Roger de Bankwell facts for kids

Roger de Bankwell was an important judge who lived in England around the 1300s. He was born sometime before 1333 and likely passed away after 1340. He played a key role in the legal system during his time.

Early Life and First Jobs

Roger de Bankwell became known for his legal work in the early 1330s. In 1333, he was chosen as one of three special helpers. Their job was to figure out how much a special tax, called a tallage, should be for people in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. A tallage was a tax that kings could ask for from towns and royal lands.

Helping After a Fire

Roger de Bankwell also joined another important group. This group was asked to look into a big fire that happened in a town called Spondon in Derbyshire. Many people lost their homes and belongings in the fire. Roger and the group helped these people by checking their losses. They then asked the government to let these people not pay taxes for a while because of what they had lost.

Becoming a Judge

Roger de Bankwell was a skilled lawyer. His name shows up in the "Year Books" from 1340. These books were like records of court cases and legal discussions from that time.

Working in the King's Court

In 1341, Roger de Bankwell was given a very important job. He became a judge in the King's Bench. This was one of the highest courts in England. As a judge, he helped make important decisions about the law.

Listening to Petitions

From 1341 to 1347, Roger de Bankwell had another special duty. He was one of the judges chosen to listen to "petitions." Petitions were like formal requests or complaints from people. These requests came from many different places, including Gascony, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and other areas outside of England. This shows how trusted and important Roger de Bankwell was in the legal system.