What's the oldest statute (not for fellow BiBs)?

[Dibble]

Anyone (other than fellow (or ex) Bib) care to hazard a guess at the oldest statute/Act still on the books (other than common law, obviously)?

[Mr2Mike]

Treason Act of 1351 must be a strong contender...

[towman]

Use of four by four oxen pulling carts in central London will attract double taxes!

[D-Angle]

This link suggests that the Treason Act is the one that has been in force the longest, it seems there was something before that, but it just boils down to "Get orf moi laaaaand" from King William I:

www.tiersma.com/STATS/STATUTES.HTM

I think one of the oldest that is still used with any kind of reguarity involves "Keeping a disorderly house", which apparently works as a good catch-all for anything that is deemed 'indecent':

www.police-law.co.uk/law/policelaw.nsf/0/1d3777f01225411a80256ec600601fc8?OpenDocument

[towman]

Nelsons Column is quite old isn`t it?

I`ll get me coat.....................

[streaky]

In Scotland, it's the "Law of Innocents" 697AD (only recently translated from Old Gaelic).

In England, the oldest law is the Distress Act, 1267 (52 Hen. 3 c.1) - part of the "Statute of Marlborough".

A statute in 1275 fixed "time immemorial" - for the existence of "custom" in Common Law.

And from the same year we find the oldest piece of constitutional law: 3 Edw. 1 c.5 - part of the first Statute of Westminster.

Streaky

[benp]

I think there is one that prevents policemen from walking on the pavement, they have to walk with one foot in the gutter! Its because not quite upper class but above the working class.

[blademan]

Dibble said:

Anyone (other than fellow (or ex) Bib) care to hazard a guess at the oldest statute/Act still on the books (other than common law, obviously)?

Hi Dibble.
Oldest statute still on the books is.............
"Thou shall not kill"
God to Moses - 3800BC

[towman]

blademan said:

Dibble said: Anyone (other than fellow (or ex) Bib) care to hazard a guess at the oldest statute/Act still on the books (other than common law, obviously)? Hi Dibble. Oldest statute still on the books is............. "Thou shall not kill" God to Moses - 3800BC

If we are going down that line, how about........
"Rest on the sabbath"

God To Self - a very very long time ago

[streaky]

towman said:

blademan said: Dibble said: Anyone (other than fellow (or ex) Bib) care to hazard a guess at the oldest statute/Act still on the books (other than common law, obviously)? Hi Dibble. Oldest statute still on the books is............. "Thou shall not kill" God to Moses - 3800BC If we are going down that line, how about........ "Rest on the sabbath" God To Self - a very very long time ago

Shortly followed by, "No ribbin' ... it only leads to wimmin" - Streaky

[JohnL]

streaky said:

In Scotland, it's the "Law of Innocents" 697AD (only recently translated from Old Gaelic). In England, the oldest law is the Distress Act, 1267 (52 Hen. 3 c.1) - part of the "Statute of Marlborough".

And what are these for?

[ledfoot]

Thou shall not eat too many doughnuts


I think that was inscribed on the magna carter at 1215 (i don't mean lunchtime.....the year that is )

[Muncher]

De Praerogativa Regis
The Statute of the King's Prerogative
Drawn up between 1255 and 1290 according to Walker, N. 1968 p.25
Chapters 11 and 12 were repealed by 1959 Mental Health Act

Though the doctrine of implied repeal will mean that most statutes will have been repealed in part.



25 Edward 3, stat.5, c.2 Treason Act of 1351
(external link)
P.M. Tiersma suggests "apparently the oldest English statute still in force"
See trial of James Hadfield 1800

www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/Law.htm

[instructor]

Dibble said:

Anyone (other than fellow (or ex) Bib) care to hazard a guess at the oldest statute/Act still on the books (other than common law, obviously)?

It is definately the Treason Act, 1351