Court of Common Pleas

The Court of Common Pleas was founded by King Henry II to hear common pleas (matters between subject and subject). It was the only Court where personal actions of account, covenant, debt and detinue could be heard. The Court also had jurisdiction to review and change the decisions of older courts. From 1187 the Court sat at Westminster. The Court was headed by a Chief Justice, working with a team of lesser justices (between three and eight in number at various times) and a large number of clerks. The Court was abolished in 1875.

The Palace Court was a court of record for the trial of all those personal pleas and actions arising within twelve miles of the palace of Westminster which did not fall within the jurisdiction of the city of London or other liberties. It became in practice mainly a court for the recovery of small debts and was abolished from 1 August 1849 by Act 12 and 13 Victoria c101 (from the "Guide to the Contents of the Public Records Office").