Franc Fief de la Rosière

Introduction

Franc Fief de la Rosière, also known as Franc Fief de la Rozière, is a unique and historical fiefdom. The fief, which is a type of medieval landholding, has a rich history. It has several peculiarities that set it apart from other fiefs in the region.

The Fief de la Rosiere was most probably a piece of land granted by the Seigneurs of Anneville to a significant person, likely a norman vassal. Often, if someone had been particularly helpful to the Seigneur, supported him in battle, or been a good administrator, for example, the Seigneur would 'reward' the person with a piece of land out of the original feudal holding. This was seen as a kind of 'pension' for the person, as it would provide him with an income from rentes, and other dues paid by the people who lived on the land. In this case the Fief Rosiere would be called a dependency of Anneville, which is the expression used in Guernsey for a smaller feudal holding taken out of a larger fief. A peculiarity of this fief is that is larger than the usual areas of land in the region. The Fief de la Rosiere is unique in its size. The area of the Fief de la Rosiere is quite large, 110 vergees. That works out at about 44 acres, which is the size of quite a large farm in Guernsey. So if Rosiere had been granted to someone in this way, as a 'thank you' for something, the person would have had to have done something significant for the Seigneur of Anneville. This makes it an interesting case for the study of feudalism, as it provides insight into how landholdings were distributed and managed in the medieval period.

The name "de la Rosiere" is derived from the presence of rushes or reeds, which were commonly used for thatching houses. The land was located on the edge of the Braye du Valle, a tidal inlet that separated the larger island of Guernsey from the smaller island called the Clos du Valle. This made it an ideal piece of land to have been granted, as the owner would have had a good income from the sale of reeds every year.

The Fief and the Seigneurie d'Anneville

The land of the Seigneurie and Fief d'Anneville, which includes The Franc Fief de La Rosière, was originally granted to Samson d'Anneville, who fought the pirates who invaded Guernsey in 1061 . Sampson do Anneville was probably the first feudal Lord living on the island and the Seigneurie d'Anneville was the first grant to a layman on the island. Other Norman vassals of Anneville were also granted lands in the area, such as the fiefs of Mautenant or Maltenant (of Norman origin), La Croute Bouilleuse and Fauville. Dr Marco Paret is the current Seigneur of the Fief de la Rosiere and also holds the title of Seigneur of Anneville.

The de Prey family and the hereditary Prevot

One of the most striking characteristics of Fief de la Rosière is its hereditary prevot, who is chosen from the de Prey family. This family is also mentioned in a 1598 court document and a 1720 register of the Court of Fief le Comte. This is a rare occurrence in feudal landholding and unique in Guernsey, as most fiefs prevotes were not passed down through a specific family line.

The Franc Fief

Additionally, the Fief de la Rosiere is a franc fief and in theory chefrente was not payable in wheat. However William de Cheney who was the seigneur at that time owed a quarter of wheat m Michaelmas, and his tenants also owed a wheat rente. although not for chefrente but for Reward. This type of landholding was relatively uncommon, as most feudal landholdings were based on chefrente, which was a type of land rent paid in wheat. This makes Fief de la Rosière a unique example of franc fiefdom, which is of great historical significance for the study of feudalism.

In conclusion, the Franc Fief de la Rosiere or Rozière, is a unique and historical fiefdom that offers a glimpse into the medieval landholding system of the Channel Islands. The fief has several peculiarities that set it apart from other fiefs in the region, including its hereditary prevot chosen from the de Prey family, its franc fief status, and its location on the edge of the Braye du Valle. Overall, the Fief de la Rosiere is a fascinating piece of history that is worthy of further study and appreciation.

Chronology

1331: Fief de la Rozière, also known as Franc Fief de la Rosière, is held by William de Cheney. The area is 5 1/2 bouvees and the annual revenue is 5 sous tournois and one quarter of wheat, due at the Feast of St Michael.

1567: Tenants of the fief are not obliged to appear at Chief Pleas of Fief Anneville.

1597: The fief is held by Thomas Faschin and is reported in a transaction with no livre de Perchage.

26 April 1598: The Douzeniers of Fiefs Anneville, Fauville, la Croute Bouilleuze and Franc Fief de la Rosière are ordered by the Court of Fief le Comte to make a livre de perchage of their fiefs.

1828: Partage Hereditaire de Thomas Faschin.

27 April 1832: Partage in the archives (Ref. AQ 1322/08 - 1 & 2) shows that Thomas Andros, son of James of St Peter Port, received Fiefs Anneville, Fauville, and Franc Fief de la Rosière with full seigneurial rights.

15 June 1882: Another partage contract is discovered at the Greffe, given by Amias Charles Andros concerning rentes and property, which mentions Fief d’Anneville and Franc Fief de la Rosiere.

1899: Another partage mentions the fief de La Roziere in the heritage of Amias C Andros to Walter Fachin Andros.

1660-1964: The fief, along with its dependencies, remains in the Andros-Fachin family.

1964-2022: The fief is sold by Relph Andros to Cyril Northcote Parkinson, who restores the feudal court and is attentive to the feudal tradition of Anneville. The fief is then sold to Donald Wilson and eventually passed on to the current Seigneur, Marco Paret.

1998: JH Lenfestey makes a sort of livre de perchage of the fief de la Rozière on his own initiative. A copy of this is at the Island Archives.

Area of the fief

The fief stretches from the rue des Annevilles past the hautes Capelle school and down the petitees Capelles road until the Vieille Rue.

References

1331 Extent: "Area 5 1/2 Bouvees, held by William de Cheney, recorded after the Fauville entry"

1567, October 10: "Tenants are not obliged to appear at Chief Pleas of Fief Anneville" Jug et Rec. 235

1597: "The fief is Held by Thomas Faschin, Priaulx notes and also noted in Report Transaction - No livre de Perchage"

1597: "The National Archives, Kew: E101/90/22, Return of the Royal Commission, 1597 that was enquiring on the titles of Faschin it says "Mre Thomas Fashion ... Item plus un fieu nommé le franc fieu de la Roziere""

26 April 1598: "before Chief Pleas of Court of Fief le Comte, the Douzeniers of Fiefs Anneville, Fauville, la Croute Bouilleuze and Franc Fief de la Rosière were ordered by the Court of Fief le Comte, to make a livre de perchage of their Fiefs. seal (extract of register of Court of Fief le Comte 10 December 1720)"

1828: "Partage Hereditaire de Thomas Faschin (Island Archives)"

27 April 1832: "Partage in the archives Ref. AQ 1322/08 - 1 &2. Thomas Andros son of James, of St Peter Port, Thomas Andros also received Fiefs Anneville, Fauville, Franc Fief de la Rosiere. Quotes a patent of 32 Edward III to William de Chesney re Fief Anneville. with full seigneurial rights. . Signed by jurats. (2 copies in the catalogue of the Island Archives, Guernsey)"

15th June 1882: "Partage contract given by Amias Charles Andros concerning rentes and property etc (Island Archives)"

1899: "Partage of Amias C Andros to Walter Fachin Andros (Island Archives)"

1998: "JH Lenfestey's Livre de Perchage, a copy of which is at the Island Archives, apparently on his own initiative, of fief de la Rosière in 1998, based on the 1947 States’ Cadastre records" It is to note that originally JH Lefenstey didnt't attribute this fief to Anneville and with this booklet

Additionally, de Guérin's article "Fiefs of Guernsey" makes reference to Fief de la Rosiere on page 70: “The next important officer, the prevot or grangier of the manor, whose duties in some measure corresponded with those of the prevot or sheriff of the Royal Court, was curiously chosen by the tenants of the thirty-two vellein bouvees of the manor. Two of these bouvees in turn choosing the prevot for the year. That this rather important officer, who also acted as receiver of the revenue of the manor, should have been elected yearly by the vellein tenants is a very interesting fact, one certainly quite contrary to the generally conceived notions on feudalism. The same custom prevailed in most of our Guernsey manors, with the exception of that of La Rosiere, belonging to the Seigneur d’Anneville, of which the “prevost” was hereditary in the family of Prey, who were considerable landowners near “Les Grandes Capelles”."