Legal Definitions - charter-land

Definition: Charter-land refers to land that is held under a charter or deed, which is also known as freehold land. This type of land ownership is usually reserved for churches and leaders and is a privileged form of ownership that is free of customary burdens on land.

Examples: In medieval England, land was divided into three types: bocland, folcland, and laenland. Bocland was held by owners of high station claiming under a charter of privileges originally granted by the King. Folcland was held by ordinary owners according to the custom of the district in which the land lay. Laenland, or loanland, represented something in the nature of a tenancy of a less enduring character.

Explanation: The examples illustrate the different types of land ownership in medieval England. Bocland was a type of charter-land that was held by owners of high station, while folcland was held by ordinary owners according to the custom of the district. Laenland was a type of loanland that represented a tenancy of a less enduring character. These different types of land ownership had different rights and obligations attached to them, and they were an important part of the feudal system that existed in medieval England.