Ban on thatch, 1816

From the Gazette de Guernesey, 2 November 1816. The appearance of wider St Peter Port would be changed by this Order of the Royal Court.

Tuesday 29 October 1816, the Bailiff presiding, in the presence of Pierre de Jersey, Eléazar Le Marchant, Daniel De Lisle Brock, Josias Le Marchant, Pierre Le Pelley, Jean De Lisle, Jean Guille, and Helier Carré, Esquires, Jurats.

Concerning the Bailiff's proposal, made before the Court today, that it would be advisable to extend the provisions of the Order of 3 April 1780, which forbids the roofing of, or repair of roofs of, houses, shops, or other buildings using reeds or straw within the area prescribed by the said Order, and this because of the large number of houses, shops and other buildings, which have been built near or adjoining to these aforementioned; the Court, taking into consideration that it is very much their duty to make as many precautions as possible to prevent the spread of fire, has decided to amend the said Order, taking into account the advice of the Law Officers, and it is therefore now forbidden to use reed, straw or other combustible material to roof or to repair the roof of, houses, shops and buildings, within the confines of the following area:

1. Up Havelet from the shore as far as Fontaine-Fleurie.

2. A straight line drawn from the Fontaine-Fleurie to a point 50 feet to the east of the south gable of Sieur Pierre Grut's house at Les Godaines.

3. From there, following a straight line to a point 50 feet to the south of the west side of Thomas Priaulx Esquire's house at Montville.

4. From there, following a straight line to a point 50 feet to the south at the northern end of the hedge that separates Les Vardes and Eléazar Nant's garden.

5. From there, keeping to the west of Mr Jeffery's new mill, Moulin de Haut.

6. From there, following a line drawn from 50 feet to the North of the path of the new Moulin de Haut as fas ar Park Street.

7. From there, following a line drawn from 50 feet behind the houses on the western side of Park Street as far as the house that belonged to the heirs of the late Sieur Pierre Le Page.

8. From there, travelling back up Mount Durand in an irregular line that will pass 50 feet to the south of all the houses that are built to the south of that road, and which will terminate at the field belonging to Mr Jean Allaire.

9. From there, across the road, an irregular line which will start at the aforementioned Mr Allaire's estate, 50 feet from the road, and which will continue along the back of and 50 feet away from all the houses built to the North of the said road, and which will end at the Boulonne Steps (sic, Bouillonne Steps).

10. From there a line going up to Captain Brown's house in Vauvert, keeping 150 feet to the west of the houses that are situated to the east of that line.

11. From Captain Brown's house a straight line ending 50 feet to the south of the house of Henry-Arlot Mansell, Esq., towards the top of the alley, the Petite Fontaines.

12. From there a straight line up to a point 50 feet to the south of the southern gable of Mr De Meuron's house.

13. From there, to a point 50 feet to the south of Sr George Fenien's old house.

14. From there a straight line to the main road (route de communication), passing to the north of Dame Elisabeth Bell's estate.

15. From there, passing the gate of the field (courtil) of the Gravée du Sud, belonging to Jean Carey, son of Thomas, Esquire, up to the middle of the said field. 

16. From there, an irregular line passing 50 feet away from the houses built on the northern side of the Route du Câtel [Grange] and ending 50 feet to the north of Mr Jean Bonamy's store.

17. From there, a straight line to a point 50 feet to the south of Candie Road.

18. From 50 feet away from Candie Road as far as a point 50 feet from the houses belonging to the heirs of Elizabeth Le Pettevin.

19. From there, over the road to 50 feet to the north of L'Hyvreuse Gate.

20. From there, an irregular line drawn 50 feet to the north of the road that leads via the Haut des Vauxlaurens and along the estate of Jean-Elizée Tupper, Esq., Sieur Henry Le Lacheur, and of Eléazar Le Marchant, up to 50 feet from its turning into the Amballes.

21. From there, an irregular line drawn 50 feet to the south of each house built on the Amballes as far as Guillaume Sarchet's house.

22. From there, a straight line up to a point 50 feet to the south of Guillaume Sarchet's cottages, on the main road.

23. From there, crossing over the road, a curved line around in Sieur Pierre Sarchet's buildings, 50 feet away from them, and Sieur Nicolas Brouard's house, the same distance away to the West and to the North. 

24.  From there, a straight line to the north gable of the house at the Banques that was part of Jean Brehaut's saisie.

25.  From the high tide mark opposite Brehaut's house, following the shore as far as Havelet.

On pain of a fine of 300 livres tournois, one quarter payable to the King, one quarter for the Town poor, and one half to the informer. Anything built in contravention to this Act must be taken down. Any house that needs its roof reparing must have the roof redone with slates or tiles, or other non-combustible material. And this Order will be cried in the market and put up in the usual places, so that no one may plead ignorance of it.