Guernsey
Ste. Hélène Manor
The narrative of a Guernsey Georgian Manor House and its Fief.
Welcome to Ste. Hélène Manor, an important part of the rural parish of St. André de la Pommeraye, in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Ste. Hélène Manor, a substantial Georgian family house, is a property rich with character and history. Official records attest to a property on this site dating back many years, possibly to the 12th Century, when the parish church was consecrated.
Ideally positioned in the heart of the parish, Ste. Hélène Manor has been a steadfast presence throughout many significant events in local history.
Fief de Ste. Helene
Pre 1020
1020
1048
1048 to 1054
1204
1248
1292
1293
1293, 14th July 21 Edward I
1294
1294 {to be confirmed, some say 1304}
1294 or 1304
1309, [2 Edward III], {verify this and 1331}
1324
1331, [5 Edward III]
NARRATIVE
Guernsey is part of the Duchy of Normandy.
Duke Richard II controls the Duchy of Normandy and he divides Guernsey into two, creating the Fiefs of Bessin and Cotentin. The Fief of Cotentin is assigned to Neel de St Sauveur, the Vicomte de Cotentin, hence the name of “Fief of Cotentin”. This Fief contains the land within which the Fief of Ste Hélène exists.
The Fief of Cotentin is forfeited to Duke William as a result of an unsuccessful revolt against the authority of the Duke William, in which Neel de St Sauveur participated. In 1054 Neel was reconciled with William, and his Fief returned to him, less certain sub fiefs which had been created in the meanwhile.
The Fief of Ste Hélène is probably created during this period by Duke William, and is given to the Priory of Ste Hélène at Omonville, near Cap La Hague. This Priory was said to be the oldest religious institution in this part of the Contentin, and was dedicated to Ste Hélène. The Priory was part of the Abbey of Cormery near Tours. At this time the Fief consisted of 2251⁄2 vergées.
The Fief of Ste Hélène was forfeited to the Crown.
Extente
The Abbey of Cormery sells the Fief of Ste. Hélène to Maistre Guillaume de St Remy, Bailiff of Guernsey, for which Edward I gave his approval.“Rex balliuis et omnibus tenentibus suis Inuslarum salutem. Cum Religiosi viri Abbas et Conuentus Cormoracenses pro utilitate monasterij sui vendiderint et imperetuum concesserint Magistro Willelmo de sancto Remigio et suis heredibus redditus et libertates una cum pertinencijs quos et quas habebant et habere poterant in Insula Generoij spectantes ad Prioratum dictorum Religiosorum sancta Elene in Hagua tam in terries quam redditibus escaetis et aliis uniuersis pro certo precio de quo esidem Religiosis satisfecit idem Willelmus in pecunia numerata, que quidem pecunia in dictorum Religiosorum utilitatem est conuersa et que premissa taliter vendita dicti Religiosi tenetur eidem Willelmo et suis heredibus warantizare et defendere versus omnes prout in carta super hoc confecta sigillo dictorum Religiosorum sigillata plenius continetur, pro cuiusmodi venditione seu venta Reginaldus de Ayssewell tunc temporis in dicta Insula balliuus noster centum solidos Turanenses iuxta loci consuetudinem habuit et receipt dictoque Willelmo et sis heredibus dedit licentiam premissa perpetuo possidendi et ad warantizacionem premissorum idem balliuus cuidam carte sigillum nostrum balliue Insularum una cum sigillis Decani Prioris et Juratorum nostrorum de dicta Insula apposuit prout in dicta carta plenius continetur. Nos vero venditionem et concessions predictas ratas habentes et gratas volumes et concedimus quod dictus Willelmus et sui heredes premissa habeant et possideant imperpetuum secundum tenorem litterarum predictarum et secundum foros et consuetudines Insula supradicte. In cujus et cetera. Teste Rege apud ffulmere . xxiiij . die Aprilis.” Patent Rolls. 20 Edward 1, m., 14. PRO
An enquiry into the conduct of William de St. Remy as Bailiff of Guernsey was made by Thomas de Sandwich in 1293, and in consequence William fled the country, and his lands and goods were confiscated to the profit of Otto de Grandison, the Warden.
King Edward 1st pardons Guillaume on the 14th July 1293 and the Fief is returned to him by Sir Otho de Grandison the “Keeper of the Isles”. The letter confirming this was burned during a war at the time.
Guillaume de St Remy was killed and his house burnt during the French invasion of Guernsey. After much litigation, Guillaumes’ estates are divided between his sisters. The Fief of Ste Hélène is settled upon Alice de St Remy. Alice was married first to Matthew de Sausmarez Senior, and secondly to Thomas D’Estefelt. The Fief of Ste Hélène descended to Matthew de Sausmarez Junior through his mother Alice.
Alice de St Remy inherits the Fief. The fact that Alice inherited the estate of her father is documented in Ancient Petition No. 3090, dated 1324.“To the King, &c. show Oliver le Moine & Thomas Distefild by reason that Alice his wife is the heir of Master William de St. Remy killed (ocis) in the service of the King, that they have demanded of the Prior of Wenlock the goods of the said William which he had. The said heir prayed Master Rovert de Leisset to see that right was done to her, which he refused.”
We read that: “They also say that the lord the King takes of 11 bovates of land of the fee of Ste Hélène 3 quarters 2 bushels& 4 small bushels of wheat per annum by the small measure & 10 sols 41⁄2 deniers of farm. And pullage and pannage & there are now 5 messuages in the same fee.”
To the King, &c. Thomas de Estefed shows that M. Oates de Garuntsonne and M. Gerard de Orens came to St. Peter-Port to a place there called “la ville au roi” on the 8th day of St. Michael, 17th year of King Edward that now is, & cut & carried away corn &c. of the said Thomas to the amount of £20 sterling. The said Thomas & his partners also show that they having enclosed in the parish of St. Andrew 2 acres of land whereof they were seized by judgement of the court, the said M. Gerard de Orens came & with force ejected them from the same, & carried away their goods to the value of £60. The said Thomas, Dionisius le Marchaunt & John le Moigne partners of the “Champart” called the fee of St. Ellen say that the said M. Gerard de Orens & Henry de St. Martin disseised them of the said “Champart” &c. &c. They prey for remedy
In the “Extente” of this year the Fief is detailed as: “Also the Lord the Kink takes from the fief called the Fief of Sainte
REFERENCE
N/A
Societe Guernesiase Transactions Volume XVII, part II, page 176
Societe Guernesiase Transactions Volume XVII, part II,
Societe Guernesiase Transactions Volume XVII, part II, page 188
Priaulx Library: Fief File #1
Extente
Patent Rolls 20 Edward I m14, Public Records Office. Transcript in Cartulaire des Isles.
Ancient Petitions p65. See also Close Rolls by Soc J.
Ancient Petitions of the Chancery and the Exchequer, petition 8600, transcribed on page 64, 65
The Channel Islands by E. F. Carey, page 80.
“Ancient Petitions of the Chancery and the Exchequer”, petition 3090, transcribed on page 34.
Rolls of the Assizes 1309. Transcribed by the Societe Jersiase, page 155, published 1903
Ancient Petitions of the Chancery and the Exchequer, petition 13171, transcribed on page 33, 34. Gerard de Orens, aka Gerard Derous, Dorme, Oromss, or de Everons, Lietenant of Otho de Grandison 1321- 28. 17th year of King Edward is 1323 {See Assize Roll, 17 Edward II m 2}
Extenta parochie Sancti Andree of 5 Edward III. Transcript in “The Extents of Guernsey 1248 and 1331” by Sir Havilland de Sausmarex Bt, published by La Societe Guernesiase in 1934.