Halmote court rolls, 1519-1925

Notes

Includes typed summaries and catalog descriptions from Durham University Library.

The bishop of Durham's Halmote Courts were manorial courts which dealt chiefly with the customary or copyhold land and tenants on his estates. By the 17th century their business was largely confined to dealing with the surrender and admission of manorial tenants, according to the custom of the manor. When a tenant died, or a holding was transferred for some other reason, the holding had to be surrendered to the manorial lord, the bishop, and the claimant had to prove his or her title. A copyholder's title to his holding was a copy of the court roll entry on which his or her admission to the holding was recorded. Also by the 17th century, courts were held twice a year, in May and October. The jurisdiction of the Halmote Court was terminated by the act of 1925 which abolished copyhold tenure, but the business of the Durham Halmote Court was not finished until 1952, when the Halmote Office in the North Bailey, Durham, closed.

From 1519-1720 the court proceedings for most manors were enrolled chronologically in a single court roll or volume. From 1720-1925 most proceedings were enrolled topographically under divisions (Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Easington, Houghton-le-Spring, Lanchester, Stockton and Wolsingham), each division having a separate court roll. From various dates, however, certain manors had their own individual court rolls - Bedlington from 1721, Evenwood from 1909, Gateshead from 1703, Middleham from 1909 and Whickham from 1585. The court rolls also cover Bishop Wearmouth Rectory from 1579; this had not belonged to the bishop of Durham, but was administered by the Ecclesiastial Commissioners from the Durham Office. .

Partial indexes are included. From 1720 each volume has an index of persons surrendering and persons admitted. This index is contained in the "Index and alphabet books" section of this record. From the middle of the 18th century the bishop's officials introduced a system of call numbers to identify particular plots of copyhold land. They provide a key from call numbers to transactions in the court rolls relating to a particular call or plot. These call numbers are in the "Call books" section of this record.

Text in Latin and English.

Microfilm of original records located at the Durham University Library, Palace Green Section, Durham.

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