Untill the year 1493, the merchants of Rouen had no place of meeting
alloted to transact their commercial affairs. They met however, in the
cathedral but, without authorisation. The municipal authorities, wishing
to put a stop to this state of things, made an arrangement with the
bailiff of Rouen, who issued a decree: "That there should be erected at
the lower end of the New-Market place, and at the expense of the town, a
large stone building, and on the second floor of this edifice, a large
hall was to be reserved for the use of the merchants of the town, those
of other nations also having the same right, to meet and transact their
affairs; which hall is to be named, for the future, the common town
hall."
The stone building here spoken of, is that vast wing, which closes the
court of the _Palais-de-Justice_ to the west; and the common town hall
is that known under the name of _Salle des Procureurs_ or _des
Pas-Perdus_.
About the year 1664, the merchants company obtained a portion of ground
on the quay, where they met untill 1827. Since then, that portion of
ground has been given up to enlarge the quay. The meridian which
ornamented this ancient exchange, is now placed in the garden of the
town hall. Since the straightening of the quay, the uncovered exchange
has been placed before the _Consuls_--(or covered exchange) so that the
one might communicate with the other: it occupies the portion of ground,
which is situated between the rue Nationale and the rue des Iroquois,
and is surrounded by an iron railing.