THE SEIGNEURIAL TITLES OF THE NORMAN ISLANDS
OF THE CHANNEL. GUERNSEY TITLES.
(V) The
Fief de Thomas Blondel
The
Fief de Thomas Blondel came
about through the medieval fragmentation of Fief Au Canelly and consequently,
of the initial half of Guernsey given by Duke Richard II in 1020 to
Neel, Vicomte of the Cotentin.
The Canelly family owned land near Cherbourg in Normandy in addition
to the Guernsey territory (There is no existing record of the grant
of the fief. It may be granted to the Canely family but there is a gap
of at least 100 years before any record of that family’s connexion
with the fief). In 1270, on the death of Sir Henry Le
Canelly, the Guernsey fief was divided between his daughters.
Guilemette, the wife of Henry de Saint Martin obtained a considerable
part of the island originating later the fiefs of Janin Besnard, Jean
du Gaillard, Guillot Justice and Thomas Blondel.
This was confirmed by the tenants and officers of the Fief in letters
patent issued by Guernsey's Royal Court under the Bailiwick Seal in
1463. A Thomas Blondel
was a jurat of Guernsey’s Royal Court from 1421-45. The
Blondel family has given several jurats to the island. Later the Columbines
and Fiotts were the holders of the title. For a time, the rights over
the Fief were divided in two. Pierre Robillard of Maison de Pleinmont,
Torteval, was the Seigneur of Fief de Thomas
Blondel. The title passed to his son and grand son. The
rights over the Fief again joined during the XIX century as shown in
documents of 11/10/1800 (Reg Tome 26, p 420) and 19/05/1798 (Date tome
25, no pages in the tome). The rights of Fief Thomas Blondel reunited
in one holder (Count
Marcov) after September 2000.
The Fief is spread over areas in the parishes of St. Pierre-du-Bois and Torteval. The chief pleas of the Seignorial court of Fief Thomas Blondel were held annually at the mounting block or steps (perron) of the Church of St. Pierre-du-Bois. A little over half of Fief de Thomas Blondel was exempt from chef rents by virtue of two legal documents dated 18 July 1440 and 24 May 1447.
The Fief is spread over areas in the parishes of St. Pierre-du-Bois and Torteval. The chief pleas of the Seignorial court of Fief Thomas Blondel were held annually at the mounting block or steps (perron) of the Church of St. Pierre-du-Bois. A little over half of Fief de Thomas Blondel was exempt from chef rents by virtue of two legal documents dated 18 July 1440 and 24 May 1447.
Some
relevant houses of Fief de Thomas Blondel. Left Colombier house. Right
the oldest house in the Fief.
Other
interesting houses in the Fief: Left Les Vieilles
Galliennes. Right Les Rocques.
The
Fief de Thomas Blondel produced “Livres
de perchage” in 1595, 1644, 1680, 1709, 1775, 1809,
1844, 1876, 1901, 1921 and 1968. The contents of the “Livres
de perchage” reveal something of the history of the
properties of the Fief. Several field names reflect its agricultural,
social and religious history. Pre de la Hanniere
recalls the growing of hemp (han)
in that meadow.
Le Clos des Pommiers refers to family and not to an orchard. L’Aumone (the alms), was once dedicated to charity.
Other medieval wayside crosses are Croix Ivelin and Croix Dom Nicolle. Courtil de la Rocque Colin may have a still more ancient religious aspect, referring to a prehistoric standing stone. Les Buttes (the butts), was a place in the parish for archery practice
Le Clos des Pommiers refers to family and not to an orchard. L’Aumone (the alms), was once dedicated to charity.
Other medieval wayside crosses are Croix Ivelin and Croix Dom Nicolle. Courtil de la Rocque Colin may have a still more ancient religious aspect, referring to a prehistoric standing stone. Les Buttes (the butts), was a place in the parish for archery practice
