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Regional and National Histories: Similarities and Differences between the Coroners of Northern Britain

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The Coroners of Northern Britain c. 1300–1700

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Abstract

This chapter teases out some intriguing similarities in the functions of coroners in northern England, Wales and Scotland up to the sixteenth century, arguing that certain regions of Britain shared important characteristics, which made them different from southern and Midland England. In particular, peace-keeping in the north and west of Britain involved kin and lords, whereas in the south and east responsibility for local enforcement lay with communities. The coroners of the north of England and Scotland shared broadly similar administrative, judicial and military (including law and order) duties until the sixteenth century. Only then did all English coroners come to deal primarily with sudden, suspicious or unexplained deaths.

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  1. University of St Andrews, UK

    R. A. Houston (Professor of Early Modern History)

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© 2014 R. A. Houston

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Houston, R.A. (2014). Regional and National Histories: Similarities and Differences between the Coroners of Northern Britain. In: The Coroners of Northern Britain c. 1300–1700. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137381071_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137381071_6

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-47952-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-38107-1

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