Commonwealth period Manorial Court Book for the district of ‘Sutton Outsoken’ in central Norfolk detailing fines against manorial custom as well as transfers of copyhold property.
Small folio size manuscript bound in a reused vellum indenture from 1623. Manuscript title to front cover: ‘1650 usqe 1660’ - 1650 up to 1660 - with the letter ‘D’ below. There are 92 foliated leaves (184 pages of manuscript) followed by four pages of index (to people being admitted and surrendering property) and 16 blank leaves to the rear; flower watermark ‘M L’. The first and last few leaves are soiled with many turned corners and some edgewear to leaves. The manuscript retains its original binding and integrity and the paper is robust. The manuscript is written in a lateish secretary hand and comprises records of individual court sittings each running to about 8 pages, preceded by a list of officials present and further marginal notes relating to those involved. Members of known Norfolk families who appear in the manuscript include Charles Suckling and Thomas Suckling (whose signature appears at f70) and John Colman and Thomas Knyvett with place references including Potter Heigham and the area of the north-east Broads. Norfolk Record Office holds a partial collection of the court books for Sutton Insoken and Sutton Outsoken.
Manorial courts were the lowest courts of law in England during the feudal period with a jurisdiction limited both in subject matter and geography. They dealt with matters over which the lord of the manor had jurisdiction, especially land holdings. The information they contain has a bearing on present day land ownership and as a result they are protected under UK law which means that although it can be freely sold this manuscript may not be removed from England and Wales and its owner has an obligation to provide the Secretary of The National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission with brief details of any documents in their possession for inclusion in the Manorial Documents Register.
