Historic Communal Courts (of Freedom and Liberties)
Preamble: An early form of administrative court was tribal in origin. Based upon a system whereby all freeborn English and Welshmen (not serfs of slaves) on maturity, were organised in ‘kinship’ community groups. Originally covering territories of ten hides (hide = c120 acres). This represented an area one tenth of a Hundred. The spokesman or leader of each group was their ‘Tithingman’. Behaviour of these groups was recognised by a ‘View of Frankpledge’ to keep the peace and manage behaviour….