Fire of London Disputes Act 1666

Recital that Suits and Differences are likely to arise in consequence of the late Fire.

Three or more of the Judges made a Court.; Their Power; Times, Places, and Manner of Proceedings.; Order of the said Court final, except as after mentioned.; No Writ of Error or Certiorari.

Whereas the greatest part of the Houses in the Citty of London and some in the Suburbs thereof have beene burnt by the dreadfull and dismall Fire which happened in September last Many of the Tennants Under tennants or late Occupiers whereof are lyeable unto Suites and Actions to compell them to repaire and rebuild the same and to pay their Rents as if the same had not beene burned and are not releiveable therein in any ordinary course of Law and great Differences are like to arise concerning the said Repaires and new Building of the said Houses and payment of Rents which if they should not be determined with all speede and without charge would much obstruct the rebuilding of the said Citty. And for that it is just that every one concerned should beare a proportionable share of the losse according to their severall Interests wherein in respect of the multitude of cases varying in their circumstances noe certaine generall rule can be prescribed Bee it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and of the Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That the Justices of the Courts of Kings Bench and Common Pleas and the Barons of the Coife of the Exchequer for the time being or any three or more of them sitting at the same time and place and not otherwise shall be and are hereby authorized [X1 from time to time] to heare and to determine all Differences and Demands whatsoever which have arisen or may any way arise betweene Landlords Proprietors Tennants Lessees Under Tennants or late Occupiers of any the said Houses or Buildings with their appurtenances or the Courts or Yards Grounds and Wharfes or any person or persons haveing or claiming any Estate Right Title Interest in Law or Equity or Trust Charge or Incumbrance of or in the same or their or any of their Heires Executors Administrators Successors or Assignes or any other persons for touching or concerning the repaireing building or rebuilding of the said Houses or Buildings Yards Courts Grounds and Wharfes, or any other Grounds lyeing within that part of the Citty and Suburbs thereof lately burnt pulled downe or otherwise demolished defaced or otherwise ruined by reason of the said Fire or for or concerning the payment defalcation apportioning or abatement of any Rent or Rents other then Arreares of Rent onely due before the First day of September One thousand six hundred sixty and six, or for or touching any Covenant Condition or Penalty relateing thereunto, or for touching or concerning the prefixing or limitting of any time for such Repaires or new Building Rebuilding or any Rate or Contribution to be borne or paid thereunto by any person or persons Bodyes pollitique or corporate interessed in the Premisses, and all Incidents relateing thereunto, And that they or any three or more of them from time to time, and at such place or places as they or any three or more of them shall thinke fitt from time to time with or without any Adjournment summarily and sine forma et figura judicij and without the formalities of proceedings in Courts of Law or Equity shall and may upon the verdict or inquisition of Jurors testimony of witnesses upon oath, Examination of partyes interessed, or by all or any of the said wayes or otherwise according to their Discretions proceede to the hearing and determining of the Demands or Differences betweene the said Partyes concerning the premisses, and that the definitive Order of the said Justices and Barons or any three or more of them as aforesaid shall bee finall as betweene the said partyes their Heires Executors Administrators Successors and Assignes and all claiming by from or under them as touching the matters contained in such Orders from which there shall be noe Appeale or Review otherwise then as is hereafter mentioned Nor shall any Writt of Error or Certioriari lye for the removall or reversall of the same.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.