IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 ACC/0989
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: KING'S BENCH COURT
Date(s): 1785
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.01 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Court of King's Bench x Court of Queen's Bench
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Court of King's Bench was founded circa 1200 to hear common pleas, although it came to specialise in pleas of special interest and concern to the king, such as those which involved his own property interests, or breach of his peace, or an error of judgment by another royal court. By 1675 the King's Bench was the highest court of common law in England and Wales, with jurisdiction over both civil and criminal actions. Civil business was conducted on the 'Plea Side' and criminal business on the 'Crown Side'. It was absorbed into the High Court in 1875.
Source: The National Archives Research Guides "Legal Records Information 34" and "Legal Records Information 36"
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Prosecution brief for trial of John Pritchard, fruiterer, for misdemeanour in receiving grapes stolen from Lord Tylney's hot-house at Wanstead (then in Essex). The brief shows that there was doubt about 'finding law to punish'. The case had been removed from the Middlesex Sessions to the King's Bench.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
One document (4 sheets).
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Gifted to the Archive in February 1968.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: November 2009 to February 2010