34 C O N T E X T 1 3 2 : N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 3 In order to deal with the thousands of historic buildings and sites within the island, it was recognised that as well as working in partnership with other local heritage organisations and individuals such as the Société Jersiaise, NationalTrust for Jersey, Association of Jersey Architects and Channel Islands Occupation Society, it would be necessary for Jersey Heritage to commission a group of historic building specialists and consultants to undertake much of the research and on-site appraisals. The survey of around 3,700 buildings, previously identified by the States of Jersey on a historic buildings register, was undertaken over a two-year period between 2010 and 2012 by a team of specialist consultants led by Aylin Orbasli. At the core of the assignment was the need to be consistent and efficient in delivering high-quality reports that would provide a fair and transparent means for evaluating significance and grading. A survey guide prepared in consultation with Jersey Heritage provided an agreed point of reference to be used throughout the survey.The guide included sections on the background and architectural history of Jersey, guidance on listing grades and an agreed illustrated glossary of terms, including those specific to Jersey. The next step involved putting in place systems that would ensure the timely delivery of the survey and, significantly, the consistency of data and evaluation. A specific survey database was set up using FileMaker Pro software, to receive and subsequently export data in .xls format. Research carried out in Jersey Archive, the Société Jersiaise Library and from several published and unpublished sources enabled property-specific historic information to be placed directly on to the database prior to the survey. The field survey was undertaken with the use of first generation ipads on to which the full database was uploaded. In the field, survey information was entered directly on to the ipad into the relevant data entry fields, with drop-down menus creating short cuts for some of the fields.This not only enabled the surveyor to see all the information available on the property, including historic background, but also reduced transcription errors from handwritten notes and generally saved time. A copy of the survey guide and current and historic maps were also available on the ipads for easy reference. Completed entries were emailed back to a central hub database on a weekly basis. The survey recorded a description of a property, its key architectural features, condition and significance. Where new historic information became available, such as from documents held by owners, this information was also added. In around a quarter of cases the interiors were also fully or partially surveyed. Each property was digitally photographed and the pictures uploaded to a central file on the planning department’s server. Surveyors marked up a ‘boundary of significance’ for each property that was subsequently transferred to GIS.Where access to properties was not possible, this information was completed from published sources and information already held on file. German military sites were surveyed by members of the Channel Islands Occupation Society with the support of the professional survey team. Once checked, entries were handed over to Jersey Heritage on a rolling basis. Jersey Heritage presented each proposed listing to the Ministerial Listing Advisory Group (MLAG), a voluntary group of individuals with specialist local knowledge that provided an invaluable forum for discussion and detailed local scrutiny – for consideration of the appropriate grading, or removal from the list, before making a final recommendation. Since 2010 there are four grades for listed buildings and places in Jersey. Grade 1 is reserved for exceptional buildings considered to be of more than island-wide importance; Grade 2 is for important, high-quality examples of a particular historical period, architectural style or building type; Grade 3 is for those buildings that are of significant heritage interest to Jersey, but may have alterations or only particular elements worthy of listing; and Grade 4 is applied to properties that are defined particularly for their exterior character and contribution to townscape and landscape character. The resurvey process also helped in identifying buildings that may have been overlooked for listing previously, and historic property types that remained under-represented among listed buildings in Jersey. Further research, including the use of historic maps and aerial photography, helped identify potential properties that had been previously missed. Meanwhile, it became apparent that very few post-war buildings had been listed in Jersey, and that no systematic study of this period had been undertaken. Architectural publications, The formal gardens at Samares Manor are among the historic landscapes that have been listed. (Photo by Sarah Rutherford, who undertook the landscape survey) Most farm groups have evolved over time with additions and adaptations each century. (Photo: Aylin Orbasli)
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