The Fire Courts – Successfully Delivering Justice in a Time of Plague and Fire (Online)

A lecture by Professor Jay Tidmarsh, Notre Dame Law School

1665 had been a devastating Plague Year. 1666 was going that way and then the Great Fire destroyed seven eighths of London. The international scene was bleak. False rumour was rife and foreign skulduggery blamed. Professor Tidmarsh will explain how a six section Act of Parliament set up the Fire Courts which unclogged the Courts and succeeded in resolving a tsunami of disputes in a remarkably short time.

The Selden Society and the historical societies of the four Inns of Court have joined forces to establish a new series of annual lectures open to scholars, members and students of the Inns and the general public to show the relevance of a wider understanding of Legal History.

In this first talk Professor Tidmarsh will consider the genesis and impact of the Fire of London Disputes Act 1666 and how the ‘Fire Courts’ helped to quickly and acceptably resolve disputes and allow the City of London and the courts to get back to business within surprisingly short time.

This event is open to all and is a free event but booking is essential.