Westminster Court of Burgesses
Court of the City and Liberty of Westminster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Westminster Court of Burgesses was established by the Government of the City of Westminster Act 1584 (27 Eliz. 1. c. 31) in 1585 and abolished in 1900. It formed part of the local government of the City and Liberty of Westminster, England.[1]
Court of Burgesses | |
|---|---|
| City and Liberty of Westminster | |
 Coat of arms of Westminster from 1601 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Established | 1585 |
| Disbanded | 1900 |
| Succeeded by | Westminster City Council |
| Leadership | |
Chairman | |
| Seats | 12 burgesses 12 assistant burgesses |
| Elections | |
| Annual nomination | |
| Meeting place | |
| Westminster | |
- Court of Burgesses Scheme 1901
| Government of the City of Westminster Act 1584 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act for the good government of the city or borough of Westminster in Middlesex. |
| Citation | 27 Eliz. 1. c. 31 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 14 September 1585 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by |
|
Status: Repealed | |
The act was continued until the end of the next session of parliament by the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1586 (29 Eliz. 1. c. 5), the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1586 (29 Eliz. 1. c. 5), the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1588 (31 Eliz. 1. c. 10) and the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1592 (35 Eliz. 1. c. 7).
The court was set up following the dissolution of the monasteries, filling a power vacuum created by Westminster Abbey ceasing to exert control over the area.
Initially it had the powers to deal with nuisances and adjudicate the prosecutions of some minor criminal offences. The parishes that made up the city continued to have self governance through their vestries. After justices of the peace were set up for Westminster in 1618, the court dealt with lesser cases such as offences relating to weights and measures.[2]
The Westminster area was incorporated as the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster in 1900 and the court, as well as the parish vestries, were replaced by Westminster City Council.
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