Strange old English laws still around

[zzr1200]

Ancient law requires a bale of straw to hang from Blackfriars Bridge

River traffic passing under the bridge is being warned of restricted headroom using one of London’s oddest surviving traditions.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I read this one too....my thoughts was that if it worked why change it!

 

[gaz1]

the fruit stealing law where people can be jailed for picking over hanging fruit thats crossed over the boundary

that law is 2 faced when they wont clean up there branches or the leaves yearly but can do the above

its the same with home owners who grow trees in there garden and should maintain them and remove there over grown stuff thats crossed the boundary line


yes i know many will not like this rule

 

[zzr1200]

I read this one too....my thoughts was that if it worked why change it!

It would be interesting to see the sites H&S justification write up for this one, under modern day working practices.

 

[hotponyshoes]

If a horse loses a shoe on a public highway it's still legal for a farrier to hold up pedestrians or traffic to put it back on..

 

[cheb]

Ancient law requires a bale of straw to hang from Blackfriars Bridge

River traffic passing under the bridge is being warned of restricted headroom using one of London’s oddest surviving traditions.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Less gruesome than an Italian banker.

 

[badabec]

Wanton and furious cycling is a good old law.

 

[Nomad]

Many years ago I was told York city had some oddball old laws. A quick look says they were going to be updated in 2019 (I've not checked to see if they actually got taken off the statue books or if they're still valid.

From 2019 article : https://metro.co.uk/2012/04/04/scot...elax-in-york-as-archaic-laws-face-axe-375726/

It is still technically legal to kill Scots in York, as long as they are carrying a bow and arrow,...

Lots more articles about "Top 10 most ridiculous laws from ancient times that are still active"

https://search.brave.com/search?q=uk+the+most+obscure+old+laws

For background, UK* in 2012 was creating new laws at the rate of one every 3 + quarter hours (*I was told this by somebody on the forum, newspaper articles confirm)

The Blair years: new law passed every three hours

In his ten years as Prime Minister, Tony Blair has introduced a new law every three-and-a- quarter hours, new research reveals.

www.standard.co.uk

* I'll not name names, plenty of news articles online will confirm the details.

It makes a mockery of trying to remove a handful of laws from medieval times when so much "fluff" is being added every day.


No politics intended, I just found it fascinating to learn that it's illegal to be drunk in any public place in including a pub!

 

[arther dailey]

supposedly you are allowed to relieve your self on the nearside ear wheel of your carriage

 

[Melvyn Best]

supposedly you are allowed to relieve your self on the nearside ear wheel of your carriage

I thought that only applied to certain professions?

 

[Porkypine]

I believe up until the 1990s you could still be done for being ''an incorrigable rogue''

 

[Porkypine]

supposedly you are allowed to relieve your self on the nearside ear wheel of your carriage

We kept this one in reserve on numerous occasions, but were never actually challenged 'in the act' ( quite disappointing really )

 

[brightspark]

supposedly you are allowed to relieve your self on the nearside ear wheel of your carriage

yea but get done for flashing

 

[Nomad]

yea but get done for flashing

An ex of mine was a bus driver ( cute, slim, very much female as confirmed by several drivers who saw her driving a bus load of us to a party - her wearing a revealing PVC outfit and a big smile).
She always told me the law was drivers could make use of the front offside wheel - then asked how she as a lady could perform said gymnastics.
Thinking about it, the rear nearside wheel makes more sense, the front is in full view of the passengers

Fun fact (confirm for yourself) : it's impossible for ladies to be convicted of indecent exposure as their "indecent bits" are internal. Only blokes can be convicted...

 

[fizzy]

One for Scotland - sums them up really

Following the 1560 Scottish Reformation, "Yule" was deemed too excessive and Roman Catholic. In 1640, the Scottish Parliament made celebrating Christmas illegal, with penalties including fines and imprisonment. The ban remained in effect for centuries, with Christmas only becoming a public holiday again in 1958.

 

[jsf55]

When i was a wee lad living in Aberdeen it was quite normal too have gifts on Christmas and new year as it was still 'changing over' and of course the scots being canny still kept the extra days holiday !

 

[Erie Fred]

No politics intended, I just found it fascinating to learn that it's illegal to be drunk in any public place in including a pub!

Ron white did a comedy about being thrown out of a bar, into public....

Amish get drunk, it's hilarious to see the buggy going down the road, drunk people
hanging out on either side...
The Horse get's them home safely.

However, Amish have been charged with being "drunk in public" and have
to attend court ordered AA meetings. One was at my fathers meeting, got a ride
to the location.

 

[Cobbler]

supposedly you are allowed to relieve your self on the nearside ear wheel of your carriage

Where I worked years ago, one of the guys was assisting the driver, needed to go. Driver pulls up, passenger jumps out & starts peeing against the rear wheel & the driver drives off leaving the guy in full flow in full visibility. He wasn’t happy.

 

[Bullet2012]

Under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, it’s illegal to shake or beat a doormat on the street after 8am. Originally introduced to help keep streets clean.

 

[rtcosic]

Wanton and furious cycling is a good old law.

No. 2 son is a JP. He has been itching to preside over such a case, but he can find no case on record before the Warwickshire bench since WWII. He gave up checking further back.

Other Benches and Force areas may have more clued up officers, and if so, I would love to have the reference for him.