This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mollet

SARK Seigneur Michael Beaumont may be about to leave La Seigneurie, historic home of the island’s feudal rulers over the centuries. And it is also claimed that he intends selling a long lease on it, which means that there will be no liability to property tax.

Mr Beaumont would neither confirm nor deny the reports.

‘I have no comment to make whatsoever,’ he said.

Sark sources said they have heard that staff and residents at the Seigneurie have been told they might have to move out.

‘I can’t shed any light on that,’ said Sark Seneschal Reg Guille.

But Sark resident Jennifer Cochrane is directly affected and said: ‘We have been warned to be ready to leave when the lease or sale takes place, which can be anything from 18 months to two years. It was very kind of them to give us a warning.’

But she stressed that nothing had been finalised and said she would be very sorry to leave La Seigneurie, where she has lived since 1979.

A Sark resident, who has been linked to the possible long-lease bid for La Seigneurie, has scotched claims of any interest.

‘There is no foundation for these rumours,’ said David Synnott, speaking from South Africa.

‘I was rather shocked to hear that the Seigneur and his wife could be moving out. I understand they are likely to be in the Seigneurie for many months more. It’s then up to the Seigneur to decide what he does with the Seigneurie. I have no lease on it.’

Sources claimed that the Seigneur and his wife, Diana, might be considering moving to a house nearby.

Le Seigneurie is the official home of the Seigneur of Sark and family and dates back to 1675. It got its name when Dame Susanne Le Pelley occupied it in 1730.

It is the site of a sixth century monastery of St Magloire and two of the monks’ small chapels have survived. The beautifully maintained gardens are open to the public every weekday during the tourist season.

News about the Seigneur’s possible move comes after UK Lord Chancellor Jack Straw recently advised Sark to elect a democratic legislature with no reserved seats for land-owning tenants.

The disclosure was made last week by Mr Beaumont, who revealed he had met Mr Straw and Justice Ministry minister of state Michael Wills earlier this month.

It led to Chief Pleas finally approving the rejection of an earlier decision to have a mixed house with 12 of the 28 seats reserved for tenants and voting to amend the draft reform law at a special sitting next month.