DOCSLIB.ORG

The Freedom of the City of Liverpool

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Freedom of the City of Liverpool ELDONIAN COMMUNITY BASED HOUSING ASSOCIATION PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2017 PR E OUD TO ANNOUNC THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL PR E OUD TO ANNOUNC THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL PR E OUD TO ANNOUNC PR E THE FREEDOMOUD TO ANN OFOUN THEC CITY OF LIVERPOOL THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL 1 CONTENTS Welcome2 A brief3 history of the Chairman’s5 6Stock Eldonian CBHA Report Profile • • • • Who Manages7 your A Joint Report8 from the Chief11 Executive’s Value Applications,15 Allocations Homes? Chair and CEO for Money Report and Voids • • • • 16Rent and 17Repairs 19Finance Where20 does our Rent Arrears Performance money come from and how is it spent? • • 21Eldonian 22Professional House Advisors 2 WELCOME Welcome to the Eldonian Community As part of our commitment to improving our Based Housing Association Annual services we would welcome your feedback on this Report for 2016/2017 report. We would particularly like to hear which parts of the report you found interesting and any The report aims to inform our tenants and other other areas you would like to see covered in future stakeholders about our performance during this reports. Financial Year and where possible compares our performance against others both locally and We hope you enjoy this report and find it both throughout the UK. useful and informative. The Association then uses these benchmark comparisons to, where necessary, set targets for continued improvement. 3 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ELDONIAN CBHA LTD Located in the inner city close to What followed was a long and often bitter struggle Liverpool’s North Docks, the Vauxhall with the Militants which eventually saw the Portland area of Liverpool was largely populated Gardens Housing Co-operative built, some of the by Irish immigrants fleeing the Irish community staying , but the houses being taken over potato famine in the 1840’s. Many of by the council and the plans to rehouse the rest of those immigrants settled in the area and the community left in tatters. worked on the docks or in one of the dock related industries. They lived in appalling, overcrowded, unsanitary housing, which led to a very high infant mortality rate and a short life span. Those Victorian slums were eventually replaced in the 1930’s & 40’s, by council owned walk up tenements, which by the late 1970’s were themselves overcrowded, totally decayed and vermin infested. Following the decline in the docks and the closure of the main employers Tate & Lyle sugar refinery and British American Tobacco, the area had one of the highest levels of unemployment not just in the Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinary UK but in Western Europe. As those economically active moved away to seek employment elsewhere, LIVERPOOL OF CITY THE OF FREEDOM THE the area was left with the largest proportion of low Two years earlier, in 1981 Tate & Lyle sugar refinery demand housing stock of any UK city. closed its doors for good leaving behind a large highly contaminated piece of land, what many saw A N O N T O U D N U C O R as a blight, the Eldonians saw as anE opportunity However a strong community flourished despite P the bad housing, poor environment and chronic and the vision of an Eldonian Village, housing the unemployment. So when the local council sought local community was their aspiration. This land was to demolish the crumbling tenements and in effect not owned by the council and the community sort break up their community they decided to stand finance elsewhere. together and fight. Taking their name from Eldon Street, the street where their church was situated the Eldonians were born. In 1979 the community formed its first co-operative the Portland Gardens Housing Co-operative LIVERPOOL OF CITY THE OF FREEDOM THE and formulated plans that would see the existing tenements demolished to be replaced by new co- A N O N T O U D N operative housing, run by the community. U C O R E P In 1983 the local election saw a change in power with Labour gaining control of Liverpool but the new local labour council turned out to be controlled by the far left Militant Tendency and they had no plans to work with communities and actively opposed the Eldonians The Eldonian Village plans to redevelop the area as housing co-operatives. THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL OF CITY THE OF FREEDOM THE A N O N T O U D N U C O R E P THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL OF CITY THE OF FREEDOM THE A N O N T O U D N U C O R E P 4 Eldonian Canal Festival June 2016 The community formed their second housing co- the canal is totally different from its industrial past. LIVERPOOL OF CITY THE OF FREEDOM THE operative The Eldonian Co-operative (now Eldonian Wildlife thrives in the area and narrow boats have CBHA Ltd) and drew up plans for “The Eldonian started to return and use the Eldonian Basin as a A N O N T O U D N Village”. base when visiting Liverpool and the North West. U C O R E P After yet another long and bitter struggle with the In June 2016 the Eldonians played host to the Militants they eventually gained support from Central “Eldonian Canal Festival” which helped celebrate Government and £6.4m funding was provided to and commemorate 200 years since the Leeds/ enable the co-op to purchase and clear the site and Liverpool canal was first opened. start the first phase of the Eldonian Village. The Eldonian Village, is a pioneering urban Phase 1 of the Village which comprised of 145 development that has helped change the way houses and bungalows as well as a frail elderly people think about regeneration, sweeping away scheme (now a nursing home) was completed in dereliction and decay to bring true community led 1989, quickly followed in 1994 by the next phase of regeneration to what was once one of the most LIVERPOOL OF CITY THE OF FREEDOM THE a further 150 houses and bungalows. This second deprived areas in the United Kingdom. phase also saw the Eldonians build a Village Hall, A N O N T O U D N nursery and sports hall to compliment the houses In recognition of their achievements the Eldonians U C O R E and create some much needed local jobs. were awarded the United Nations sponsored World P Habitat Award in 2004 and still receive visitors from Later phases have seen the Eldonian CBHA add all over the world who come to see for themselves Robert Lynch House, a 36 unit sheltered scheme, what can be achieved when communities work Sibert House, a 40 unit scheme for those over 55 together. and 8 new two bedroom houses to our stock. The village is situated at the end of the Leeds In July 2017 the Chair of the Eldonian CBHA, Tony Liverpool canal and the Eldonians ,as part of the McGann was awarded “Freedom of the City of Phase 2 development, decided to make a feature Liverpool” and the Eldonian CBHA was admitted of the canal which at the time was in a very poor to “Liverpool City Councils – Freedom Roll of condition. The Eldonians canvassed to have the canal Association” in recognition of their outstanding cleared, decontaminated and landscaped, so that it contribution to the local community and for their could be brought back into use. Today this stretch of continuing role as Ambassadors for Liverpool. 5 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT PR E OUD TO ANNOUNC THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL PR E OUD TO ANNOUNC THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL Tony McGann (centre) receiving his “Freedom of the City of Liverpool Award ” from Lord Mayor Councillor Malcolm Kennedy and City Mayor Councillor Joe Anderson. I would like to thank the City of The ceremony took place on 1st July 2017 and was Liverpool and in particular Liverpool a great success, the pomp and ceremony of the City Mayor Joe Anderson for awarding mayoral procession, complementing the me Freedom of the City. entertainment provided by children from The Trinity Primary School. We actively aimed to make this a But also, more importantly, for awarding the “Fun Day” for the whole community and by this Eldonian Housing Association Ltd. “Freedom Roll of I mean the whole community not just those of us Association”, thereby recognising the important role who live on the Village. our community has played and continues to play, in the regeneration of our great City. I am grateful that so many turned up to witness the ceremony and enjoy the bouncy castles, face I understand that we are the only Housing painting and all the other activities provided free Association ever to receive such an honour. of charge on the day. At a time when there are so many problems both at home and abroad it was I have been lucky enough to have received many great to see so many of you enjoying yourselves. honours but this one was especially important to me, as my work on behalf of our community was The day took a lot of planning and I would like to being recognised by the people I care most about – thank everyone from the City, from the community the people of Liverpool. and my staff (especially George Evans) for a truly unforgettable day. These ceremonies usually take place in the Town Hall but for the first time ever the City allowed us to hold the ceremony outside and within our community.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Evolution of Personal Pledging for the Freemen of Norwich, 1365-1441
    Quidditas Volume 39 Article 6 2018 The Evolution of Personal Pledging for the Freemen of Norwich, 1365-1441 Ruth H. Frost University of British Columbia Okanagan Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/rmmra Part of the Comparative Literature Commons, History Commons, Philosophy Commons, and the Renaissance Studies Commons Recommended Citation Frost, Ruth H. (2018) "The Evolution of Personal Pledging for the Freemen of Norwich, 1365-1441," Quidditas: Vol. 39 , Article 6. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/rmmra/vol39/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Quidditas by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Quidditas 39 94 The Evolution of Personal Pledging for the Freemen of Norwich, 1365-1441 Ruth H. Frost University of British Columbia Okanagan This paper examines the evolution of the personal pledging system used by newly admitted freemen, or citizens, of Norwich between 1365 and 1441. It argues that in the late fourteenth century new freemen chose their own sureties, and a large, diverse body of men acted as their pledges. The personal pledging system changed early in the fifteenth century, however, and from 1420 to 1441 civic office holders, particularly the sheriffs, served as the vast majority of pledges. This alteration to the pledging system coincided with changes to the structure and composition of Norwich’s government, and it paralleled a decrease in opportunities for the majority of Norwich’s freemen to participate in civic government.1 On September 14, 1365, thirteen men came before Norwich’s assembly and swore their oaths as new freemen of the city.2 They promised to pay entrance fees ranging from 13s.
    [Show full text]
  • Wales and Slavery-2007
    A Wales Office Publication Wales and SLAVERY Marking 200 years since the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act Foreword The Slave Compensation Commission here can be few episodes in the history of the world that Thave been more shameful or inhuman than the The Wales Office has its own direct historic link with the abolition transatlantic slave trade. of the slave trade. Gwydyr House – home to the Wales Office in Whitehall, London Wales was part of this: Welsh men and women made large – was used to accommodate the Slave Compensation Commission profits from slavery. Equally people from Wales fought hard for for part of its life in the 19th Century. its abolition, with 1807 marking the beginning of the long road to the eventual abolition of slavery within the former British The Commission was one of the more controversial outcomes Empire by 1833. of the abolition of slavery. It was established in 1833 following the decision by the British Government to set aside £20 million Today, it is difficult to understand how this appalling crime to compensate planters, slave traders and slave owners for the against humanity - fuelled by racism and greed - was ever abolition. Today that figure would equate to £2billion. Nothing acceptable, let alone legal. But what is even harder to was ever awarded to a former slave. comprehend is that, although slavery was finally legally abolished after a long struggle in the Americas in 1888, it still continues in practice today. Over 20 million people across the world are estimated still to be suffering in the miserable daily reality of slavery and servitude.
    [Show full text]
  • (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Court of Common Council, 05/03
    Public Document Pack PLEASE BRING THIS AGENDA WITH YOU 1 The Lord Mayor will take the Chair at ONE of the clock in the afternoon precisely. COMMON COUNCIL SIR/MADAM, You are desired to be at a Court of Common Council, at GUILDHALL, on THURSDAY next, the 5th day of March, 2020. JOHN BARRADELL, Town Clerk & Chief Executive. Guildhall, Wednesday 26th February 2020 Vincent Thomas Keaveny Aldermen on the Rota The Rt Hon. the Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal, QC 2 1 Apologies 2 Declarations by Members under the Code of Conduct in respect of any items on the agenda 3 Minutes To agree the minutes of the meeting of the Court of Common Council held on 16 January 2020. For Decision (Pages 1 - 16) 4 Resolutions on Retirements, Congratulatory Resolutions, Memorials 5 Mayoral Visits The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor to report on his recent overseas visits. 6 Policy Statement To receive a statement from the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee. 7 Docquets for the Hospital Seal 8 The Freedom of the City To consider a circulated list of applications for the Freedom of the City. For Decision (Pages 17 - 22) 9 Legislation To receive a report setting out measures introduced into Parliament which may have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation. For Information (Pages 23 - 24) 10 Ballot Results The Town Clerk to report the outcome of the ballot taken at the last Court: Where appropriate:- * denotes a Member standing for re-appointment; denotes appointed. Two Members to the Trust for London.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedom, N. : Oxford English Dictionary 2/20/20, 13:15
    freedom, n. : Oxford English Dictionary 2/20/20, 13:15 Oxford English Dictionary | The definitive record of the English language freedom, n. Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈfriːdəm/, U.S. /ˈfridəm/ Forms: α. eOE freodoom, eOE friadom, OE freodum (rare), OE freogdom (in a late copy), OE freohdom (rare), OE freowdom (probably transmission error), OE frigedom (rare), OE–eME freodom, OE–eME friodom, lOE frigdom, lOE frydom, lOE–eME fridom, eME friedom, ME ffredam, ME ffredom, ME fredam, ME fredame, ME fredowm, ME fredowme, ME freedam, ME freodam, ME–15 ffredome, ME–16 fredome, ME–16 freedome, ME–18 fredom, ME– freedom, 15–16 freedoom, 15–16 freedoome, 16 ffreedom, 16 ffreedome; Scottish pre-17 freddome, pre-17 fredom, pre-17 fredome, pre-17 fredoum, pre-17 fredoume, pre- 17 fredowm, pre-17 fredowme, pre-17 fredum, pre-17 fredume, pre-17 fredwm, pre-17 fredwme, pre-17 freedome, pre-17 freidom, pre-17 freidome, pre-17 fridome, pre-17 friedom, pre-17 friedome, pre-17 17– freedom. β. southern ME uridom, ME vridom. Frequency (in current use): Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymons: FREE adj., -DOM suffix. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian frīdōm (West Frisian frijdom ), Middle Dutch vrīdoem , vrīdom (Dutch vrijdom , vrijdoom , now rare and archaic), Middle Low German vrīdōm , Old High German frītuom (Middle High German vrītuom ) < the Germanic base of FREE adj. + the Germanic base of -DOM suffix. Compare also Old Frisian frīhēd (West Frisian frijheid ), Middle Dutch vrīheid (Dutch vrijheid ), Middle Low German vrīhēt , vrīheit ( > Old Swedish frihet (Swedish frihet )), Old High German frīheit (Middle High German vrīheit , German Freiheit ), and the Germanic forms cited at FRELS v.
    [Show full text]
  • (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Court of Aldermen, 11/05/2021 12:30
    Public Document Pack COURT OF ALDERMEN SIR/MADAM YOUR Worship is desired to be at a public meeting of the Court of Aldermen on Tuesday next, the 11th day of MAY, 2021. The public meeting will be accessible at: https://youtu.be/J6vJYUjKhqo The Lord Mayor will take the Chair at 12.30 pm of the clock in the afternoon precisely. (if unable to attend please inform the Town Clerk at once.) TIM ROLPH, Swordbearer. Swordbearer’s Office, Mansion House, Tuesday, 4th May 2021 1 Question - That the minutes of the last Courts held on 16 March 2021 and 12 April 2021 are an accurate record? (Pages 7 - 12) 2 Resolutions on Retirements, Congratulatory Resolutions, memorials, etc. 3 The Chamberlain to make the prescribed declaration under the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868 4 Mr Chamberlain's list of Applicants for the Freedom of the City:- Name Occupation Address Company Jenny Louise Adin- an Embroiderer Merstham, Redhill, Broderers Christie Surrey Vikas Aggarwal a Government Southwark International Bankers Accountant Andrew John Lorne a Solicitor and Ealing Arbitrators Aglionby Arbitrator 2 Name Occupation Address Company Philip James Ambler a Policy Consultant Sevenoaks, Kent Spectacle Makers Maria Eugenia Baker a Paper Conservator Chiswick Tin Plate Workers Alias Wire Workers Judith Margaret a Meat Retail Reading, Berkshire Butchers Batchelar, OBE Company Director Benjamin Bayer a Farmer Blandford, Dorset Butchers Nichola Anne Begg a Sales Manager Chippenham, Wiltshire Information Technologists Mark Lafe Berman a Lawyer Golders Green Solicitors Roger Clive
    [Show full text]
  • Peterborough City Council on Council Size to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
    AB Submission by Peterborough City Council on Council Size to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England 1. Introduction and Background This document sets out Peterborough City Council’s submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) on council size. On 21 May 2012, the LGBCE advised the council that it intended to carry out a Further Electoral Review of the council due to a number of imbalances in the councillor: elector ratios resulting in both over-represented and under-represented areas. In eight of the city’s 24 wards the electoral variance is in excess of 10 per cent from the average for the city as a whole and in one ward (Orton with Hampton), the variance is greater than 30 per cent. This submission has been developed by a cross-party group of councillors and has been agreed at a meeting of the Full Council on 10 July 2013. The submission has been informed by: • Briefings provided by the LGBCE to all councillors, including parish councillors and key officers • Current and projected electorate figures • The work of the cross-party Councillors Electoral Review Group, who met on a number of occasions between March and June 2013 The last Review on the electoral arrangements for Peterborough local authority area was carried out by the Boundary Committee for England (BCFE) and completed in July 2002. The main final recommendations of that review were that: “Peterborough City Council should have 57 councillors, the same as at present; there should be 24 wards, the same as at present.” At the time of that review, the electorate totalled 109,100 (February 2001), and was estimated to grow to 117,990 by 2006.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedom by Servitude.Pdf
    FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LONDON BY S E R V I T U D E When you have received the freedom of your livery company you may proceed to the freedom of the City of London. You are eligible for the freedom of the City by servitude if you have served a term of apprenticeship according to Custom of London; above the age of 21 years; never having been adjudged bankrupt and never having been convicted of a criminal offence. (Applicants need not disclose convictions which are spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.) ONE personal visit to the office of the Chamberlain's Court, Guildhall, (north wing) is required. Freedom admissions cannot be made by post or proxy. By appointment only, telephone 020 7332 1008, and ask for an appointment for admission to the freedom by servitude, or by arrangement with the livery company. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED If indentures were inroled If indentures were not inroled Certificate of livery company Certificate of livery company freedom freedom City indentures City indentures Full birth/adoption certificate Master's copy of freedom A woman who is or who has been married should bring her marriage certificate or divorce order. If the master is not in attendance at the Chamberlain's Court when the apprentice receives the freedom of the City of London, the master should provide written evidence that the term has been faithfully and fully served. Printed forms for this purpose may be obtained at no cost from the Chamberlain's Court. Alternatively, the testimony may be written on the reverse of the indenture to be presented for the freedom of the City.
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Agreement Northern Irish Literature
    NEW DIRECTIONS IN IRISH AND IRISH AMERICAN LITERATURE POST-AGREEMENT NORTHERN IRISH LITERATURE Lost in a Liminal Space? Birte Heidemann New Directions in Irish and Irish American Literature Series editor Claire Culleton Kent State University Kent , OH , USA Aim of the Series: New Directions in Irish and Irish American Literature promotes fresh scholarship that explores models of Irish and Irish American identity and examines issues that address and shape the contours of Irishness and works that investigate the fl uid, shifting, and sometimes multivalent discipline of Irish Studies. Politics, the academy, gender, and Irish and Irish American culture, among other things, have not only inspired but affected recent scholarship centred on Irish and Irish American literature. The series’ focus on Irish and Irish American literature and culture contributes to our twenty-fi rst century understanding of Ireland, America, Irish Americans, and the creative, intellectual, and theoretical spaces between. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/14747 Birte Heidemann Post-Agreement Northern Irish Literature Lost in a Liminal Space? Birte Heidemann Postdoctoral Researcher University of Bremen , Germany New Directions in Irish and Irish American Literature ISBN 978-3-319-28990-8 ISBN 978-3-319-28991-5 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-28991-5 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016939246 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016 The author(s) has/have asserted their right(s) to be identifi ed as the author(s) of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This work is subject to copyright.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Inns Are Mentioned in the Civic Records of the City of Norwich From
    Early Theatre 10.1 (2007) JENNIFER ROBERTS-SMITH The Red Lion and the White Horse: Inns Used by Patronized Performers in Norwich, 1583–1624 Two inns are mentioned in the civic records of the city of Norwich from 1540 to 1642, both in connection with the criminal activities of the companies per- forming in them. The Red Lion is notorious for the murder that ensued from a brawl between the newly-formed Queen’s Men and certain members of their audience; and the White Horse was the venue favoured by companies with forged or out-of-date licenses. Read in isolation, the documentary evidence about performances in these inns implies they belonged to a distinct category of venue, a category that did not share the social and physical advantages of the other venues used by patronized companies within the city limits between 1540 and 1642. These others were the Norwich Guildhall; the New or Com- mon Hall, which had been the nave of the Blackfriars’ priory; the cathedral precincts; the Duke of Norfolk’s palace; and the more elusive ‘Master Cast- lydens’.1 But non-theatrical documentary and material records relating to the Red Lion and the White Horse also survive. They include the sixteenth-cen- tury Norwich landgables (or property tax assessments); early deeds, wills, and probate inventories; reports on modern archaeological investigations; and the architecture and layout of the modern city. These sources provide evidence about each inn’s location, function, and dimensions; its ownership, status in the community, and relationship to the city government; its popularity as a performance venue; and its fate in later centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • The Slave Trade and the British Empire
    The Slave Trade and the British Empire An Audit of Commemoration in Wales Task and Finish Group Report and Audit 26 November 2020 The Slave Trade and the British Empire An Audit of Commemoration in Wales Report and Audit The Task and Finish Group: Gaynor Legall (Chair) Dr Roiyah Saltus Professor Robert Moore David Anderson Dr Marian Gwyn Naomi Alleyne Professor Olivette Otele Professor Chris Evans Supporting research and drafting was undertaken on behalf of the task and finish group by Dr Peter Wakelin. Front cover image – British Library, Mechanical Curator Collection © Crown copyright 2020 WG41703 Digital ISBN 978-1-80082-506-2 Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg / This document is also available in Welsh Contents 1. Background ............................................................................................................ 2 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 3 3. Scope ..................................................................................................................... 3 4. Method ................................................................................................................... 4 5. Audit results ........................................................................................................... 5 6. People who took part in the African slave trade (A)................................................ 6 7. People who owned or directly benefitted from plantations or mines worked by the enslaved
    [Show full text]
  • Journal, Issue No. 168: October 2011
    Freemen of England and Wales. Journal, issue no. 168: October 2011. Annual Record and Gazette With Compliments. ISSN 1749-4095 http://www.freemen-few.org.uk President's Letter. Greetings to all members. The AGM in Pembroke was a resounding success and a vote of thanks is richly deserved by Roy Folland and the Pembroke Freemen. We have truly turned the corner now and FEW is back to being the friendly association that we all knew and enjoyed. The seed was sown in Berwick upon Tweed last year where delegates enjoyed a more relaxed and harmonious weekend. This enabled delegates to book this year in the knowledge that everyone had a common purpose of proving that you can mix business and pleasure, and they succeeded. The over-riding achievement was the unanimous approval of all members voting, to adopt the new constitution. This significant review now protects all members from outside influence over FEW and ensures that all Gilds have a voice in future decisions. Full details are too many to list here but the full constitution is on the FEW website and will be issued to all members upon subscription renewal. Please take the time to study it if you can. The only drawback of a major review is that we ran out of time for other items such as the new legal panel, but these are still in progress. As my second year as President commences I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the last year and to ensure you all that I will be working hard to complete the projects in hand.
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Curiosities: Fact Or Fable?
    Legal Curiosities: Fact or Fable? This informal document has been produced by the Law Commission’s Statute Law Repeals team to answer some of the queries that they regularly receive about alleged old laws. Most of the curiosities below have no basis in the law as it currently stands, although a few represent the law as it used to be. This list does not purport to be definitive, and readers should not rely on it without conducting their own research. March 2013 Alleged law In force? Comment It is illegal to enter the Houses Yes The 1313 Statute Forbidding Bearing of Parliament wearing a suit of Armour forbids members of of armour. Parliament from wearing armour in the House. It is illegal to die in No The issue of dying in Parliament Parliament. appears to arise from the idea that anyone who dies in a Royal Palace is eligible for a state funeral. We have not been able to trace any such law, and neither have the House of Commons authorities.1 Under the Coroners Act 1988, the coroner of the Queen's household has jurisdiction over an inquest into a death in a royal palace. However, state funerals are not mandatory. There have been at least four deaths in the grounds of the Palace of Westminster: - Guy Fawkes and Sir Walter Raleigh were both executed in the Old Palace yard (the present buildings being the New Palace, built after the fire of 1834). - Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated, was shot and died in the lobby of the House of Commons in 1812.
    [Show full text]