Statute of Gloucester 1278 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Citation | 6 Edw. 1. |
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Quick facts for kids Text of statute as originally enacted |
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The Statute of Gloucester (6 Edw. 1) was an important law made in England in 1278. It was created by the Parliament of England during the time of King Edward I. This law was announced in a town called Gloucester in August 1278. It played a big part in shaping English law.
King Edward I wanted to make his royal power stronger again. His father, King Henry III, had lost some control to powerful nobles, like Simon de Montfort. Edward I saw that changes were needed in the law. He used Parliament to get support from his loyal subjects. They could ask the King for help against his own nobles and officials.
Contents
What Was the Statute of Gloucester?
The Statute of Gloucester was a set of new rules and changes to existing laws. It helped to define how land was used and how legal cases were handled. This statute was a key step in developing the legal system in England.
How Did It Change Property Law?
One big change from this law was the idea of waste. This legal rule helps protect property for future owners. If someone is using land but doesn't own it completely (like a tenant), they can't make big changes that would lower its value. For example, they couldn't tear down a house or cut down all the trees if it would harm the property for the next owner.
How Did It Affect Legal Cases?
The statute also changed how some land disputes were settled. It updated a popular legal process called novel disseisin. This process was used to get back land that had been taken unfairly.
King Edward I also brought back a system of traveling judges called eyres. These royal judges would travel around the country. They heard many cases, including something called quo warranto pleas. Quo warranto means "By what warrant?"
In these cases, powerful nobles and others who had special rights had to prove them. They had to show the King's judges official documents or reasons for their power. If they couldn't, they would lose those special rights. This helped the King take back control over local areas.
First Recorded Statute
The Statute of Gloucester is special because it was the very first law written down in a Statute Roll. This was an official record of laws passed in England.
Chapter 1: The Franchise Act
The first part of the Statute of Gloucester (known as 6 Edw 1 c 1) is sometimes called the Franchise Act 1278. Parts of this chapter were later removed from law in 1879.
See also
- Casu proviso
