Medieval justice in Wales

This just in from Carmarthenshire:

A rare mediaeval Grand Jury swung into action yesterday in the latest instalment of a planning row at Dylan Thomas's boathouse.

The Foreman of the Grand Jury of the Corporation of Laugharne, a title and body that dates back to the 13th century, installed a bollard in the middle of the footpath leading through the bluebell wood above the Boat House. It is intended to succeed where the local authority has failed, by preventing an ice cream king from neighbouring Pendine using the path as a road. . .

The bollard effectively prevents businessman Eric Eynon, who made his money selling ice cream in Pendine, from reaching his property by vehicle. It means he will be unable to get builders and building material to the 300-year-old Ferry House, next door to the Dylan Thomas Boat House, except by foot or boat.

Mr Eynon outraged local residents by bulldozing the 15-metre-high cliff behind the Ferry House last Easter, undermining the remaining cliff face and forcing the Boat House Museum to take emergency safety measures and close off the steps that Dylan used to reach his home. . .

The council decided last month that there was nothing to be done except to grant Mr Eynon retrospective planning consent for the work he had already carried out. But the action of the Laugharne Corporation, a body granted by charter to the 520 burgesses in Laugharne by the Norman Marcher Lord Sir Gwydo be Brione, builder of Laugharne's castle and church, leaves Mr Eynon facing bills totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds, with nothing but a site with no access to show for his spending.

Posted by David on April 23, 2003 1:09 PM