 is of less significance, and it is not imperative that its 19 th century and later elements (rather than the 18 th century wall against which they were built) be retained. 14

15 5 Towards a conservation strategy 5.1 Key issues The principal issue affecting the future of these buildings is the desire of the Cooperative Society to maximise the potential for the expansion of their store, which must be balanced and reconciled with the public interest in the preservation of a group of buildings that are clearly of special architectural and historic interest, both intrinsically and in their context. Their interest in this case extends not just to include their internal plan forms, but in the case of 8 Dumaresq Street and 4-6 Pitt Street, their internal fittings like fireplaces, joinery (not least, stairs) and indeed decorative finishes The condition of the buildings, particularly the extent to which they are reasonably capable of repair rather than replacement, is also relevant. A detailed structural survey has not been carried out, but the significant historic structures of 4-6 Pitt Street and 6-7 Dumaresq Street are in sound to fair condition; only the utilitarian rear additions which have been judged (above, section 4) to be without significance are in very poor condition. Of the principal buildings, No 8 Dumaresq Street is unfortunately in the least good condition, but the problems are concentrated on the eastern rear wing, which is borderline in terms of significance. Indeed, its addition seems to have caused problems from the outset The 18 th century buildings are cellular structures, with rubble walls set largely in loess rather than mortar, tied together by floors, roofs, and partition frames. Whilst modest alteration can be achieved without problems, structurally ambitious interventions like raising floors or extensive removal of walls at ground level would not only detract from their special interest but also bring with it a serious risk of structural failure and collapse The long term future of these buildings certainly depends on their being brought back not just into sound condition but full use, as those opposite in Hue Street and Dumaresq Street have been. Use gives buildings value, and value warrants investment in maintenance. In the long term, it is not enough merely to use (and by implication, maintain) the ground floor. Full use would also realise their potential to contribute to the life and vitality of the town centre The problem of servicing the Co-operative site as a whole is also relevant. Whilst a full consideration of the issues is outside the scope of this report, it is clear that reconciling a service access with the buildings here identified as being of special architectural or historic interest poses considerable problems. 5.2 Conservation guidelines Given their significance both intrinsically and within the townscape, the frontage buildings and their significant additions, identified on Fig 5.1, should be retained and repaired as historic structures, that is to say, respecting their individual structural form and integrity The 19 th century east rear wing of No 8 Dumaresq Street, given its borderline significance, inherent weathering problems and poor condition, could reasonably be demolished, although the 18 th century granite wall against which it was built should be retained. The removal of this addition would also create some external 15

16 space to the rear of no 8, which would make the property more readily usable. There is positive advantage in removing the small utilitarian additions from the backs of the remaining properties Nos 6-8 Dumaresq Street, because of their small scale (in terms of both storey heights and room sizes), their relatively fragile construction, and their disparate levels, cannot realistically be incorporated in an enlarged Co-op store without destroying most of their special interest. Even if drastic loss of fabric at ground floor level were both acceptable and structurally possible, it is hard to see how incorporation could reasonably be reconciled with access to, and a marketable use of, the upper floors. These buildings and their plots back to their historic southern boundary should, like the buildings on the opposite side of the street, be repaired as self-contained buildings. They might house retail, residential or small office uses, but it is essential that the shopfront of no 8 is retained, and preferable that that of no 7 also be kept, since it seems to be an integral part of the late 19 th century reworking of the house Similarly, the raised ground floor level of no 4 Pitt Street, together with its small scale, irregular plan, and substantially complete interior make it impossible to incorporate in the enlarged store without the loss of its integrity; it, too, should find a future as a self-contained building. Again, its relatively early shopfront should be retained, but its form is such that it is compatible with a range of uses behind This is not to say, of course, that there is not scope for modest alterations to the interiors of these buildings, informed by an understanding of their original form and subsequent evolution. For example, the attic partitions of no 6 are not significant, the ground floor division of no 7 would benefit from rationalisation, and all will need modern services and amenities. But in no 8 Dumaresq Street and no 4 Pitt Street, particularly, it will be essential to retain and repair the surviving historic joinery, fireplaces and other fittings if the significance of these buildings is not to be diminished, and in all cases to respect the historic plan forms as they have survived Nos 5-6 Pitt Street are of a significantly greater scale than the others, especially on the ground floor. At that level, the interior of no 5 has no visible historic elements other than the late 19 th century stair. It is probably inevitable that the interesting collection of shop fittings (seemingly already relocated once) and indeed wallpaper in the ground floor shop at no 6 will have to find a find a future in a museum. The rear additions behind no 5 are not significant, and it would not be unreasonable to make a substantial opening in the rear wall of no 5. If this degree of change is accepted, then coupled with the removal of the eastern rear wing of no 8 Dumaresq Street (see above) and possibly some realignment of the rear boundary of no 4 Pitt Street, the ground floor of nos 5-6 could indeed be incorporated into an extended Co-operative store as substantially a single space. The surviving stub of the party wall should be kept to indicate the historic division The upper floors of these two houses are important, not just for their plan form, but for their surviving joinery, chimneypieces and other fittings, and their historic decorative schemes. The latter are a precious and rare survival, and should be 16

17 thoroughly analysed and recorded. But the retention of the damaged wallpaper in situ is unlikely to be compatible with bringing these spaces back into full beneficial use; preservation by record, including the removal of substantial samples to a museum, seems to be the only realistic course, combined with a sympathetic scheme of repair and redecoration If the ground floor shop frontage to Pitt Street is retained in retail use, whether by the Society or otherwise, then by a modest rearrangement of the (already altered) staircases in the lower storey, separate access to the upper floors could be provided from Dumaresq Street, adjacent to no 8. It is indeed highly desirable in terms of animating the street that the ground floor frontage of nos 5 and 6 is used for the purpose it assumed in the 19 th century, that is to say retail, although apart from the console brackets to no 5, the existing shopfronts are not of particular interest With modest further alteration to an already altered area, a new stair at the rear of 6 Pitt Street could link to both existing historic staircases at first floor level, facilitating (if it is appropriate) the use of the upper floors as two separate units. Whatever is done, it is important that both original stairs above first floor level are retained. Alternatively, the upper floors could continue to be used with the ground floor; the first floor of no 5 has been in retail use for a long time It is difficult to reconcile conservation of the buildings and recovering the vitality and viability of the historic streets with the conversion of nos 5-6 to a loading bay for the enlarged store. A substantial loading door could, in architectural terms, be accommodated in the rear wing of no 6 Pitt Street, and from there a clear route m wide provided into the store along the lines suggested on Fig 5.1. But that would seem to preclude a link between the retail areas of the extended store and in 5-6 Pitt Street. The former could certainly become stand alone units, and links to the upper floors retained. Even so, such an approach would not solve the need to allow goods vehicles to park close to the service entrance, unless a loading bay could be provided on the opposite side of Dumaresq Street, by setting back the frontage of the car park opposite. This issue clearly needs further consideration in a wider context than is possible in this report Having suggested horizontal limits for the expansion of the store, it remains to consider the vertical dimension. On Pitt Street the existing store is of a similar height to no 4 Pitt Street, which seems an entirely appropriate relationship, should rebuilding of this part be contemplated. On Dumaresq Street, the new frontage building should follow historic precedent and approximately match the height of no 7, and could step up higher on the Charing Cross corner. It is desirable to retain the 18 th century stone doorway adjacent to no 6, even if blocked Within the site, to the south of 6-8 Dumaresq Street, there is no reason why a single (commercial) story should not extend to the historic southern boundary of these properties. The new development could then step up to the south, with a second storey beginning say 6m to the south. Determining exactly what is reasonable will depend not just on technical studies (eg of daylighting to BRE or local standards) but on producing a solution that secures an appropriate setting 17

18 for the retained historic buildings, and a standard of amenity that does not prejudice their future use. 18

19 APPENDIX: The documented history of the properties Chris Aubin 1 Sources 1.1 The prime source of information on property history in Jersey is the Public Land Registry. This was initially founded in 1602 as a repository of copies of all land contracts (save partages - contracts of division of real estate, usually on intestacy - wills were not legal until 1856) but there are unfortunately many gaps, particularly in the earlier records. It was only after 1840 that all contracts were copied, including partages. 1.2 The Land Registry thus contains all property contracts post-1840, but there is no property index. The contracts are indexed under the names of the contracting parties, women being indexed by their maiden names or under their husbands names causa uxoris. To follow title to a property it is therefore necessary to trace it through its ownership; it is the usual, but not always followed, practice to give title to the property in question which assists with tracing title. 1.3 The prime concerns of a contract are to transfer and record title to land and, where possible, to ascertain its limits; it is also usual to give at least some of the names of the jointures or neighbouring owners. Whilst this usually involves a brief description of the buildings and lands concerned, these descriptions are not necessarily exhaustive or complete - just sufficient for the purpose. However, useful information can be found. No contracts have plans attached and there is no accurate early map of the town. 1.4 The various parishes in Jersey maintain administrative records, including minutes of Parish Assemblies and of the Roads Committees. Unfortunately, the listing of records for the Parish of St Helier indicates that these records have not survived for the periods relevant to this report. 2 Site location 2.1 Pitt Street and Dumaresq Street are today regarded as back streets in the town of St Helier. They lie at the west end of the main shopping thoroughfare known as King Street, or anciently La Rue de Derrière. To the west, out of town, the area is believed to have been mainly sand dune until the 17th century, with possibly a few isolated houses. There have been houses and other buildings along King Street, however, for many centuries. The early development of this part of the town is beyond the scope of this report, save for the origins of Pitt Street and Dumaresq Street. 2.2 The late Major Rybot reproduced a plan of St Helier based on an original by Peter Meade of 1737 (Fig A1). This shows the Prison (for which see below) to the west of its label E ; the E itself straddles what is now Pitt Street. Dumaresq Street can be seen beyond the property block, above the stream above the Prison and extending east across the stream. The buildings shown appear more representational than an accurate record. 19

20 Fig A1. c1737 Pitt Street runs under the E. The Prison is to the left (west) of the E (after Peter Meade, from a drawing by N V L Rybot in 1930, reproduced from Nicholle Fig A Elias Le Gros plan of St Helier 2.3 In 1834 Elias Le Gros published a detailed plan of the Town of St Helier. This shows the property block delimited on its east by Pit St, on its north-west by Dumaresq St and on its south/south-west by Charing Cross. The many properties bordering on the three streets and those apparently enclosed within, as well as the stream, are shown. The stream is shown as open but it would seem likely that it was around this time that it was canalised under some of the buildings this may be implied by what seems to be the corner of a triangular building abutting on the south side of the stream on Pitt Street, which may in reality have extended over the stream. Fig A3. Extract from BKS survey, Fig A4. Extract of modern Ordnance Survey map, 1980 ( Crown E&PS) 20

21 2.4 The division between Nos 7 & 8 Dumaresq Street has gone awry on the 1834 Le Gros map, perhaps due to no 7 Dumaresq Street owning the land to the rear of No 8 Dumaresq Street. 2.5 The Ordnance Survey map (1980) shows the remaining properties on the west side of Pitt Street : Nos 4, 5 & 6 (to the south, No 3 has been demolished); and on the south side of Dumaresq Street : Nos 6, 7, 8 & 10 (to the west, No 4 has been demolished and is now an open area owned by the Public). The buildings to the south of Nos 7 & 8 Dumaresq Street remain and part of the course of the stream appears to show behind the Pitt Street properties. The road opening opposite Nos 7 & 8 Dumaresq Street is now known as Hue Street. 3 Documented history: Charles & Guillaume Dumaresq 3.1 Although the properties have been traced back in time; the following account commences with the earlier records. The basic history of each property has been traced but is not reproduced here in full detail; for lists see Section 9 below. 3.2 In November 1700, Abraham Aubin sold to Charles Dumaresq a small house and garden which he had either built on the site of, or converted from, a stable that he had acquired in February that year from Thomas Chevalier causa uxoris 1 Jeanne Briard. The property bordered on La Rue de Derrière and lay to the east of Briard s house. The land and a small shop (boutique) to the west of her house had been sold by Briard to the States in April 1685 and became the site of the Prison (with a small strip later acquired for an access from Jacques Dumaresq (no apparent close relation). This sale also bordered on to La Rue de Derrière on its south and included all her land to the north of the stream with such claims to ownership of boundaries as she had; no jointures - neighbouring owners - are given save that the property extended beyond the stream as far, in part, as the brewery ( brasserie ) recently built by Jean Bailhache. 3.3 Charles Dumaresq followed his purchase from Aubin with a second purchase in November 1707 of a large estate from Helier Hue; one of the jointures given in this purchase was the land of Anthoine Bailhache. Dumaresq s son, Guillaume, acquired the Bailhache property (including the brasserie but not the tuns ( cuves ) and other brewing equipment which Bailhache retained) in November 1714 (the date is said to be old style in the document itself). 3.4 In 1710 the property to the east of Charles Dumaresq s purchase from Abraham Aubin was sold by Edmond Nicolle to Jean Brohier. The property stretched from the road to the south to the stream to the north and on the west bordered Charles Dumaresq in right of Aubin. When the property was next sold in 1770 by Phil. Matthieu Brohier it claimed to border on the south and west on to public roads. 3.5 Meanwhile, Guillaume Dumaresq had been dividing up the property he had acquired. To the north he is believed to have set out Hue Street. 1 For this term, see 1.2 above. 21

22 3.6 In 1717 he passed a contract with Michel Poingdestre (who had acquired the rest of the Jeanne Briard property) whereby he ceded to Poingdestre party ownership of the east gable of Poingdestre s house and the land to the north for 30' where Poingdestre was to build a new party gable running east/west just over 20' long and ceded any land of his further north. The contract states that Poingdestre could open doors and windows on the east towards the road that Dumaresq was going to open for public use. 3.7 In July 1725 Dumaresq sold a plot of land to Thomas Rouet. This lay to the south of the new road that Dumaresq had recently opened. It bordered on the property of Jean Hamon and on that already owned by Rouet; it extended east as far as the garden ( jardin which usually applies to an orchard rather than to a garden in the modern English sense) wall of the Prison. 3.8 In February 1735/6 Dumaresq sold a plot to Louise Rousset which bordered on the east a road which led to Hue Street and lay to the north of Michel Poingdestre s property. 3.9 Finally in 1739 Dumaresq sold to Nicolas Le Vavasseur dit Durell a large plot of land lying to the north of the gable of Louise Rousset s house; the plot bordered on the west on to the stream and on the east on to the road way which he had opened on the land his late father had acquired from Abraham Aubin in November The plot extended north towards a new road as far as two boundary stones. The new road is equally said to have been opened by Dumaresq and which led to Hue Street and westwards to the dunes. A second plot of land on the other side of the stream was also included in the sale together with the stable ( écurie ) built on part of the plot bordering on to the new road. The second plot extended west as far as the party wall towards the property of Josué Poingdestre and lay to the north of the Prison and formed part of the property that Dumaresq had acquired from Anthoine Bailhache, land sold by Dumaresq on the north side of the new road also derived title from Anthoine Bailhache. Poingdestre was in right of Thomas Rouet (since 1737) who, as noted above, had acquired a plot from Dumaresq in Documented history: 6 & 7 Dumaresq Street and 4 Pitt Street 4.1 Josué Poingdestre had acquired the Rouet property after a bankruptcy. It is not evident whether or not there was by that time a building on the land acquired from Dumaresq, but this is perhaps unlikely as the sale refers to a house with the adjoining plot acquired from Dumaresq. The Rouet/Poingdestre plot can be traced forward and is now known as No 6 Dumaresq Street. 4.2 There was a house on the site when it was sold by Rachel Poingdestre (a younger daughter of Josué) in However, in 1754, a contract of arrangement was passed between Josué Poingdestre and Michel Rousset (see 4.3 below) whereby the gable that Poingdestre had recently built against the gable wall of Rousset s house was defined as a party gable; there was one hearth on Rousset s side at the top, presumably at first floor level (un foyer placé au haut du côté dudit Rousset), and Poingdestre had placed such hearths as he thought fit - there had been a legal action between the neighbours. A party wall was to be built to the south between the lands dependant from their respective properties. 22

23 4.3 Following his purchase from Dumaresq in 1739, Nicolas Le Vavasseur dit Durell sold, in 1740, the stable and adjoining land to Louise Rousset. In 1749 Louise then sold to her nephew, Michel Rousset, both the house she had built on the plot acquired from Guillaume Dumaresq and the house she had built on the plot acquired from Le Vavasseur dit Durell (Michel was to feed and water his aunt and do all other necessary things during the rest of her life and to give her a decent burial afterwards). The house Louise built on the land acquired from Le Vavasseur dit Durell is now known as No 7 Dumaresq Street; it remained in the Rousset family (which family name soon became Roussel) until sold by Elizabeth Roussel s daughter in Michel Roussel acquired land from Jean Sorel in The land was to the rear (south) of both Roussel s property No 7 Dumaresq Street and that to its east and derived title from the Prison which by then had been replaced and had in part been sold to Sorel. On the same day Roussel passed a contract of arrangement with Jacques Gallichan concerning the raising of a wall built following an earlier purchase by Roussel from Gallichan in The other house built by Louise Rousset bordered on to Pitt Street. Michel Roussel sold it to Philippe Huelin in This house can be traced through title to be No 4 Pitt Street. It passed by inheritance from the Huelins to the de la Hayes and was sold in There is no indication in the documented history of any rebuilding or redevelopment of the site. 5 Documented history: 8 Dumaresq Street 5.1 The property retained by Le Vavasseur dit Durell in 1740 he sold in 1743 to Helier Le Moignan. By then it included a house and garden ( jardin ) and comprised the rest of the property he had acquired from Dumaresq. It was to the north of the house of Louise Rousset (4 Pitt Street) and to the east of a small house also belonging to Louise Rousset (7 Dumaresq Street). 5.2 Jean Le Moignan, heir of Helier, sold a small house and site ( un certain petit bout de maison & emplacement de maison ) with a court yard extending as far as the Prison garden ( jardin ) to Jean Sorel in The property bordered on the north on to the road that led to Hue Street. There was a claim to party owned gables to the east and to the west and of the wing of Michel Rousset s house. Sorel was to enclose the property from the main house ( grande maison ) retained by Le Moignan by a wall taken off the east gable but was to leave a 4' open access alongside the Prison jardin to the stream where there was a washing place ( lavoir ). In May 1795 a further contract was passed to regularise the fact that Sorel had built the new wall taller and further on to Le Moignan s property; it was also agreed that the wall alongside the Prison would not be built but that Le Moignan s courtyard would be left open. 5.3 In 1808 Jean Sorel (the son?) sold a house to his brother Thomas who sold to Jean Gruchy in The property can be traced forwards and is now known as No 8 Dumaresq Street, but no further indications of rebuilding have been noted. 5.4 Thomas Sorel passed contracts of arrangement with both his east and west neighbours in To the east, agreement was reached concerning Sorel raising the western part of the wall of the yard behind the house in connection with an 23

24 outbuilding he was proposing and could place a hearth on his side. To the west, Roussel (who only enjoyed a right of jointure against Sorel s wall which was in need of rebuilding [there is actually an! in the contract after rebuilding]) was to rebuild the south wall of Sorel s property, at the west end of the rebuilt wall, against a then existing outbuilding in a 6' length; both parties were enabled to build cupboards ( armoires ) of 14" depth and 3' width, Sorel to the west and Roussel to the east. 6 Documented history: 10 Dumaresq Street and 5 & 6 Pitt Street 6.1 The arrangements in 1795 possibly came about due to the pending sale by Le Moignan of the western part of the retained property. This sale was completed in April (surprisingly before the contract of arrangement had been passed by Le Moignan!) that year to François Laurens. The sale was of a small house between his main house ( grande maison ) and the house of Jean Sorel. Laurens had the right to adjoin against the wall retained by Le Moignan but by 16 May 1795 he had raised the wall and Le Moignan ceded him party ownership. 6.2 In 1799 Le Moignan sold to George Ahier his house and court yard lying to the north of Michel Roussel s house and to the south and west of the public roads. In June 1829 Ahier acquired the Laurens property. By 1830 the site had been redeveloped. In February that year George Talbot Ahier (George s son) passed a contract of arrangement with his western neighbour, Jean Gruchy (of No 8 Dumaresq Street), agreeing new arrangements concerning the court yard at the rear of the properties and Gruchy s access to the washing place. Ahier was to be able to build on the open court yard provided he left a 4'8" access at the end of which (at 3'5" from the step leading to the stream) Gruchy had the option of hanging a door and also the right to cover the passage. The contract, however, states that Ahier had recently built two houses where until recently had stood the house of Jean Le Moignan. 6.3 In 1834 George Talbot Ahier sold a house to each of two brothers of his. Charles Ahier acquired the more southerly house bordering on Pitt Street (it adjoined that of Philippe Huelin) with the court yard to the west. Daniel Ahier acquired the more northerly house bordering on to Pitt Street and Dumaresq Street with the court yard and a wash-house ( laverie ) to the south of the western part of the house. The wash-house was behind Charles court yard, between it and the house of Jean Gruchy, and to the north of Gruchy s access to the washing place. Charles had access to the stream and the right to keep a lead pipe in the well under the wash-house and one in the cistern under Daniel s house (which appears to have been fed by the surface water downpipe against the east walls of the houses) as long as it remained. The wash-house drained into the stream. A skylight covered both court yards. The history of these two properties, the former No 5 Pitt Street and the latter Nos 6 Pitt Street and 10 Dumaresq Street, can be brought up to date. 7 Road names and street numbers 7.1 The road names of Dumaresq Street and Pitt Street appear in contracts from c1830, prior to which they are referred to only as public roads ( chemin public ). The use of house numbers appears by 1869; in this regard it is noticeable that the States passed a law in 1843 (Loi sur la Numérotage des Maisons etc) by which property 24

25 owners were to agree on the numbering of the houses or, in default of agreement, numbers would be allotted. 7.2 Dumaresq Street would appear to have been named after Guillaume Dumaresq who opened it across his lands, or possibly after his father, though whether it was so named in his lifetime or later remains uncertain. 7.3 Guillaume Dumaresq was baptised on 17 January He was a Jurat of the Royal Court (1722/3-1746) and Receiver General of the Crown revenues in Jersey ( ), and also an Advocate of the Royal Court (sworn 1708), Connétable of St Helier ( ) and Sénéchal du Roi ( ). He died without heirs in In the 1730s during troublesome times over coinage Dumaresq was of a group from the States who took refuge in Elizabeth Castle and later was one of a party who travelled to England on the same matter to his Majesty in Council. It is perhaps unlikely that he would have met one of the Pitt family; Pitt the Elder was perhaps still between university and taking a Cornetcy in Cobham s Regiment (the King s Own Regiment of Horse) in The origin of the name Pitt Street is more obscure. It rarely occurs in the single t form of Pit Street, which may perhaps be dismissed. It is known that there were at least two Mr Pitt s in Jersey in the early 19th century (André and James Francis), but neither has any known connection with this end of town. 7.5 William Pitt the Elder was a major statesman in England at the time and linked with Philippe D Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon, from Jersey; indeed at a meeting in Paris, D Auvergne took a Major Dumaresq with him. There in no known local connection with either Pitt the Elder or his son Pitt the Younger. 7.6 However, although he is rarely mentioned in the Island and may never have visited, William Pitt s elder son John, Lord Chatham, was appointed Governor from 1807 to 1821, when he was appointed Governor of Gibraltar. Although there is no known connection with the Pitt family and Pitt Street, a curious episode in Jersey history does make a tentative link and a possible suggestion for the name. During Chatham s governorship, the States of Jersey proceeded with the construction of a new Prison, which was built in Newgate Street, to replace the late 17th century Prison in Charing Cross and against the garden on to which the houses in Dumaresq Street backed. Jean Sorel of 8 Dumaresq Street acquired part of the site of the old Prison and was involved in the development of the new Prison and adjoining properties. The estimate for the construction of the new Prison was 5,000. Chatham, as Governor, graciously credited 200 per annum for five years out of the Crown Revenues towards the expected costs. Could the road, perhaps unnamed, running alongside the old Prison have been named after Chatham s family as a result? 8 Conclusion 8.1 From the research summarised above, provisional dating can be deduced for the first building of the houses in Dumaresq Street and Pitt Street. However, particularly in the case of 4 Pitt Street, the property may have been subsequently rebuilt. 25

26 6 Dumaresq Street new in Dumaresq Street Dumaresq Street Dumaresq Street/ 6 Pitt Street & 5 Pitt Street 1829/ Pitt Street The street layout can also be ascertained from the summarised contracts. The roads were laid out by Guillaume Dumaresq on lands acquired by him and his father between 1700 and Dumaresq Street was opened prior to the sale to Thomas Rouet in 1725 (at least in part on the land acquired for Anthoine Bailhache) and Pitt Street prior to the sale to Louise Rousset in 1735/6, but after the sale of the property to the east in 1710 (at least in part on the land acquired from Abraham Aubin) and after the arrangements with Michel Poingdestre in Although these roads were set out by Dumaresq, the property depth south of Dumaresq Street was not set by him. The south boundaries of the properties in Dumaresq Street related to the Prison; this in turn was inherited from the earlier title, and thus bore no direct relationship to the later roads. 9 Summary of ownership of Nos 6, 7, 8 & 10 Dumaresq Street and 4, 5 & 6 Pitt Street. The following listing ignores the legal technicalities of the various contracts. No 6 Dumaresq Street Channel Islands Co-Operative Society 3 July purchase from - John Helier Foot 20 February Will - Stanley John Foot 17 July purchase from - Susannah Roselle Fox wife of Ernest Edward Matthews 21 July Will - Eric Barnard Fox 11 April division of estate - Ada Lilian Fox 19 June division of estate - William Henry Fox 9 February purchase from - William Le Feuvre Chevalier 3 December division of estate - John Thomas Chevalier & Henriette Susan Best Le Feuvre, his wife 3 November purchase from - Jane Remy wife of Philippe Bisson 12 May division of estate - Nicolas Remy 1st November purchase from - Philippe Le Gallais 27 February purchase from - Marie Betfer repossessed in Décret of Elizabeth Davau from the children of the late William Jacob 27 June purchase from - Henry Pim 6 June purchase from - William Jacob 19 March purchase from - John Hanvil Pryor 14 September purchase -from Elizabeth Davau 29 August purchase from - Jean Benest & Marie Betfer, his wife 26

27 13 December purchase from - Frederick le Vavasseur dit Durell 19 February purchase from - Michel Roussel senr 9 February purchase from - Frederick Le Vavasseur dit Durell 24 September purchase from - Marie Sara Hubert only daughter and heir of Joseph Hubert eldest son and principal heir of Joseph Hubert 26 May purchase from - Rachel Poingdestre wife of Jean Le Gros division of estate - one of the younger daughters of Josué Poingdestre 7 September Josué Poingdestre contract of arrangement with Michel Rousset (7 Dumaresq Street) 4 February purchase from - Abraham Rouet principal heir of Margaret Le Gallais, his grand mother tenant after the bankruptcy of Thomas Rouet 25 July purchase from - Guillaume Dumaresq 7 Dumaresq Street Channel Islands Co-Operative Society 3 July purchase from - John Helier Foot 20 February Will - Stanley John Foot 7 December Will - Francis Helier John Foot eldest son and principal heir of Louisa Betsey Hunt with Francis William Foot, her husband 19 October purchase from - Elizabeth Jane Gautier heir of Elizabeth Roussel, her mother and purchase of shares from co-heirs, only heir of Michel Charles Roussel 18 January division of estate - Michel Roussel, his father 7 May 1829 Sale of shares of estate - Michel Roussel, father 13 July Michel Roussel contract of arrangement with Thomas Sorel (8 Dumaresq Street) 7 September Michel Rousset contract of arrangement with Josué Poingdestre (6 Dumaresq Street) Michel Roussel/Rousset. 19 March purchase from - Louise Rousset 16 August purchase from - Nicolas Le Vavasseur dit Durell 25 August purchase from - Guillaume Dumaresq 8 Dumaresq Street Channel Islands Co-Operative Society 3 July purchase from - John Helier Foot 20 February Will - Stanley John Foot 7 December Will - Francis Helier John Foot 13 January purchase from - Kathleen Horacestine Pett, widow of Frederick Fitch 6 October Will - Frederick Fitch 20 November purchase from - George Amy Romeril 22 September purchase from - Violet Lillian Gruchy, sole heir of Douglas Sorel Gruchy, her brother 12 June division of estate - Sorel John Gruchy, eldest son and principal heir of Sorel Gruchy 30 April division of estate - Jean Gruchy, his father 6 February Jean Gruchy contract of arrangement with George Talbot Ahier (10 Dumaresq Street 5 & 6 Pitt Street) 19 February purchase from - Thomas Sorel 13 July Thomas Sorel contract of arrangement with Michel Roussel (7 Dumaresq Street) 27

28 13 July Thomas Sorel contract of arrangement with Elizabeth Falle (10 Dumaresq Street/Pitt Street) 12 November purchase from - Jean Sorel 2 May Jean Sorel contract of arrangement with Jean Le Moignan (site of 10 Dumaresq Street, 5 & 6 Pitt Street) 6 March purchase from - Jean Le Moignan, heir of Helier Le Moignan, his brother 28 January purchase from - Nicolas Le Vavasseur dit Durell for earlier title see 7 Dumaresq Street 10 Dumaresq Street & 6 Pitt Street Channel Islands Co-Operative Society 20 January purchase from - Dora Margaret Louisa Foot 13 June division of estate - Reginald Francis William Foot, her brother 7 December Will - Francis Helier John Foot sole heir of Louisa Betsy Hunt, widow of Francis William Foot 19 December 1885 Clara Maria Ahier 1st July division of estate - Charles Ahier, her father, eldest son and principal heir of the late Charles Ahier 17 December purchase from - George Talbot Ahier, principal heir of the late Daniel Ahier, his brother 25 October purchase from - George Talbot Ahier 6 February George Talbot Ahier contract of arrangement with Jean Gruchy (8 Dumaresq Street) 5 Pitt Street Channel Islands Co-Operative Society 3 July purchase from - John Helier Foot 20 February Will - Stanley John Foot 7 December Will - Francis Helier John Foot 1st June purchase from - Maria Justine Hunt, wife of John Underwood Harper Sale to Charles Pallot cancelled 5 April purchase from - Charles Ahier, eldest son and principal heir of the late Charles Ahier tenant after bankruptcy of Elizabeth Blampied 15 April purchase from - Charles Ahier 25 October purchase from - George Talbot Ahier George Talbot Ahier I 6 June purchase from - Susanne de Ste Croix 11 April purchase from - Thomas Laurens, heir of François Laurens principal heir of the late François Laurens 16 May François Laurens contract of arrangement with Jean Le Moignan (within 10 Dumaresq Street and 6 Pitt Street) 18 April purchase from - Jean Le Moignan 2 May contract of arrangement between Jean Le Moignan and Jean Sorel (site of 8 Dumaresq Street) [After the sale to Laurens!] George Talbot Ahier II 28

29 Heir George Ahier 12 December purchase from - Jean Le Moignan heir or tenant after bankruptcy of Elizabeth Falle, his mother, widow of Jean Le Moignan 13 July Elizabeth Falle contract of arrangement with Thomas Sorel (8 Dumaresq Street) 12 December purchase from - Jean Le Moignan 21 June purchase from - George Ahier 13 April purchase from - Jean Le Moignan 16 May Jean Le Moignan contract of arrangement with François Laurens (within 10 Dumaresq Street and 6 Pitt Street) for earlier title see 8 Dumaresq Street 4 Pitt Street Channel Islands Co-Operative Society 17 May purchase from - James Henry Cabot, son and sole heir of the late Harry Arthur Cabot 11 December gift from - Ann Dorothea Luckarift 10 December purchase from - Muriel Clare de la Haye 6 September purchase from - Lilian Harriet de la Haye 31 October division of estate - Jane Mary Huelin, wife of George Thomas de la Haye 17 July division of estate - John Huelin, her brother 10 April division of estate - Philippe Huelin, his father 7 July purchase from - Michel Rousset 23 June purchase from - Charles Matthews 5 May purchase from - Michel Roussel 19 March purchase from - Louise Rousset 12 February purchase from - Guillaume Dumaresq REFERENCES Bois, E, de Ste Croix, H M & Young, A, 1989 Jersey Through the Lens Again Nicolle, E T, 1972 The Town of St Helier (Société Jersiaise) Stevens, J, 1977 Old Jersey Houses, II, Phillimore, Chichester 29

30 Fig 2.1 Maps Richmond 1795 Godfray 1849 Elias le Gros 1834 Enlarged detail of Elias le Gros 30

31 2.2 Ground floor plan 31

32 First floor plan 2.3 First floor plan 32

33 2.4 Second floor plan Second floor plan 33

34 2.5 Top floor plan 34

35 Fig

36 Fig

37 Fig 2.8 Dumaresq Street elevations Number 8 The street looking east, door to demolished house in foreground Numbers 7 & 6 37

38 Fig 2.9 Pitt Street (clockwise) Number 4 Original front door to number 5 Numbers 5 & 6 from the north Front door to number 4 38

39 Fig Dumaresq Street Staircase at first floor level with mid 18 th century detailing Through passage/hall and staircase with early 19 th century detailing 18 th century plank and muntin partition overlaid by early 19 th century plaster and dado panelling 39

40 Fig Dumaresq Street Staircase at attic level Mid 18 th century fireplace First floor room with mid 18 th century fireplace and door 40

41 Fig Dumaresq Street Apex of roof truss showing pegged joint Bracket projecting from south wall in roof to west rear wing Roof to west rear wing looking south 41

42 Fig 2.13 Pitt Street: interiors No 5 showroom on first floor No 6 late 19 th century shopfittings on ground floor No 6 19 th century wallpaper behind shopfittings No 4 room on first floor with early 19 th century detailng 42

43 Fig Pitt Street Staircase Double doors in first floor drawing room First floor drawing room Second floor reception room 43

44 Fig 2.15 Comparisons Hue Street before demolition Mid 18 th century staircases From: Stevens, J, 1977 Old Jersey Houses, Vol II 44