The Statute of Westminster 1275: How Medieval Law Defined "Time Immemorial" as 1189
By
zeristor
Crackling crust, pillowy middle. The kind of bagel that earns a second cup of coffee.
Summary
The article explains the specific legal meaning of the phrase "time immemorial," which was established by the Statute of Westminster in 1275 during King Edward I's reign. The law fixed the legal cutoff date for "time immemorial" at 1189, creating a specific historical boundary for legal purposes. This year marks the 750th anniversary of this legal definition, which continues to influence modern legal systems and historical understanding.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledYou've probably heard of the phrase 'time immemorial' as a general term for events that happened a very long time ago, but in fact, it has a specific meaning, and this year is its 750th anniversary.
Let's go back to the year 1275, and the recently crowned King Edward I is busy drafting and passing laws to tidy up his Kingdom.
One of them was the Statute of Westminster, which covered a lot of matters relating to how legal processes should be carried out, oh and of course, new taxes.
However, for the purposes of this article, it's also the document that introduced the legal definition of 'time immemorial'.
The Statute of Westminster fixed the legal cutoff date for 'time immemorial' at 1189, creating a specific historical boundary for legal purposes.
You might also wanna read
William Wordsworth's 1838 Open Letter on Copyright Law Reform
This article presents a historical document - an open letter from poet William Wordsworth to Serjeant Talfourd regarding the Copyright Act o
gutenberg.org·9mo ago
Debunking the Medieval Water Myth: Historical Evidence Shows Water Was Widely Consumed
This article debunks the common myth that medieval people avoided drinking water and primarily consumed alcohol instead. Drawing from histor
leslefts.blogspot.com·9mo ago
How soccer's origins in 19th-century English boarding schools shaped the global game
An expert on global history and author of a 2025 book traces the origins of modern soccer (association football) to the well-heeled boarding
theconversation.com·1d ago
Joseon Dynasty's celestial and natural omens as recorded in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
This article presents a creative, conceptual piece about the Joseon dynasty of Korea (1392–1897), which meticulously recorded natural phenom
ajin.im·1d ago
Roman Insulae: Ancient High-Density Urban Living 2,000 Years Ago
This article explores the history of Roman apartment buildings (insulae) as a form of high-density urban living from 2000 years ago. It exam
commonedge.org·2d ago
Declassified CIA Cartography Maps from the 1980s: Cold War Urban Intelligence
This article showcases a collection of declassified CIA cartography maps from the 1980s, originally shared via a Flickr album. The maps focu
brilliantmaps.com·4d ago