CR  
DIEU·ET·MON·DROIT  
HONI·SOIT·QVI·MAL·Y·PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A PROCLAMATION Concerning Building, in, and about London and Westminster.  
CHARLES R.  
THe King's Majesty finding, That the Orders and Proclamations heretofore published by His late Royal Father, and Grandfather, and in the time of Queéns Elizabeth, concerning Building in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Parts adjacent, during the time of the late Confusions, have not been at all, or very little observed or pursued: His Majesty therefore out of the abundant Care which he hath of the Honour and Safety of the said Cities of London and Westminster, is resolved to revive and put in Execution the effects of the same Orders and Proclamations, especially perceiving the manifold Inconveniencies daily growing by increase of New-Buildings in the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs and Liberties of the same; whereby the People increasing to so great Numbers, are not well to be Governed by the wont Officers; the price of Uictuals is much Enhanced, the health of His Subjects inhabiting in the Cities and Places aforesaid, or repairing thither, much endangered; and many other good Towns and Boroughs un-peopled, and in their Trades much decayed: And also taking notice of the frequent Fires chiefly occasioned by Timber-Buildings, and considering the general Commodity which would grow to the said Cities, and the Liberties, and Suburbs of the same, if Building with Brick and Stone there, were more used, whereby Timber also would be greatly preserved and spared, which is now in all parts much wasted and grown very scant. And His Majesty likewise considering, how much it would Grace and Beautify the said Cities (being the Principle Places of this Kingdom, for the Entertainment and Resort of Foreign Princes and their Ambassadors, which from time to time do come into this Realm) if an Uniformity were kept in the said Buildings, and the Houses were Builded with Brick and Stone, which is both more Durable and Safe against Fire; and also by experience is found to be of little more, if not less charge than the Building with Timber. The King's Majesty doth therefore straight Prohibit and forbid all persons whatsoever, that they, nor any of them shall, or do at any time after the Publishing of this Proclamation, Build, Erect, or Set up, or Cause to be Builded, Erected, or Set up within the Cities of London or Westminster, or the Suburbs thereof, or within the distance of two Miles, to be taken from any of the Gates of the said City of London, any manner of Buildings, be they dwelling Houses, Stables, Shops, Sheds, or any other Building whatsoever, except it be upon the foundation of a former dwelling House, Stable, Shop, Stall, Shed, or other like Building respectively, or in or upon some Inner-Court or Yard of a dwelling House, only for an enlargement of the said dwelling House, for one only habitation as it was before. And His Majesty doth further straight Prohibit and forbid all persons whatsoever, that they, nor any of them, shall or do at any time after the publishing of this Proclamation, Build, Rebuild, Erect, or Set up, or Cause to be Builded, Rebuilded, Erected, or Set up, upon any old Foundation, any House, Habitation, or Shop, or whole Story of any Building within the said Cities of London and Westminster, or the Liberties or Suburbs of the same, or within two Miles, to be taken from any of the Gates of the said City of London, except the said House, Habitation, Shop, or Story, so to be Builded as is aforesaid, be wholly Built of Brick, or of Brick and Stone; Nor shall they in any such Building or other repairing of their said Houses, make or put out any jutties, Out-windows, Trussing over, or Overchanging Walls or Windows, or any Post or Pillars to support the same towards the Street or Streets (other than Windows commonly called Ballconies) upon pain that all and every person and persons offending in the Premises or any of them, shall incur His Majesty's High Displeasure; and such pains, penalties, and imprisonments, as by the Laws of this Realm can or may be inflicted upon the Offenders therein for their contempt and disobedience in that behalf: And His Majesty is nevertheless Graciously pleased, that for encouragement of such as shall be conformable, and for a moderate course to be held for the ease and benefit of such as shall Build with Brick, as aforesaid, It shall and may be lawful for them to make the Doors and Windows of every such Building of Wood or Timber, for saving of room, and conveniency of Shops; and likewise, that every person that shall Erect any house, as aforesaid, shall be allowed one or more Ballconies, so as they do Build the Walls upright from the Foundation to the top, without jutties, Out-windows, or Trussing over, or over-hanging as aforesaid: And His Majesty doth straight forbid all Carpenters, Laborers, and Workmen whatsoever, that they or any of them, do attempt or do any Labour or Work in or about the Building, or setting up of any Houses within the said Cities and Places aforesaid, contrary to this His Highness' Proclamation, upon pain of such punishment and imprisonment as by the Laws of this Realm may or can be inflicted upon them in that behalf: And His Majesty doth also command the Lord Major, and Aldermen of London, and all His Majesty's justices of Peace, and all others having Authority within the said Cities, or the Limits, or Places aforesaid, That they and every of them respectively do cause this His Majesty's Commandment, to be straight observed, and duly executed according to the Tenor and true meaning thereof without delay. Provided always nevertheless, and His Majesty's Pleasure is, That such part of this His Highness' Proclamation, as concerneth Building with Brick or Stone, shall not extend to any Houses, Habitations, Shops, or Stories of Buildings, which from and after the publishing of this Proclamation shall be Builded or Erected, in, or upon London-Bridge: And to the end His Majesty's Will and Pleasure herein may be the better observed, He further commandeth, that the Surveyor of His Majesty's Works, for the time being, do take care that this His Majesty's Proclamation be in all things duly pursued and put in effectual execution; And to that end, to revive the former Orders and Proclamations in this behalf, and the Commissions, Articles, and Instructions which were heretofore made forth, and issued thereupon for his better Direction and Information, touching his proceedings herein: And also touching the proportions and scantling of Bricks, which his Majesty's Pleasure is, shall be observed, as was formerly directed and used, whereby the Buildings may be more substantial, and not so slight as of late, and at present they have been in most Places within the said Cities and Limits aforesaid.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehal, the Sixteenth day of August, 1661. In the Thirteenth year of Our Reign. God save the KING.   

LONDON, Printed by john Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the KING'S most Excellent Majesty, 1661.  
At the KING'S Printing-house in blackfriars.