Highways Act 1555
Encyclopedia
The Highways Act 1555 sometimes the First Statute of Highways, was an Act of Parliament
of the Parliament of England
passed in 1555 (and extended by the Highways Act 1562
). It placed the burden of upkeep of the highway
s on individual parish
es.
week, every parish was to elect "two honest persons" of the parish to serve as the Surveyor of Highways, who would be responsible for the upkeep of those highways within the parish boundaries which ran to market town
s.
The Surveyors would announce, on the first Sunday after Easter, four days before June 24th on which the maintenance work was to be carried out, and for these four days the whole parish was to work on the highways.
Every person, for every ploughland they held in the parish, and every other person keeping a draught or plough there, was to provide a cart or wain equipped for the work, and two able-bodied men, on a penalty of 10s per draught; the Surveyors could, at their discretion, require a further two men instead of the cart. Every other householder, as well as every other cottager and labourer free to labour, was to send themselves or a substitute able-bodied labourer to work for the four days, on a penalty of 12d per day apiece. All labourers were to provide their own equipment, and bound to work for eight hours each day upon the roads.
The Act was originally in force for seven years, but its provisions were extended to run for another twenty years by the Highways Act 1562
.
It was repealed by section 57 of the Act 7 Geo.3 c.42.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
passed in 1555 (and extended by the Highways Act 1562
Highways Act 1562
The Highways Act 1562 , sometimes the Second Statute of Highways, was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England passed in 1563...
). It placed the burden of upkeep of the highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s on individual parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es.
Clauses
The Act enacted that each year, in the EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week, every parish was to elect "two honest persons" of the parish to serve as the Surveyor of Highways, who would be responsible for the upkeep of those highways within the parish boundaries which ran to market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
s.
The Surveyors would announce, on the first Sunday after Easter, four days before June 24th on which the maintenance work was to be carried out, and for these four days the whole parish was to work on the highways.
Every person, for every ploughland they held in the parish, and every other person keeping a draught or plough there, was to provide a cart or wain equipped for the work, and two able-bodied men, on a penalty of 10s per draught; the Surveyors could, at their discretion, require a further two men instead of the cart. Every other householder, as well as every other cottager and labourer free to labour, was to send themselves or a substitute able-bodied labourer to work for the four days, on a penalty of 12d per day apiece. All labourers were to provide their own equipment, and bound to work for eight hours each day upon the roads.
The Act was originally in force for seven years, but its provisions were extended to run for another twenty years by the Highways Act 1562
Highways Act 1562
The Highways Act 1562 , sometimes the Second Statute of Highways, was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England passed in 1563...
.
It was repealed by section 57 of the Act 7 Geo.3 c.42.