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THE SEIGNEURIAL TITLES OF THE NORMAN ISLANDS
OF THE CHANNEL. GUERNSEY TITLES. |
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(IV)
The Seigneurial titles of Guernsey |
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| As
commented above, in 1020 Duke Richard II divided Guernsey diagonally
in two halves, granting the south and east to Néel, Vicomte
of the Cotentin, and the west to Anchetel, Vicomte
of the Bessin. The Clos du Valle
was apparently wasteland. The two initial fiefs had some vicissitudes
but by the time of the conquest of England both had returned to the
families of the original holders.
Evolution of Fief du Bessin: Evolution of
Fief du Cotentin: |
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| The
evolution of the lands in the parish of Torteval is complicated, because
although initially in the Fief du Cotentin, many of its fiefs overlap
into St. Pierre-du-Bois, which
is part of Fief du Bessin. The original Fief Au Cannely (granted to the Cherbourg family and naturally in the territory of Fief du Cotentin) has been replaced by several sub-fiefs as a result of marriages and settlements: Fief Guillot Justice, Fief Janin Besnard, Fief de Thomas Blondel, Fief Bouvée Duquemin, Fief Robert de Va (or de Ver), Fief Jean du Gaillard (that passed to the Crown in early 16th Century), etc. A perplexing overlapping of territories thus emerged. By 1248 the distribution of the fiefs was much as at present time. |
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| The dovecote of fief Au Canely. The Seigneur has the right to get there by foot or by horse by day or by night. | |||
| The
number of Guernsey fiefs have remained unchanged since the XIV century.
The titles have been kept in some cases in the same families for years
(Sausamez). All 75 Seigneuries
are perfectly documented; this is not the case with other Channel Islands
titles. In January 2004, 24 private Seigneurs
hold 46 Seigneuries that means
that some Seigneurs hold more
than one title. Two more Seigneures
(Riviere and Beuval) are held by more than one person and the additional
27 fiefs belong to the Crown. The title is transferred by conveyance.
The transfer must be in accordance with Guernsey practice. That means
that the testament or conveyance must be done in accordance with the
Guernsey law. The document is registered at HM Greffe |
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| Relation
of the 75
Seigneuries of
Guernsey (As of January 2004): |
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| There are 24 private Seigneurs: The Fief de Beuval is hold by six persons and the Fief de la Riviere is hold by nine persons. |
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| Crown holdings
of Fiefs: |
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| 1-Le
Roi (*) 2-Saint-Michel (*) 3-Saint-Martin (*) 4-Eveque (*) 5- Rue-Frairie (* Croix de St. Leufroy) 6-Caen (*) 7-Gallicien 8-Hailla (2/3) 9-Haule 10-Velleresse 11-Levin 12-Rosiere 13-Rozel a St. Pierre Port 14-Franc manoir le Marchant 15-Pleinmont 16-Huit Bouvees (Begueville). Torteval 17-Huit Bouvees. St. Pierre-du-Bois. 18-Lihou 19-Suart, Pomare, Leree, Herne, Rougier 20-Gervaises 21-Chevalier 22-Sotuas 23-Couture 24-Corbinez 25-Dix Quartiers Blondel 26-Naunage 27-Jean du Gaillard |
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| (*) Fiefs owing suit at
Royal Court Chief Pleas |
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| Special thanks must be given to Mr. J.H. Lenfestey, Seigneur of Fief Le Comte and former Archivist of the Royal Court for providing much of this information. | |||
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