Historians consider new way of bringing dolmen back to Jersey

Jersey Heritage said wants to see the Neolithic Mont de la Ville stones recreated in a 3D digital format, and an appropriate commemoration put in place as part of plans to revamp Fort Regent, where the ancient tomb was originally found.

The comments from the organisation responsible for looking after some of Jersey’s most important historic sites and treasures follow renewed calls for Mont de la Ville to be returned to its island home.

A petition to bring the Mont de la Ville dolmen back to the island was launched this week, while Assistant Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel currently drafting a letter to the owners to get permission for the move.

However, Jersey Heritage says that it already looked into the idea in 2018, and received expert advice that the proposition would not be viable.

Pictured: Dr Arthur Mourant examining the top surface of the entrance to the dolmen during a visit to Henley in 1962. (Jersey Heritage)

The megalithic monument, discovered in 1785 on the grounds of Fort Regent, was gifted to retiring Governor, Field-Marshal Henry Seymour Conway, who moved it to the UK to Templecombe House, his Henley-on-Thames estate, where it remains to this day.

Islander Sara Wagstaffe set up the petition to get the dolmen moved back to its original island home, which currently has more than 150 signatures.

She told Express she had “always been fascinated with the beautiful dolmens we have on our Island,” and that “on realising that many other islanders appreciated their beauty and significance to the island, coupled with the plans to redevelop Fort Regent, it felt the right time to petition for the return of Le Mont De la Ville Dolmen.”

While Jersey Heritage has said that the organisation would support the idea in principle, it cited expert advice given by UK Neolithic Experts in 2018, which indicated it would not be viable.

In a letter sent this week to interested parties, Heritage outlined that in 2018 an expert made contact with the relevant Inspector of Ancient Monuments and the Principal Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire).

Pictured: The dolmen was gifted to Field-Marshal Henry Seymour Conway following its discovery in 1785, and has remained on his former estate ever since. (Jersey Heritage)

While neither expert entirely dismissed the idea, they noted that as the property was Grade II listed, removing anything from it within that context would be difficult.

After receiving this advice, Heritage’s advisory panel at the time concluded they would have to gather more compelling evidence for the monument’s restoration, though suggested a laser scanned recreation or 3D digital product could be created if they did not succeed.

Olga Finch, Jersey Heritage’s Curator of Archaeology, told Express yesterday: “In principle, we would, of course, support the return of the Mont de la Ville dolmen – an important piece of Jersey’s ancient history – to the Island.

“However, having looked into the possibility a couple of years ago, the expert advice we were given was that it was not a viable proposal.

“The stones are Grade II Listed and the protection afforded to them by UK heritage bodies and legislation means that it is unlikely that permission would be granted to have them moved.

“However, the dolmen is a significant part of the history of the land on which Fort Regent sits and there is plenty of scope to recognise this.

“We would welcome any support to enable us to explore other exciting ways to tell the story of the ancient monument as part of the rejuvenation of the Fort site, such as a 3D virtual visit to the dolmen stones on the site where it originated.”

Pictured: Though the Economic Development Assistant Minister said there were “obstacles” to overcome, he said he would be trying to see if there was a way to get the stones back. (Jersey Heritage)

Société Jersiase did not wish to comment on the matter as an organisation.

Speaking personally, member of its archeological division, Nick Aubin, said that he would be “very happy” if the monument was returned to Jersey, but noted that he felt it “unlikely” to happen due to its listed status. He added: “Any campaign would need a lot of perseverance, and if it were feasible, a lot of money.”

Assistant Minister for Culture, Deputy Kirsten Morel, says he’s willing to put in the effort. He is currently in the process of drafting his letter to the owners of the estate where the dolmen sits, seeking permission to move it back to Jersey.

Deputy Morel acknowledged that “there are lot of obstacles to overcome” in the journey towards retrieving the dolmen – from getting this initial permission from the owners, to then getting permission from UK authorities to ‘demolish’ part of a Grade II listed property.

Pictured: Deputy Kirsten Morel, who is drafting a letter to the dolmen’s current owners in Henley-on-Thames.

Deputy Morel also highlighted that the archaeological value of the dolmen could be reduced or damaged in the move, considering it has already been moved once, and that he wanted to ensure he had archaeological advice on the matter to balance with the cultural value of the dolmen.

Another issue he raised the fact that the dolmen would not be restored to its precise former location, even if it was moved back to the island, as he understands that location is now underneath where Fort Regent stands.

Furthermore, he pointed out the island “can’t claim a moral principle because we gave it away… it may not be this department that did it, but it did happen.”

With these aspects in mind, he said that alternatives, such as Heritage’s suggestion of a digital or physical recreation should be considered alongside the attempts to get it back too.

“I think we need to look at all of these things, as well as just making those initial enquiries about whether or not we could actual get the physical stones back to Jersey,” he said.

Pictured: There is currently a plaque at Fort Regent acknowledging the dolmen that once stood there – but Jersey Heritage wants to see more done to share its story.

However, he added he would be continuing to look at ways of getting the dolmen back, remarking that “though it does strike me that it would be difficult to achieve, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”