Legal Definitions - court of ancient demesne

Definition: The Court of Ancient Demesne was a court composed of freeholders who owned land held by the Crown, known as an ancient demesne. These freeholders acted as judges in a similar way to those in a court baron of an ordinary manor.

Example: In medieval England, the Court of Ancient Demesne was established to handle legal disputes among freeholders who owned land that had been granted to them by the Crown. For example, if a dispute arose between two freeholders over the boundaries of their land, they would bring their case before the Court of Ancient Demesne to be resolved.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the Court of Ancient Demesne was used to settle legal disputes among freeholders who owned land granted by the Crown. The court was made up of these freeholders who acted as judges, similar to a court baron. The Court of Ancient Demesne was an important institution in medieval England, as it helped to maintain order and resolve disputes among landowners.