The first record of a town court [portmanmoot] was in c1130
by the reign of Edward I [1272-1307] there were 2 courts: the Monday or King's Court heard primarily what are now considered as criminal offences and the Friday or Mayor's Court heard mainly civil actions
the Monday Court was further divided into 2 depending on whether cases were initiated by writ or not, the former becoming known as the Hustings Court after the Charter of 1327
the frequency and business of both courts increased sharply in the late-16th and early-17th centuries but declined in the 18th century, the Monday Court ceasing in about 1851
in 1864 the procedure of the Mayors Court was reformed to bring it into line with county courts but no further proceedings were recorded after 1878
Courts Leet were held for the 4 wards of the City - the Aldermans Court Leet - and for external areas under the City's jurisdiction - Northgate Hundred Court Leet
the courts usually met once a year in October and were adjourned until November for the assessment of fines; the ward constables listed all the male inhabitants between the ages of 12 and 60, and there were fines for non-attendance
the presentments were the usual ones of nuisances, such as obstructions and dunghills, and failure to repair streets
both courts were discontinued in 1839
for further information see VCH Oxon vol 4 pp 336-340
also available online at https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol4/pp336-340
Material relating to the Hustings and Mayors Courts can also be found in the following documents: OCA4/3/A25/2 [lists of officers and suitors in the Hustings Court 1469-73] OCA4/3/A25/4 [Hester's list of Hustings Rolls 1290-1341] OCA4/2/A1/3 [including lists of suitors in the Hustings and Mayors Courts 1520-91, Mayors Court proceedings 1528-35, Hustings Court proceedings 1514-1608] OCA4/2/A1/4 [including pleas of land in the Hustings Courts 1588-1689]
Recatalogued with additions by Chris Gilliam August 2022