Historic Jersey buildings
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Property name
Bel au Vent
Other names
Chateau Bel au Vent: One of the most fascinating aspects of this property is its name. On Godfray's map of 1849 two properties are indicated, and bracketed under the name of M T Cadoret. Both Godfray's map and the Duke of Richmond's survey of 1795 indicate two avenues, one leading to the main road (Grande Route de St Jean) and the other to Mont Gavey, and two sets of buildings separated by an orchard, again suggesting a possibility of two distinct farms at an earlier period. What is interesting is that Godfray names the property as Chateau Bel au Vent.
It is the use of Chateau which seems inconsistent with a small farm no different from the many in this area and dotted all round the island. The main part of the name, Bel au Vent, suggests a courtyard open to the wind.
This fits with the property in question. It lies on high ground to the west of Les Sts Germains Farm, which is in a valley on Rue des Hamonets. It would, therefore, be, at times, open to harsh easterly winds.
A fascinating new theory has been propounded, which exhibits increasing merit the more it is examined. E Littre's Dictionnaire de la Langue Francaise (1885, Paris) gives one meaning of bel as a fisherman's term for the structure aboard ship where the cod is stored. The term chateau can be used as part of the ship's superstructure, which obviously would have to be open to the wind aboard the sailing vessels.
Location
Rue du Bel au Vent, St Lawrence
Type of property
19th century farmhouse
Valuations
Maison Bel au Vent was sold for £3.8 million in August 2020, after being advertised for £4.95 million in 2017. This is a new build property and it is not clear from the estate agent's description whether it is a development of the farm or an entirely separate property
Families associated with the property
- Jandron
- Pinel: Hedley Francis Pinel, his mother Lilian Clara Pinel, nee Jeandron, his wife Marie, nee Le Gresley, and their daughter Gwendoline May Silvester, were resident at Le Bel au Vent in 1941
- Cadoret
Datestones
None identified
History
Edouard Jandron was the owner and farmer of Bel au Vent - a smallholding of no more than 25 vergees. By 1883 he had retired from farming and was in October leasing the house, buildings and lands to his son, as from the next Christmas, for a period of seven years at the annual sum of £3.75 per vergee.
As well as imposing conditions with regard to keeping the house and lands in a good state, the father retained the use of two rooms in the house - the parlour to the west of the house and the bedroom above - and a small garden, for his own use. But he died before enjoying his retirement.
The 1901 census shows his farmer son Edward (1849- ) and his wife Clara (1853- ) living here with their daughters Amy (1884- ), Elsie (1890- ), Aline (1893- ) and Janet (1894- )
The property remained in the hands of the descendants of the family, although through the female line, until well after the German Occupation of 1940-45. The last owners were Pinels who have been in this area of the parish for many generations and whose numerous descendants have connections with nearly all the other families of this vingtaine and beyond.
Historic Environment Record entry
Listed building
A mid to late-19th century house, retaining some original exterior features and character of rural streetscape value.
Old Jersey Houses
Not included
