Early Modern Legal Records 1:Central Common Law Courts and Regional Justice

Early Modern Legal Records: Central Common Law Courts and Regional Justice

*This is a one day in-person workshop at The National Archives*

You may also be interested in Early Modern Legal Records 2: Equity and Conciliar Courts on June 19th.

This Early Modern Legal Records workshop will provide you with the essential skills to identify and access original source material within the vast legal records collections at The National Archives. During each session you will receive tuition and guidance on a range of archival research skills from our records specialists, and you will also undertake practical exercises involving hands-on document work.

During the workshop you will trace the changes in the legal systems and records held by The National Archives during the long early modern period (c.1485-c.1875). The day will begin with an introduction to the early modern legal system, providing a brief summary of the medieval English legal system, before moving on to explore the key changes to this system which took place in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The following sessions will focus on some of the different types of court available to litigants during this period, from the common law courts of Westminster – King’s Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer of Pleas – to courts held outside of London, such as the Assize courts.

At the end of the workshop you will have increased confidence in your ability to find and access previously challenging early modern legal documents, and to read and understand their contents. This event is aimed at current taught postgraduate and PhD students, although other researchers are welcome to attend. This is a level three workshop within the PAST programme, and will be investigating complex and demanding archival collections, but you will be supported by expert staff throughout. There are no pre-requisites for attendance.

For more information about the PAST programme please see The National Archives' website or email past@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

You can join the conversation and learn more about our other PAST workshops by following #TNAPAST

Programme:

09:00-09:30 Registration and Coffee

Tea & coffee in the public restaurant area

09.30-10:30 Session 1: The Legal Systems in England and Wales

This introductory session will give you an overview of the legal systems in place in England and Wales, how these systems changed at key points throughout the early modern period, and where the central law courts and regional courts fit into these systems.

10:30-12:00 Session 2: Assize Courts and Itinerant Criminal Justice

This session examines legal records created away from Westminster, primarily those of the Assize Courts. These courts could hear a huge range of cases, from minor theft to witchcraft. Students will learn to locate and use records from these collections through practical work with original documents, including indictments, gaol books, and depositions.

12:00-12:45 Lunch

Lunch is not provided. Food and drink can be purchased from our on-site café, or alternatively there are shops and cafés a short walk away in Kew Retail Park and near Kew Gardens station.

12:45-13:45 Session 3: Central Common Law Courts 1, 1485-1702

This session explains how to locate records of the central common law courts, King’s Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer of Pleas, how these records are structured, and how to use them in your research. This first session of two examines the earlier common law court records, up to 1702. As the superior court in the realm, King’s Bench could hear cases relating to the most serious crimes, and this session will include practical exercises in using original records, including records relating to treason.

13:45-14:00 Break

14:00-15:00 Session 4: Central Common Law Courts 2, 1702-1875

This second session on the central common law courts examines how these records change in the eighteenth century, how to find these records, and the different research approaches for working with these later records. In particular, this session examines surviving affidavits for these courts (which do not survive for the earlier period). This session will include practical exercises in using original records, including comparing these later records to earlier examples.

15:00-15:15 Break

15:15-16:30 Session 5: Manorial Courts and Records Held Elsewhere

This final session considers what records are not held at The National Archives, such as law reports, and also takes a closer look at Manorial Court Records. This session will include practical exercises in using original records and will provide search advice for finding legal records held elsewhere.

16:30-17:00 Wrap up and Questions

17:00 Close