Les Barrieres de la Ville

Another fine day of weather. I popped into town early this morning to snap some historic stonework. Six granite boundary stones were placed around the perimeter of medieval St. Peter Port in 1700 at each of the entries to the town. The wording on the stones reads "Barrieres de La Ville. Nocholas Careye, James Careye, Conetables, 1700". Although there were forts at either side of the town, there is no evidence that the town was ever surounded by a wall. It is more likely that the stones were placed to delineate the area of town from the countryside. This was important for the rules of inheritance. To prevent the breakup of farmland into smaller properties, the eldest son always inherited the entire farm. This law would not have been applicable in the town. There was another law which I rather liked. No buildings within the barrier stones were allowed to be thatched. A sensible fire precaution.

These stones are positioned in Smith Street, the Pollet, by the town church, in Fountain Street and in Cornet Street. The sixth was supposed to be in Berthelot street, but that no longer can be seen.