The courts of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries, commonly known as the stannary courts, were English courts in Cornwall and Devon that enforced the stannary law between the High Middle Ages and their abolition by the Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict. c. 45). From 1201, tin miners in Devon and Cornwall were exempt from the jurisdiction of all English courts other than that of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries. The jurisdiction of the Cornwall stannary institutions covered the whole of the duchy, while the stannary courts of Devon had a reputation for harsh justice,[1] and once jailed a Westminster MP (Richard Strode).[2]
Stannaries Court Act 1640 | |
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Act of Parliament | |
Long title | An Act against divers Incroachments and Oppressions in the Stannary Courts. |
Citation | 16 Cha. 1. c. 15 |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 7 August 1641 |
Other legislation | |
Amended by | Statute Law Revision Act 1888 |
Repealed by | Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896 |
Status: Repealed |
Stannaries Act 1855 | |
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Act of Parliament | |
Long title | An Act to amend and extend the Jurisdiction of the Stannary Court. |
Citation | 18 & 19 Vict. c. 32 |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 15 June 1855 |
Other legislation | |
Amended by | Statute Law Revision Act 1875 |
Status: Amended | |
Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Text of the Stannaries Act 1855 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. |
Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896 | |
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Act of Parliament | |
Long title | An Act for abolishing the Court of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries. |
Citation | 59 & 60 Vict. c. 45 |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 14 August 1896 |
Other legislation | |
Repeals/revokes | Stannaries Court Act 1640 |
According to Thomas Pitt, judgements from the court could be appealed to the Vice-Warden of the Stanneries, then to the Warden, then finally to the Prince in Council.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Lydford Law". Legendarydartmoor.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ http://www.Plympton.info/HistSTA/HTM[dead link ]
- ^ Thomas Pitt (1751). A state of the proceedings of the convocation, or, parliament for the Stannaries of the County of Cornwall, held at Lestwithiel, on Tuesday the 28th day of August 1750, and at Helstone by Prorogation on Saturday the 20th of October following: and also the point in dispute between the Lord Warden, and the House of Stanators, impartially stated, and fairly discussed. London: R. Baldwin, at the Rose, in Pater-Noster-Row. p. 3. Retrieved 3 February 2022 – via Bodleian Libraries.
See also
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