A Durham Coroner in his Community

“In Mr Favell his poorer neighbours and tenants have lost a kind and sincere friend. “ (Obituary 26.12.1882 Newcastle Journal and 29.12.1882 Newcastle Courant)

…”the portentous and pugnacious Fee Faw Fum of Chester Ward (fitted by nature with a visage and voice for his vocation) in the county of Durham…” (14/7/1880 Letter to the editor from solicitor W.W Robson criticising Inquests and Coroners' Juries)

A coroner in the 19th Century was a very different creature to a 21st Century coroner. He had to be elected, effectively ran his own court with little scope for legal interference and the power to commit those the jury determined guilty of murder and manslaughter to remand in prison and to the Assizes. He had to fight to protect the office against challenges by the local magistrates to his fees, or even wider attacks on the utility and integrity of the office itself. However he was a man embedded in his local community. He might use his address to the jury or comments on their verdict to highlight social issues or industrial dangers. In an era of huge social and political change he might be actively involved in politics, charity, religion and welfare reform. Using the extensive resources of local 19th century newspaper reports gives a much rounder picture of such a coroner in his local community.

This talk will be given by Jacky Smart. After a career as a barrister she became an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University teaching on the post graduate Bar Course and some undergraduate teaching. Jacky then discovered the joy of historical legal research and the world of 19th century coroners which is providing a wide source of material for talks, prospective articles and hopefully a PHD.