Southwark Fire, Property Disputes Act 1677

IV. Tofts of Owners not building within Two Years, &c. may be disposed of to such as will build.

Satisfaction to the Proprietors.; Default or Disability to accept such Satisfaction; assessed by a Jury.; Payment of Satisfaction, or if refused, Persons refusing barred.

And bee it further enacted That in case the Proprietors and Owners and other persons interessed of and in the Houses burned or demolished by or by reason of the said Fire or their Assignes shall not within the space of two yeares after the five and twentyeth day of March next ensueing lay the Foundations of their Houses to be rebuilt and shall not within the time to be limitted by the said Court rebuild and finish the same that upon such default the said Court shall have power and authority by their Order and Decree to dispose of such Tofts and of the Houses soe begunne to be rebuilt and of the Soile thereof and of all Ground belonging thereunto to such person or persons as will rebuild the same their Heires and Assignes and that the said Court shall and may award what summe and summes of money or satisfaction the person who undertakes to be the Rebuilder shall give for the same to the Proprietor or Proprietors Owner or Owners or other person or persons Bodyes Politique or Corporate their Heires Successors or Assignes makeing such default according to his and their respective Estate and Interest in the same, and in case the person or persons Bodyes Pollitique or Corporate makeing such default will not, or through any disability by Nonage Coverture especiall Intaile or other Impediment cannot accept thereof the said Court are hereby impowered by their Warrant directed to the Cheife Bayliffe of the said Burrough of Southwarke to impannell and summon a Jury before them which Jury upon their Oathes to be administred by the said Court shall assesse such Recompence and Satisfaction as they shall thinke fitt to be awarded and paid unto the person or persons Bodyes Pollitique and Corporate makeing default as aforesaid according to their severall Interests by the person who undertakes to be the Rebuilder and upon payment of the said Recompence soe to be awarded or in case of refusall upon tender thereof the said person or persons Bodyes Pollitick and Corporate makeing default in rebuilding as aforesaid his and their Heires Successors and Assignes and all others shall be for ever barred and the said Houses to be rebuilt and the Soile and the Ground thereunto belonging so assigned by the said Court unto the Undertaker to rebuild as aforesaid shall for ever be and remaine to the said Rebuilder his Heires and Assignes for ever in such manner as the said Court shall have assigned adjudged and decreed the same.