Yahoo News Guernsey resident invokes ancient feudal law to prevent building work on a road
A woman has invoked an ancient feudal law to prevent building work from being carried out on a road.
Rosie Henderson used “Clameur de Haro” to bring a halt to roadworks on a street in St Peter Port, Guernsey.
The old law can still be used on the island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.
She raised the Clameur de Haro by sinking to her knees along the road and reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Norman French.
The clameur dates back to the early Norman period and is believed to have been a plea to Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy.
Ms Henderson, a parish councillor, raised the clameur on Tuesday at Les Echelons and the South Esplanade because she says the narrowing of the road would “endanger pedestrians and motorists”.
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To raise the clameur, the person calling it myst say, “Haro! Haro! Haro! A l’aide, mon Prince, on me fait tort”.
The message translates to, “Come to my aid, my Prince, for someone does me wrong”.
This call is followed up with the Lord’s Prayer in Norman French.
When someone calls the clameur, they must register it in court within 24 hours.
The person or persons against whom the clameur is called must stop all work immediately. A court will then decide what should be done.
The law dates back as far as the 10th century.
The Clameur de Haro was used in St Peter’s Port in 2016 – proposals to overhaul its sunken gardens were shelved after protesters invoked the law to block the plans.
