alanhitchcock49
Miscellany, Norton Collection Museum, Bromsgrove
The middle photo features the 1927 parade of Bromsgrove Court Leet. Here is a brief extract taken from www.bromsgrovecourtleet.co.uk/history
'King Alfred, he who reputedly burnt the cakes, may have been a poor cook but he was a clever administrator. He divided the country into shires, the shires into laths and the laths into hundreds, the latter made up of ten tythings. The tything was a group of about ten families, each a pledge and a security for the others; they appointed from amongst their number a tythingmen to answer for them all. To this day Tythingmen are appointed to report to Bromsgrove Court Leet at the ‘View of Frankpledge’.
The Court Leet is a survival from the manorial system introduced to this country by another well known king, William the Conqueror (1066). He commissioned the Domesday Book which was completed in 1086, and in which the Manor of Bromsgrove is recorded. In broad outline the manorial system decreed that all land was owned by the king who granted the manors to his supporters or, perhaps, as in the case of Bromsgrove, a manor was retained for his own use. Thus the Manor of Bromsgrove was held in ‘ancient desmesne’. Although in 1682, the sovereign transferred it to Sir Thomas Windsor, (later Lord Plymouth) the privileges attached to this Royal manor could not be alienated and they continue to be enjoyed.'
I think there is little doubt that these 'ancient traditions' were part of the climate of opinion which produced the Brexit majority, however ironic that may be.
Miscellany, Norton Collection Museum, Bromsgrove
The middle photo features the 1927 parade of Bromsgrove Court Leet. Here is a brief extract taken from www.bromsgrovecourtleet.co.uk/history
'King Alfred, he who reputedly burnt the cakes, may have been a poor cook but he was a clever administrator. He divided the country into shires, the shires into laths and the laths into hundreds, the latter made up of ten tythings. The tything was a group of about ten families, each a pledge and a security for the others; they appointed from amongst their number a tythingmen to answer for them all. To this day Tythingmen are appointed to report to Bromsgrove Court Leet at the ‘View of Frankpledge’.
The Court Leet is a survival from the manorial system introduced to this country by another well known king, William the Conqueror (1066). He commissioned the Domesday Book which was completed in 1086, and in which the Manor of Bromsgrove is recorded. In broad outline the manorial system decreed that all land was owned by the king who granted the manors to his supporters or, perhaps, as in the case of Bromsgrove, a manor was retained for his own use. Thus the Manor of Bromsgrove was held in ‘ancient desmesne’. Although in 1682, the sovereign transferred it to Sir Thomas Windsor, (later Lord Plymouth) the privileges attached to this Royal manor could not be alienated and they continue to be enjoyed.'
I think there is little doubt that these 'ancient traditions' were part of the climate of opinion which produced the Brexit majority, however ironic that may be.