Portland Hcebe Jtaff anfc Court 

 Eect. 



By CAPT. /. E. ACLAND, F.S.A. 



20. Feb., 1917). 



[EFORE describing the Portland Reeve Staffs, the 

 property of the Dorset County Museum, 

 something should be said of the Portland 

 Court Leet, which is perpetuated on the 

 Island not merely as a relic of antiquity, 

 but as an active authority " It is of 

 Saxon origin, and deals with the Rights, 

 Dues, Practices and Customs of the Manor, 

 and with the Control and Management of 

 the Commonable Lands." Two Courts are 

 held every year, the authority of the Court being vested in 

 24 Jurymen and a Foreman, chosen from the Tenants, or 

 Landowners of the Manor. 



By the kind permission of Mr. John Pearce, of Stonecleve, I. of 

 P., much use has been made of a pamphlet entitled " The History 

 of Portland Court Leet," re-printed from " The Portland Year Book," 

 1905, and published by H. C. Murray, Straits, Isle of Portland, 

 Price 6d. 



