Fire at Northampton, Property Disputes Act 1675

III. Court may make Rules and Directions in respect of the Forms and Order of Buildings;and may enlarge or alter Streets, Lanes, Roads, and Passages, &c.; and may agree for Ground to be used for those Purposes;

In case of Refusal or of Disability by Infancy, &c. then to impannel a Jury; and upon Payment, &c. the Interest of Parties bound.

And bee it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That the said Court shall have power and authority to make and appoint from time to time such Rules and Directions in the Formes and Orders of Building to bee observed in the rebuilding of such Houses as were demolished by or by reason of the said late Fire or any of them, and for other Buildings made or to be made since the said dreadfull Fire as they shall thinke fitt and convenient for the better Securitie and Ornament of the said Towne, And that the new Buildings of the said demolished Houses and all such other Buildings shall be pursuant to such Rules and Directions soe given, And alsoe that the said Court shall and may appoint and decree the enlargement or alteration of any of the Streets, Lanes, Roades and Passages and other places of publique use in the said Towne for the better use and conveniency thereof. And to the end that reasonable satisfaction may be given for all such Ground as shall be made use of and imployed to and for the uses aforesaid, the said Court shall and may treate and agree with the Owners and others interested therein. And if any person shall wilfully refuse to treate and agree as aforesaid, or through any by disability by Non-age, Coverture, especiall Entaile or other Impediment cannot accept thereof That in such cases the said Court are hereby impowered to impannell and summon a Jury before them, which Jury upon their Oathes (to be administred by the said Court) are to assesse such Dammage and Recompence as they shall judge fitt to be awarded to the Owners and others interested in the said Ground for their respective Interests in the same, and upon payment of the said money soe awarded or tendered and refusall thereof, the Interest of all persons in the said Ground shall be for ever bound, and the same shall for ever after remaine to the uses aforesaid.