Editing Court leet (section)

==Later history==
The introduction of [[Justice of the peace|magistrates]] gradually rebalanced power away from manorial lords. Magistrates were later given authority over ''view of frankpledge'', which effectively negated the remaining significance of the court leet, and they gradually ceased to be held, largely dying out. Following the collapse of the feudal system, and subsequent rise of [[the Reformation]], [[civil parish]]es had largely taken over the remaining authority of courts baron, and tithings were seen as a parish sub-division.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

Nevertheless, courts leet technically survived into the late 20th century, though almost all of the small number which still operated had become merely ceremonial, simply forming a way of promoting or celebrating their local area. Despite this, their legal jurisdiction over crime was only abolished in 1977, by section 23 of the [[Administration of Justice Act 1977]]. However, one exception was allowed: the court leet for the manor of [[Laxton, Nottinghamshire]],<ref name="Laxton">[http://www.dovecoteinnlaxton.co.uk/court_leet.htm Laxton Court Leet], Dovecote Inn, Laxton – retrieved 23 May 2009 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> which had continued to operate judicially;<ref>Per the [[Lord Chancellor]] in the House of Lords Debate on the Administration of Justice Bill on 2 May 1977 [https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1977/may/02/administration-of-justice-bill-hl vol 382 cc816-23]</ref> Laxton retains the [[open-field system]] of farming, which had been replaced everywhere else by the 18th century (as a result of the process of [[enclosure]]), and required the court in order to administer the field system.

Although the Administration of Justice Act had abolished the legal jurisdiction of the other courts leet, it emphasised that "any such court may continue to sit and transact such other business, if any, as was customary for it". Schedule 4 to the Act specified the "business" which was to be considered customary, which included the taking of presentments relating to matters of local concern and – in some cases – the management of [[common land]].<ref>[http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?activeTextDocId=209912 Schedule 4 of the Administration of Justice Act 1977], as amended, from the [[UK Statute Law Database]].</ref>

===Surviving jurisdictions ===

The following courts leet were exempted from abolition by the Administration of Justice Act 1977, and were known to be still functioning in 2010:

* [[Alcester]] ([[Warwickshire]]) Court Leet, Court Baron and View of Frankpledge<ref name="Alcester"/>
* [[Ashburton, Devon|Ashburton]] Courts Leet and Baron
* [[Bideford]] Manor Court (held by the town council)
* Court Leet and Court Baron of the Ancient Manor of [[Bowes]] in [[County Durham|County of Durham]]
* Ancient Court Leet and Court Baron of the Manor of [[Bromsgrove]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bromsgrovecourtleet.co.uk | title=Bromsgrove Court Leet | access-date=2010-12-13}}</ref>
* Courts Leet and Baron of Barony of Cemaes in County of [[Dyfed]] (Pembrokeshire)
* Manorial Court for Hundred and Borough of [[Cricklade]]
* [[Danby, North Yorkshire|Danby (North Yorkshire)]] Court Leet and Court Baron
* Manor of Fyling Court Leet in North Yorkshire<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170913051904/http://fylingcourtleet.org/ Archived website]}} of Fyling Court Leet</ref>
* Court Baron for the Manor of [[Heaton, West Yorkshire|Heaton]] in City of [[Bradford]]
* Court Leet and Court Baron of the Manor of [[Henley-in-Arden]], Warwickshire<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.henley-in-arden.org/court-leet | title=The Manor of Henley-in-Arden Court Leet & Court Baron | access-date=2010-12-13 | archive-date=28 November 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128125350/http://www.henley-in-arden.org/court-leet/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Town and Manor of [[Hungerford]] and the Manor and Liberty of [[Sanden Fee Hocktide]] Court and Court Leet
* Manor of [[Laxton, Nottinghamshire|Laxton]] Court Leet<ref name="Laxton"/>
* Court Leet and Baron of the Manor of [[Mynachlogddu]], Dyfed
* The [[Norwich]] Court of Mayoralty (held by the town council to admit freemen)
* Court Leet of the Island and Royal Manor of [[Isle of Portland|Portland]] still continues as of July 2024
* [[Southampton]] Court Leet<ref>City Council [http://coss.org.uk/30.html Southampton Court Leet] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508143552/http://coss.org.uk/30.html |date=8 May 2009 }}, City of Southampton Society – retrieved 23 May 2009</ref>
* [[Southwark]] Courts Leet and Views of Frankpledge for the three Manors of the [[City of London]] (the [[Guildable Manor|Guildable]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guildablemanor.org/|title=Guildable Manor of Southwark – Home Page|website=guildablemanor.org}}</ref> [[King's Manor, Southwark|King's]], and [[Liberty of the Clink|Great Liberty]]).
* Manor of [[Spaunton]] Court Leet and Court Baron with View of Frankpledge<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rhea|first1=Nicholas|title=When sheep were big business|url=http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/14224382.When_sheep_were_big_business/|access-date=14 April 2017|work=Darlington and Stockton Times|date=22 January 2016|language=en}}</ref>
* Manor of Stoborough Court Leet as exempted in the Wareham Borough exemption.
* Courts Leet and Baron of [[Stockbridge, Hampshire]]
* Court Leet of the Manor and Borough of [[Wareham, Dorset|Wareham]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wareham-tc.gov.uk/courtleet/|title=Wareham Court Leet|website=wareham-tc.gov.uk|access-date=11 March 2020|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065924/http://www.wareham-tc.gov.uk/courtleet/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Warwick]] Court Leet<ref name="Warwick"/>

In addition, the following courts leet are in operation, having been re-established, or continued, but without statutory authority (not having been preserved by the 1977 act):

* The Court Leet and Baron of Carrick Blacker at Portadown
* Court Leet and Court Baron of the Manor of [[Hatherleigh]]<ref>[http://www.hatherleigh.net/newsdisplay.asp?newsid=436 Report of Hatherleigh Court Leet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723143121/http://www.hatherleigh.net/newsdisplay.asp?newsid=436 |date=23 July 2011 }}. Retrieved 26 May 2009</ref>
* [[Holsworthy, Devon]]
* [[Laugharne]]
* Court Leet of Northleach, Gloucestershire
* [[Taunton]] Court Leet<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/8689783.Taunton_s_Court_Leet_law_day_upholds_tradition/?ref=rss | title=Taunton's Court Leet law day upholds tradition | access-date=2010-12-13 | date=25 November 2010 | work=Somerset County Gazette}}</ref>
* [[Watchet]] Court Leet

By contrast, the statutory backing for the following courts leet was preserved by the 1977 Act, but it is not clear whether they are still operative:
* The [[Bucklebury]] Court Baron
* [[Clifton Campville|Clifton]] Courts Leet and Baron and View of Frankpledge
* [[Croyland]] View of Frankpledge, Court Leet and Great Court Baron
* Manor of [[Dorney with Boveney]] Court Leet with Court Baron and View of Frankpledge
* Manor Court of [[Dunstone]] (otherwise [[Blackslade]])
* The Court Baron of East Horndon
* Courts Leet and Baron of the Manors of [[Eton-cum-Stockdales]] in [[Colenorton]]
* The [[City of London]] [[Court of Husting]]
* Manor of [[Mickley, Northumberland|Mickley]] Court Leet and Court Baron
* [[Spitchwick]] Courts Leet and Baron
* Manor of [[Whitby Laithes]] Court Leet

The following courts leet are also listed here for unclear reasons, despite not having been exempted from abolition by the 1977 act, and despite it not being clear whether they are still operative:

* Altrincham, Cheshire – Trafford Court Leet, Court Baron and View of Frankpledge 
* Courts Leet and Baron of the Manor of Rushton (Staffordshire)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rushton-manor.org.uk/|title=The Lordship and Manor of Rushton (overlordship) (Staffordhire)|website=rushton-manor.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rushton-manor.org.uk/rushton-courts.pdf |title=THE COURT LEET AND COURT BARON OF THE MANOR OF RUSHTON OR RUSHTON JAMES |publisher=rushton-manor.org.uk |access-date=2020-03-11}}</ref>
* Normanton on Soar Court Leet