Plans for ‘arts pavilion’ on ruins of historic Icart house

A planning application has been submitted for the overgrown woodland site on the eastern side of the headland, next to Saints Farm.

The application was made by Saints Holdings Ltd, with DLM Architects as the agents.

David De La Mare from DLM said that the client wanted to gift a the completed pavilion to the charity Art for Guernsey, given both parties' 'shared belief in the transformative power of art to bring communities together, provide educational opportunities, promote cultural diplomacy and create an artistic legacy for Guernsey'.

‘Together with strong links to the proposed Victor Hugo Centre, the La Marcherie Pavilion has potential to become an important island asset for education, tourism and the community – while retaining and exhibiting the rich history of La Marcherie.’

Within the application it is stated that the pavilion would be a destination for local and visiting artists and writers, and be a cultural hub.

‘This exciting and ambitious project would produce educational, cultural, economic and tourism benefits for the island,’ the application continued.

‘The proposal develops upon the positive impact that arts and creative expression has locally, in fostering creativity and drawing international audiences to Guernsey’s beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history.’

Art for Guernsey founder David Ummels welcomed the project.

‘Art for Guernsey is in full support of this transformational project, with great sustainability and creative ethos, which can help to further place Guernsey on the map, enhance the islanders quality of life, support the island as a sustainable and creative destination and align harmoniously with the position of Guernsey Finance as one of the world’s leaders of Green Finance,’ he said.

The plans show a single-storey, timber-framed structure, with timber-screening trellissing along the sides. It would have a rubber roof, topped with solar panels. Ground screws would be used to support the structure.

A raised timber access board-walk, also on ground screw foundations, would link the pavillion to the existing granite archway on the roadside, which has been choked with undergrowth for years.

Mr De La Mare said the plan would be have a two-year trial period, so look at the impact of the pavillion.

‘We see this as an opportunity for The States of Guernsey to allow a potentially time limited and privately funded demonstration of an alternative way of building and living more sustainably, without setting any Planning precedent, which fully complies with the aspirations and objectives of the Strategic Land Use Plan, IDP, and Strategy for Nature, and is ultimately completely reversible.’

LA MARCHERIE

It was once a large country house to the south of what is now Saints Farm.

Dating back until at least the 1600s, the blue granite structure was occupied by the Menard-Dorians family in 1893.

Aline Menard-Dorian hosted sculptor Auguste Rodin, for a couple of weeks, with his companions, the artist Emile Carriere and the critic Gustave Geffroy. A set of photographs taken at La Marcherie show Rodin reclining on the cliffs

Victor Hugo’s grandson Georges Hugo was married to Pauline Menard-Dorian - Aline’s daughter in 1894.

The house went on to be rented out as a hotel in 1915, advertised as having 15 bedrooms, indoor sanitation and electric lights. At the start of the Occupation the building was locked up, and was initially used to billet soldiers, before being demolished by the Occupying forces.

Its blue granite was used in the Occupying forces own projects, reportedly including the German cemetery at Le Baugy off the Jerbourg Road.

A request to rebuild it was refused in 1951 and it passed through several owners before coming to Saints Holdings Ltd, which bought the site at auction for just over £100,000 in 2008. Today all that is left is ruins.