Time Immemorial turns 750: The Medieval law that froze history at 1189
16 days ago
- #time immemorial
- #legal history
- #medieval law
- The phrase 'time immemorial' has a specific legal meaning, referring to events before 3rd September 1189.
- The concept was introduced by the Statute of Westminster in 1275 under King Edward I.
- The date 3rd September 1189 marks the coronation of King Richard the Lionheart, Edward I's great-grand uncle.
- The law was designed to limit oral history in legal disputes, requiring official documents for claims older than a grandfather's testimony.
- The Prescription Act of 1832 formalized the term 'time immemorial' and replaced it with fixed statutory periods for land rights.
- The law also served to reinforce the king's lineage and authority, especially after the Second Barons' War.
- The Statute marked a shift from oral culture to written documentation in legal matters.