Commercial Arcade Guernsey

This blip shows part the Commercial Arcade in Guernsey. It is located behind the Town Church up some steps called...Arcade Steps.
It was built between 1825 and 1828 by a Jerseyman, George Le Boutillier (1783-1889). He cleared the excavated the area out of a hill of solid granite which stood behind the houses that stood in the High Street. 120,500 cartloads of granite were blasted and deposited near Galet Heaume on the South Esplanade.
Unfortunately, after having completed the excavations, and having built around 50 houses on the site, Le Boutillier ran out of funds, and the banks foreclosed on him. They left a number of houses on the north side of Arcade Steps unfinished, as well as leaving the streets of the arcade open to the air, instead of installing a glass roof, as originally planned.
Disappointed by the lack of success of this venture, Le Boutillier emigrated to America in 1838.
In 1889, his sons donated £220 to the Guille-Allès Library in memory of their father.
The buildings, which comprise the Arcade are now all shops though many have living accommodation on the upper floors.
The slab paving which forms the walkway between the shops covers basements or cellars some of which join in the middle hence you could cross over between the buildings, underground. I have been underneath and it is very damp but fascinating!
Because of the way these cellars were built, no vehicles are allowed in the arcade because it is not strong enough.
It would have been amazing if the glass roof had been completed, it remains open to the sky to this day.
Many of the shops have changed retailers over the years, the shop in the centre is Seasalt which is a Cornish brand.
The shop to the left is run by the Creasey family a well known Guernsey retailing family. To the right is Guernsey Photographics which has been in business for a few generations.
8-)
One Street