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Henley’s ancient Court Leet formed
the main instrument of local government from the 11th Century
onwards and functioned as such until the late 1800’s.
Acting for the Lord of the Manor in his absence, the Court
dealt with local law and order, nuisances and fair trade.
Its records exist back to 1592. In early times royal charters
and permissions for fairs, markets and the taking of tolls
were placed in the custody of the High Bailiff.
The word “leet” means
a territorial and jurisdictional area.
The Court is headed
by the High Bailiff, who swears
to “uphold, defend and maintain the franchises, liberties
and commodities” of the town. Overseeing the Court’s
activities on behalf of the Lord of the Manor is the Steward
to the Court: he acts with the Lord’s authority,
as his managing agent.
Since the establishment of democratic
local government in the late nineteenth century the role
of Henley’s
Court Leet has been primarily ceremonial. However, when
an Act of 1976 abolished many ancient and redundant courts,
Henley’s Court survived, being recognised as an active
court with the power to make presentations. Today the Court
oversees many of the town’s major institutions and
provides formal representation of Henley-in-Arden within
the County and Country.
In order to enact its ancient duties
in respect of fair trade and law and order, the offices
of Court members are
High Bailiff, Low Bailiff, Constable, Mace-Bearer, Butter
Weigher, Ale Taster, Hayward (land and boundaries officer),
two Brook Lookers and two Affeorers (tax-collectors), a
Chaplain and a Town Crier.
Henley’s Court Leet meets
at the Guildhall, which it manages. The Guildhall was restored
in 1915 by the then
Lord of the Manor, W J Fieldhouse. The Court’s main
Annual Meeting is held there in November each year, presided
over by the Lord of the Manor.
All past and present trustees
of the Heritage Centre are or have been members of the
Court Leet.
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