2.7 Guillemin House

On October 9, 1683, the Jesuits had a stone warehouse built at the end of Rue Sous-le-Fort. In 1713, a merchant named Charles Guillemin acquired and modified the building, enlarging it and adding a separate three-storey structure. This would be his store, which served as a sign of Guillemin’s wealth: most merchants and tradesmen set up shop on the ground floor of their own homes. On the two buildings' roofs, one being the mansard roof of the house, dormer windows were equipped with a hook to hoist goods up. At the far end, Guillemin added a space for storing salt, which, at the time, was essential for preserving food. The wealthy merchant's house had more rooms than other houses of the period. It included a kitchen, a dining room, a number of bedrooms and several water closets. Unfortunately, by the end of his career, Guillemin was financially ruined. The devaluation of the card money used in the colony at the time, as well as the sinking of several of his merchant ships, contributed to his downfall. Start the video Map of Place-Royale