1920.] SOCIAL LIFE IN GUERNSEY. 247 



stood against the old house, which was only removed a short 

 time ago, and which was originally used for the King's 

 Weights.* 1 * 



The sea front of the Town does not appear to have needed 

 much fortification, as the ground rose rapidly from the beach 

 without the intervention of the roadways and quays which 

 have arisen where the sea once rolled. In fact the houses on 

 the east side of High Street, from the Town Church to the 

 Carrefour, were not included in the Perchage of 1573, as they 

 were " dedans les limites du grant Flo de Mars " ("within high 

 water mark of the spring tides). 



But at the point where the old South Pier joined the 

 land, near where Prince Albert's statue now stands, there 

 stood a strong building abutting against the eastern wall of the 

 cemetery and serving as a Guard House, at the back of which 

 was a flight of steps leading to the beach — then known as the 

 Galet Heaume. The entrance to the Town from the South 

 Pier and this gate was through a narrow lane, only wide 

 enough for foot passengers, between the Church and the 

 burial ground, having an archway at each end, the abutments 

 of which are still to be seen in the masonry of the Church. 

 This passage was called " La Grille," denoting that it was 

 closed by an iron grating, preventing, in case of need, access 

 to the town from the sea side. 



In the sixteenth century Pollet Street had few, if any, 

 houses on the eastern side. Where it ended, north of the 

 Tour Gand, stood a little Chapel and a hostelry for pilgrims, 

 both dedicated to St. Julian, patron saint of travellers. These 

 were founded in 1361 by a pious Guernseyman, Pierre de 

 St. Pierre. North of these stood the Parish School or 

 " Petite Ecolle," founded, or possibly enlarged, in 1513 by 

 Thomas Le Marchant and Janette Thelry his wife. (2) Behind 

 these, on the slope of the hill, was the district known in 1573 

 as " Neuve Ville" or New Town. From the site of the 

 Grand Bosq, which is now Gardner's Royal Hotel, to the 

 Salerie and covering the district now known as Well and 

 Piette Roads, and abutting what was then a sandy beach, was 

 the little fishing village known as the " territoire de Gla- 

 tigny." 



(1) Perchage of St. Peter-Port, 1607. " Item. There is a house upon the Quay, 

 at the east end of the church in the towne, in the whiche the King's Weights, by- 

 order of the Lords of the Counsell long since have been placed." 



(2) " Le jour de Paques. 1513. Thomas Le Marchant et Jeannette Thelry sa 

 femme..donnent..une meson et jardin au nord de la Chapelle Saint Julien .. pour 

 tenir ou entretenir les ecoles en ladite meson en temps a venir..et deux quartiers 

 de froment de rente au Maitre pour instruire les ecoliers. Et leur faire repeter 

 chaque soir un antienne a Notre Dame et un pater et un Ave pour le repos de lame 

 des donateurs apres leur deces." This school was pulled down and its revenues 

 diverted to the new Parish Schools in 1849. 



