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The Environment Minister has put a stop to a landowner's bid to remove the special archeological protection on two fields he owns in St. Ouen, arguing that future technology might allow them to be explored further.
The fields could be "the best-preserved area of mediaeval strip fields in the island," according to Deputy Jonathan Renouf’s decision.
According to a decision published on Tuesday 4 July, "the Minister noted that fields O1798 and O1799 are clearly recognisable as part of the strip field grouping and contribute to its special cultural or historical interest that attaches to the place".
The two fields, both on Rue de la Campagne in St. Ouen, were placed on the List of Sites of Special Interest last year. At the time, the Planning Department described the fields as a "rare group of surviving medieval strip, unenclosed, fields of international importance".
The owner of the fields, Fergus Winchester, appealed against the decision in November, branding the decision as "unfair and incorrect" and arguing that the fields were neither medieval nor unenclosed.
Pictured: The fields are situated on Rue de la Campagne in St. Ouen.
Jersey Heritage have also been involved in the dispute. They argue that the fields should continue to be listed. A July 2022 Jersey Heritage report states the fields date back to 1778, when they were named "les champs du Val au Feuvre".
Independent planning inspector David Hainsworth visited the site in February 2023, and wrote that the site was being ploughed as a single field and that "the shape and character of Fields O1798 and O1799 had been lost by the date of the listing" - concluding that the fields should not be listed anymore.
But there may still be archeological value to the site, according to the Minister.
His decision reads: "Vestiges of field boundaries may also still exist below the plough-depth of the field and these could, in the future, be researched using non-invasive technologies to aid understanding of the development of the strip fields.
"The Minister noted that a listing serves to preserve what is of special interest and also to raise awareness within the community of the rich history underpinning the island’s culture and landscapes.
"The Minister also considered that the listing affords the potential opportunity to restore features of special interest in the future."
Landowner battles special protection for 'Medieval farming fields'
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