Old Parish Pumps #5

This also fits nicely into the Old Alleys of St Peter Port series. Or maybe I should just start a new series of Smoking Dens of St Peter Port because that is certainly the main purpose of this charming little area now; and it smells like it! I'm surprised I managed to grab a photograph without any smokers there but maybe the drizzly rain put them off.

Up these steps and turn right up the lane will bring you to the legal centre of the island. The Royal Court is an impressive building and not only houses the Royal (upper) Court but also States meeting are held there, the Greffe (Register Office) is there and there are portraits of past Bailiffs lining the walls of the grand sweeping staircase. Guernsey is technically The Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises the three separate jurisdictions of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. The islands of Herm, Jethou and Lihou are part of Guernsey and the island of Brecqhou is part of Sark. Further details for anyone interested are here. Do not confuse our Bailiff with the notorious UK bailiffs who turn up to try to seize your worldly goods. The main duty of our Bailiff is as presiding officer of the Royal Court and he is the Bailiwick of Guernsey senior judge. The immediate past Bailiff was in my class at junior school; which is one of my claims to fame (another series? No maybe not...). One difference between Guernsey and the UK is that we do not have trial by jury. Instead the Royal Court is presided over by the Bailiff and Jurats act as jury. All the detail is here.

Just around the corner from the top of these steps there used to be a fantastic restaurant, which imaginatively was called Courts.

UPDATE
I've just had an email that my infrared camera is ready to come home. Hopefully, I'll get it on Monday. It might have been here on Friday but I'm off to Alderney at the crack of dawn on Friday. Come to think of it, it may be before dawn actually...