Durham_(County_Palatine)_Act_1836
Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836
United Kingdom legislation
The Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836[1] (6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 19) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It abolished the temporal authority of the Bishop of Durham within the County Palatine of Durham, placing the county under lay administration. Previously, since 1075, the so-called prince-bishops had substantial powers as earls "with the right to raise an army, mint his own coins, and levy taxes".[3][4]
It also disbanded the Court of the County of Durham, appointing the High Sheriff as judge of a regular county court.[5] Doubts about the construction of this Act led to the enactment of the Durham County Palatine Act 1858.[6]