Courts of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries

The courts of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries, commonly known as the stannary courts, were English courts in Cornwall and Devon that enforced the stannary law between the High Middle Ages and their abolition by the Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict. c. 45).

Long titleAn Act against divers Incroachments and Oppressions in the Stannary Courts.

Citation16 Cha. 1. c. 15

Territorial extentEngland and Wales

Royal assent7 August 1641

Quick facts Stannaries Court Act 1640, Long title ...

Stannaries Court Act 1640
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	An Act against divers Incroachments and Oppressions in the Stannary Courts.
Citation	16 Cha. 1. c. 15
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	7 August 1641
Commencement	3 November 1640[a]
Repealed	1 January 1897
Other legislation
Amended by	Statute Law Revision Act 1888
Repealed by	Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

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Long titleAn Act to amend and extend the Jurisdiction of the Stannary Court.

Citation18 & 19 Vict. c. 32

Territorial extentUnited Kingdom

Royal assent15 June 1855

Quick facts Stannaries Act 1855, Long title ...

Stannaries Act 1855
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend and extend the Jurisdiction of the Stannary Court.
Citation	18 & 19 Vict. c. 32
Territorial extent	United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent	15 June 1855
Commencement	15 June 1855[b]
Other legislation
Amends	Stannaries Act 1836 Stannaries Act 1839
Amended by	Statute Law Revision Act 1875 Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Stannaries Act 1855 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

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Long titleAn Act for abolishing the Court of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries.

Citation59 & 60 Vict. c. 45

Territorial extentUnited Kingdom

Royal assent14 August 1896

Quick facts Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896, Long title ...

Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896[c]
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for abolishing the Court of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries.
Citation	59 & 60 Vict. c. 45
Territorial extent	United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent	14 August 1896
Commencement	1 January 1897[d]
Other legislation
Amends	Stannaries Act 1855
Repeals/revokes	Stannaries Court Act 1640 Stannaries Act 1839
Amended by	Statute Law Revision Act 1908 Statute Law Revision Act 1966 Arbitration Act 1996 Constitutional Reform Act 2005 Crime and Courts Act 2013
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

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From 1201, tin miners in Devon and Cornwall were exempt from the jurisdiction of all English courts other than that of the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries.

The jurisdiction of the Cornwall stannary institutions covered the whole of the duchy, while the stannary courts of Devon had a reputation for harsh justice,^[1] and once jailed a Westminster MP (Richard Strode).^[2]

The Devon and Cornwall stannary courts were merged into a single Stannaries Court by the Stannaries Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 32).

According to Thomas Pitt, judgments from the court could be appealed to the Vice-Warden of the Stanneries, then to the Warden, then finally to the Prince in Council.^[3]