Legal Languages

The museum's collection has over a hundred deeds relating to the history of Agecroft Hall, both the land and the people associated with the house over its many centuries. Our oldest deed is from the 1270s and the first mention of Agecroft, or ‘Achecroft’, can be found in a deed from 1376. These deeds detail everything from court cases, land disputes, rents, marriage contracts, and royal pardons. Our last deed dates from the first half of the 19th century.

We know these deeds and documents were all at Agecroft Hall in 1886 as a Mr. J.P Earwaker, M.A, F.S.A., took the time to inventory, date, summarize, and translate the documents that were held in the muniment room, a room specifically used to store and display historical documents and records. He found 560 total documents, and worked with 386, which were specifically about Agecroft lands and people. The others did not have to do with Agecroft. Our current deeds collection includes the deeds we own as well as a large collection on long-term loan from the Hogg family. The rest of the Agecroft documents inventoried by Earwacker are in the archives at Chetham’s Library in Manchester.

One way to divide the documents is by the language in which they are written. The three most common languages are Latin, Norman French, and English. Latin was the legal language of England throughout its early history. It was the language of the Catholic Church, as well, which was the official church of England until the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547). All legal and official documents were written in Latin until the 12th century and Latin is still used on some official documents today.

Document #35

Latin - 1371

An acknowledgment that Margaret Prestwich became a nun at Seaton in 1360.

Norman French, also known as Anglo-Norman, was introduced to England in 1066 when William the Conqueror, from Normandy, invaded England. This language became the language of those in the highest social classes in medieval England and was used in legal documents beginning in the 12th century. Personal correspondence was also usually written in Norman French. Use of this language eventually died out in the early 15th century.

Document #54

Norman French - 1391

Agreement between William de Atherton, Esq., the elder, and Roger de Longlegh, wherby the said Roger grants to the said William the marriage of Robert, his [Roger] son and heir apparent, to be married to Katherine, daughter of said William.

English is now considered the official language of the United Kingdom. Although it has been spoken for a very long time, the language evolved to its present written form beginning in the 15th century. Older legal documents, although written in English, can be hard to read as they were written in a very formulaic legal language. But, once you know the formula, the documents are easy enough to figure out! As with all evolving languages, words change meaning and spelling varies greatly, which makes centuries old documents harder to read and understand, even if written in one’s native language.

Document #96

English - 1507

Petition to the King, by Robert Longley, son and heir of John Longley.

These documents are a very important part of our collection and a lot of our information about the families of Agecroft have come from them. Next time you are here, be sure to look at the documents currently on display!