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  1. Home
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  3. A History of the County Court, 1846–1971
  • Cited by 16
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
September 2009
Print publication year:
1999
Online ISBN:
9780511495434
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511495434
Subjects:
Constitutional and Administrative Law, Legal History, Twentieth Century British History, Law, History
Series:
Cambridge Studies in English Legal History
Information

Book description

This 1999 book was the first full-length account of the county court, which in contemporary English life has become the main forum for most civil disputes. It began as the 'poor man's court', largely concerned with the pursuit of working-class debtors; but, as this book shows, it has expanded far beyond its origins as an agency `for the more easy recovery of small debts' and now includes in its jurisdiction a diverse range of matters, including housing, accidents and consumer goods. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the author traces the history of the county court from its creation in 1846 through to the reconstruction of the court system in 1971. He describes its organisation and officers, from judges to bailiffs, and discusses the roles of judges, practising lawyers and lay persons. The text is an intriguing engagement with themes including access to justice.

Reviews

Review of the hardback:‘Patrick Polden is strong on numerous points of detail. Nothing escapes his attention … his analysis is full of variety and colour. It is an important book on a central topic. It is also formidably strong in its use of the sort of primary sources which are often ignored by writers on the English and Welsh legal system.'

Source: Legal Studies

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