Streets (London) Act 1696

VII.

Commissioners Names.; Commissioners empowered to treat with the Owners of such Houses on London Bridge as they shall think fit to be pulled down; &c.; In case of Refusal to treat, or through Disability by Nonage, &c. Sheriffs of London or Surrey to return a Jury to assess Damage and Recompence, &c.; Verdict of Jury binding; and a full Authority to Commissioners.

And whereas the Mayor Co[m]monalty and Citizens of the City of London have of late Yeares with great charge & difficulty pulled downe and new built all the Houses upon London Bridge and caused the Street or co[m]mon Passage over the same to be opened and enlarged which good and publick Intention is not yett perfected by reason of certaine Tenements on or neare the South-End of the said Bridge which yett continue a greate Annoyance and Prejudice to trade and co[m]merce by occasioning frequent Stops and to the endangering the Lives of many Passengers Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That Sir Robert Clayton Sir William Ashhurst Sir Richard Onslow Baronett Denzill Onslow Esq[uire] Anthony Bowyer Esq[uire] Charles Cox Esq[uire] John Arnold Esq[uire] Samuel Lweyn Esq[uire] Thomas Wymondesall Esq[uire] William Gulston Esq[uire] Francis Wilkinson Esq[uire] Thomas Roffey Esq[uire] John Riches Esq[uire] Sir John Fleet Sir John Parsons Sir James Houblon Sir Richard Levett Spencer Cooper Esq[uire] Joseph Scriven Esq[uire] or any Eleven of them shall have full power and authority and are hereby impowered to treat and agree with the Owners and Occupiers of any such Houses as they shall judge fitt to be removed rebuilt or pulled downe or any Part of them and upon Payment of such Su[m]m or Su[m]ms of Money so agreed upon are hereby authorized to appoint Workmen to pull downe the said Houses or cause the said Owners or Occupiers to rebuild accordingly and this Act shall be sufficient to indempnify the said Co[m]missioners and all Persons authorized by them against the Owner or Owners or Occupiers and the Heires Executors Administrators or Assignes of any the said Owners or Occupiers as if the same had been sold by Deed Feoffment Bargaine and Sale or other Assurance in the Law and done by Fine and Recovery or any other Way whatsoever and if there shall be any Persons Bodies Corporate or Collegiate that shall wilfully refuse to treat and agree as aforesaid or through Disability by Nonage Coverture or special Entail or other Impediment cannot that in such Cases the said Co[m]missioners are hereby authorized by virtue of this Act to issue but a Warrant or Warrants to the Sheriffs of London or Surrey for the time being as the Case shall require (who are hereby required accordingly) to impannel and returne a Jury before the said Co[m]missioners or any Eleven of them which Jury upon their Oaths to be administred by the said Co[m]missioners are to enquire and assesse such Damage and Recompence as they shall judge fitt to be awarded to the Owners and Occupiers of either of them of any such Houses or any Part thereof as well in respect to his or their Losse in Trade as his or their respective Interest and Estates in the said Houses as by the said Co[m]missioners shall be adjudged fitt to be pulled downe for the Purposes aforesaid and such Verdict of the Jury and Judgement of the said Co[m]missioners thereupon and the legal Payment or Tender of the Su[m]m or Su[m]ms of Money so awarded and adjudged shall be binding to all intents and purposes against the said Parties their Heires Executors Administrators and Assignes and others claiming any Title or Interest in the said Houses or in the Ground whereon they stand or thereunto belonging and shall be a full Authority for the said Co[m]missioners or any Eleven of them to cause the same to be executed and the said Houses accordingly to be removed and pulled downe or any Part of them.