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An ancient monument in Guernsey could be fenced off because of repeated anti-social behaviour.
The Culture and Leisure Department has applied for planning permission to put up a fence around the Cists in Circle at Sandy Hook in St Sampson.
It said fly-tipping, littering, fires and moving the stones had all been problems at the site for years, and were the reason for the application.
The site, which was excavated in 1912, dates from about 2,500 to 1,800 BC.
The plans include a gate which would allow access to the site, but only with the use of a key held by Guernsey Museum.
The museum operates a similar system for several other sites, including Victoria Tower in St Peter Port.
If the plans are approved, archaeologists and historical sites staff will work to restore the ancient monument.
An important archaeological site could be lost because of a row between the owner and the Environment Department.
Remains dating from 4000 to 2000 BC are evident in a courtyard surrounded by the Swan Inn, Bank of Bermuda and accountants Lince Salisbury. They are threatened even though the owner wants to preserve them as part of a new development. When accountant Michael Fattorini bought the site three years ago, it had permission for an office development. But site investigations uncovered a unique stone cairn.
He then shelved the plans to expand his office into the site and proposed a car park with public viewing and access for academics.
‘I fail to understand its stance in reality. Here is someone looking to be supportive of our heritage, saying there’s a site and rather than develop it I’m happy to preserve it,’ said Mr Fattorini. ‘The Environment Department is just saying no and giving it no support whatsoever.‘
Various ideas for the project from architects Lovell Ozanne have been put forward since Mr Fattorini bought the property.
‘It should have some feeling for these things. They allow the Royal Bank of Scotland and Admiral Park, all the glazed buildings, and that’s fine, but we just want to preserve what’s here,’ he said.
‘I’d like the Environment Department to acknowledge the fact there’s something worth preserving and be supportive of the plans.‘
The site is the only one of its type in the Channel Islands and its importance has been verified by visiting archaeologists.
More of the article
“Plans to save dig remain blocked”
by Nick Mann
in This Is Guernsey
thisisguernsey.com/code/shownewsarticle.pl?ArticleID=011853
“Prehistoric Monuments and their Superstitions” is a chapter in Sir Edgar MacCullogh’s ‘Guernsey Folklore’, which you can now read on the Internet Archive. There is also a chapter on “Natural Objects and their Superstitions”. The book was edited and published in 1903, but much of the information was gathered many years before that.
Online mapping for Guernsey monuments. It’s not brilliant – you don’t seem to be able to filter by the age of the monument, which is a shame. And it won’t give the grid reference. But it might help you a bit.
Much information about Guernsey sites. You can contribute your own photos and comments.