Legal Definitions - time of memory

Definition: Time of memory refers to a point in time that is so far back that no living person has knowledge or proof contradicting the right or custom alleged to have existed since then. It can also refer to a point in time beyond which legal memory cannot go or a very long time.

• According to common law, time immemorial was fixed as the year 1189, the year that Henry II of England died. This means that any right or custom that has been in existence since that time is considered valid and cannot be challenged.
• Legal memory in England and Wales extends back to the year 1285. This means that any legal claim or dispute that arose before that time is considered to be outside the scope of legal memory and cannot be enforced.
• The ancient ruins of Stonehenge have been standing for a time of memory, as they were built over 4,000 years ago.

These examples illustrate the concept of time of memory by showing how it is used to establish the validity of rights and customs, as well as the limits of legal memory. They also demonstrate how it can refer to a very long time, such as the age of ancient monuments like Stonehenge.