Exchequer of Chester

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The Exchequer of Chester was a fiscal court based in the County Palatine of Chester. In 1071 the Earldom of Chester was created, and due to the Earldom's size it ruled Chester almost entirely independently as a County Palatine. [1] This arrangement necessitated a large number of officials, including several "barons" who specialised in the financial administration of the County. These gradually became a fiscal court, made up of the "Barons of the Exchequer", in a similar arrangement to that at Westminster. [2] The earliest records of this organisation come from 1121, when the Earl granted various charters to Chester Abbey. The Exchequer continued working after The Crown took over the County in 1237, mainly concerning itself with collecting the rent from local tenants. [3] The Exchequer's supreme jurisdiction over Chester was confirmed by the Court of Common Pleas in 1568, [4] and it continued operating until 1830, when it was abolished and its powers transferred to the Exchequer and Court of Chancery. [5]

Cheshire County of England

Cheshire is a county in North West England, bordering Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south and Flintshire, Wales and Wrexham county borough to the west. Cheshire's county town is the City of Chester (118,200); the largest town is Warrington (209,700). Other major towns include Crewe (71,722), Ellesmere Port (55,715), Macclesfield (52,044), Northwich (75,000), Runcorn (61,789), Widnes (61,464) and Winsford (32,610)

Earl of Chester

The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England, extending principally over the counties of Cheshire and Flintshire. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.

Exchequer of Pleas

The Exchequer of Pleas or Court of Exchequer was a court that dealt with matters of equity, a set of legal principles based on natural law and common law in England and Wales. Originally part of the curia regis, or King's Council, the Exchequer of Pleas split from the curia during the 1190s, to sit as an independent, central court. The Court of Chancery's reputation for tardiness and expense resulted in much of its business transferring to the Exchequer. The Exchequer and Chancery, with similar jurisdictions, drew closer together over the years, until an argument was made during the 19th century that having two seemingly identical courts was unnecessary. As a result, the Exchequer lost its equity jurisdiction. With the Judicature Acts, the Exchequer was formally dissolved as a judicial body by an Order in Council of 16 December 1880.

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Halton (barony) succession of barons in Chester

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Chester and Cheshire (Constituencies) Act 1542 is the Act of Parliament allowing Cheshire to be represented in the Parliament of England. The county palatine of Chester, ruled by the earls of Chester was established by William the Conqueror. Cheshire had its own parliament, consisting of barons of the county, and was not represented in the parliament of England. After the passing of the act Cheshire retained some of its special privileges until 1830. The earldom of Chester is traditionally vested in the sovereign's eldest son upon his crowning as Prince of Wales.

Magna Carta of Chester, or Cheshire, was a charter of rights issued in 1215 in the style of the Magna Carta. The charter is primarily concerned with the relationship between the Earl of Chester and his barons, though the final clause states that the barons must allow similar concessions to their own tenants.

The 1892 Dissolution Honours List was issued in August 1892 following the general election of that year.

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Certain former courts of England and Wales have been abolished or merged into or with other courts, and certain other courts of England and Wales have fallen into disuse.

References

  1. ↑ Stewart-Brown (1942) p.289
  2. ↑ Stewart-Brown (1942) p.290
  3. ↑ Stewart-Brown (1942) p.292
  4. ↑ Stewart-Brown (1942) p.296
  5. ↑ Stewart-Brown (1942) p.297

Bibliography

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