Feudal law invoked to delay roadworks

A GUERNSEY woman has invoked a 1,100-year-old law appealing to the Duke of Normandy in an attempt to halt roadworks.

Rosie Henderson invoked the “Clameur de Haro” by kneeling near the construction site and shouting: “Haro! Haro! Haro! A l’aide, mon Prince, on me fait tort!” then repeating in English: “Come to my aid, my Prince, for someone does me wrong!” before reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Norman French.

The law dates back to the 10th century and was traditionally used to protect property rights. “My Prince” is believed to refer to Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, but since the duchy ceased to exist hundreds of years ago, the appeals are now heard by the court.

The “clameur” has to be witnessed and then registered in court within 24 hours, but instantly halts all work. The court must then decide whether the work can continue. Mrs Henderson objects to plans to narrow a road in St Peter Port, which she says would endanger pedestrians and motorists.

Lisa Upham, from law firm Appleby, said: “It’s a customary right that we have here, similar to an injunction. It lasts for a year and a day. You have to have a witness and then have it registered in court. The person who is claiming the Clameur de Haro has to have some proprietorial rights.”

The court refused to register Mrs Henderson’s clameur because she does not own the land on which she wanted to halt proceedings.

Previous residents have had mixed success. In 2010, Andy and Hege Bougourd used the feudal law to try to halt eviction proceedings, but were denied. However, in 2016 Neil Ozanne invoked the custom to stop the local authority from removing his derelict Kia Sportage from outside his house.