The Fire Courts: Successfully Delivering Justice in a Time of Plague and Fire

Date / time: 21 October, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

The Fire Courts: Successfully Delivering Justice in a Time of Plague and Fire

Lecturer: Professor Jay Tidmarsh (Notre Dame Law School)

1665 had been a devastating Plague Year. 1666 was going that way and then the Great Fire destroyed seven eighths of London. The international scene was bleak. False rumour was rife and foreign skulduggery blamed. Professor Tidmarsh will explain how a six section Act of Parliament set up the Fire Courts which unclogged the Courts and succeeded in resolving a tsunami of disputes in a remarkably short time.

The Selden Society and the Inns of Court have joined forces to establish a new series of annual lectures open to scholars, members and students of the Inns and the general public to show the relevance of a wider understanding of Legal History. In this first talk Professor Jay Tidmarsh of Notre Dame Law School will consider the genesis and impact of the Fire of London Disputes Act 1666 and how the ‘Fire Courts’ helped to quickly and acceptably resolve disputes and allow the City of London and the courts to get back to business within surprisingly short time.Followed by Q&A.

Open to: Members and Public

To Book: http://www.innertemple.org.uk/firecourts

Tickets: Free but booking essentail

Enquiries: members@innertemple.org.uk