La Plaiderie

La Plaiderie literally translates as “the place of pleading” and indeed our Royal Court used to be here. The steps in the photograph are all that remain of the original building. The earliest existence of a Court building in Guernsey is unclear but the first reference to it date back to the 12th century when it was here. This was once the site of a Roman Settlement.

During the English Civil War Castle Cornet,  (which was at the time a small island because it was not until the 1860s that a wooden bridge was built to connect it) was Royalist, as was Jersey while the island was Parliamentarian. La Plaiderie was within range of cannonballs fired from Castle Cornet so the Court was moved to Elizabeth College for the duration of the war. 
After the war ended, the Court returned to the building at La Plaiderie, although this was less than satisfactory, as the building was also used as a store for the Governor for dues paid to the Crown in the form of grain.

Records show that, in 1766, the States of Guernsey met to discuss the matter as the building was said to be in a dangerous condition.  The States resolved to apply £700 towards the renovation.

The building was not, however, large enough to meet the needs of the Court.  Indeed, the States noted in 1792 that it was necessary for the Greffiers (clerks of the Court) to keep the public records at their own houses due to lack of space at the Court.

It was resolved to seek permission from the Crown to sell the old Court property to help finance the purchase of a plot of land and construction of a new building.  Funds were also provided from other revenues, including a lottery.  The land deemed suitable for the new Court was situated in Rue du Manoir and was owned by the then Bailiff, William Le Marchant, and in November 1792 the site was purchased and building work commenced.