The Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836[1] (6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 19) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It abolished the temporal authority of the Bishop of Durham within the County Palatine of Durham, placing the county under lay administration. Previously, since 1075, the so-called prince-bishops had substantial powers as earls "with the right to raise an army, mint his own coins, and levy taxes".[3][4]
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act for separating the Palatine Jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Durham for the Bishoprick of Durham. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 19 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 21 June 1836 |
| Commencement | 5 July 1836, except as otherwise provided for.[2] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
It also disbanded the Court of the County of Durham, appointing the High Sheriff as judge of a regular county court.[5] Doubts about the construction of this act led to the enactment of the Durham County Palatine Act 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. c. 45).[6]
Repeal
editIn a report dated 28 October 1975, the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission said that the unrepealed residue of this act was spent because of the abolition of the Court of Chancery of the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge. They recommended that the whole act be repealed.[7] The Act was repealed by Part I of Schedule 1 to the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976.
Section 1 – The Palatine Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Durham to be separated from the Bishopric and vested in the Crown
editThe words from "and all forfeitures" to "in right of the same" in this section were repealed by section 9(2) of, and part I of the third schedule to, the Crown Estate Act 1961.
The proviso to this section was repealed by section 56 of, and schedule 11 to, the Courts Act 1971. The repeal was consequential on the abolition of the Court of Chancery of the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge by section 41 of that act.
Section 2 – County court to cease
editThis section abolished the Court of the County of Durham and the office of the clerk of that court.
Section 7 – Extent of the words "County of Durham"
editThis section enacted:
That in the Interpretation of the Clauses and Provisions herein-before contained the Words "County of Durham" shall comprise and mean the County of Durham and Sadberge, including the detached parts of Craikshire, Bedlingtonshire, Norhamshire, Allertonshire, and Islandshire, and all other Places heretofore within the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Durham in right of the said County Palatine.
This definition is referred to in section 1 of the Durham County Palatine Act 1858.
Section 9 – Reservation of rights to the Bishopric
editThis section was repealed by section 9(2) of, and part I of the third schedule to, the Crown Estate Act 1961.
References
edit- Halsbury's Statutes,
- The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 6 & 7 Will IV. 1836. King's Printer. 1836. Pages 130 to 132.
- Hansard
- ^ a b The citation of this act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
- ^ The Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836, section 8
- ^ "The Prince Bishops of Durham". Durham World Heritage Site. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. His Majesty's Statute and Law Printers. 1836. p. 130.
Bishop of Durham Temporal Powers by Palatine Act 1836
- ^ The Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836, section 2
- ^ The Durham County Palatine Act 1858, preamble
- ^ The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission. Statute Law Revision: Seventh Report. Law Com 70. SLC 40. Cmnd 6303. Pages 5 and 33.