And in the End - 1813

Although the official Court Leet records finish in 1813 the Leet did not disappear completely. Newspaper reports continue until around 1835.

The Preston Chronicle for Saturday, May 5th, 1832 gives

Court Leet. On Tuesday last, a Court Leet was opened at the Town Hall, for the purpose of appointing a jury, and officers for the ensuing year, to examine weights and measures, make presentments, and perform other duties for the well-being of the town. A number of respectable inhabitants, who had been convened for the purpose, were sworn in a as a jury, after which the following officers were appointed, and took the usual oaths: Messrs. Aldermen Troughton and Mounsey, appearers[sic]. (or moderators of fines, etc.); Thomas Walton, to be constable of the court; Joseph Brown, pinder (or impounder of cattle, etc.); William Topping, beadle, George Holt and James Nuttall, viewers of flesh and fish; Thos. Dewhurst and Henry Bowerbank, ale founders (or tasters); Thomas Heath, house lookers. The Mayor, in a brief address to the jury, stated that their principle duty would be to examine the weights and measures throughout the town, and he had no doubt that they would perform that arduous task with gentleness and forbearance. He would not have mentioned the circumstance were it not that some complaints had been made of severity, and perhaps excessive liberties taken in some cases by former juries, which might have been avoided without detriment to the public weal?. The Court then adjourned to Tuesday, the 3rd of July, it being understood that the jury would proceed with their business forthwith, so that time they would complete their visitations throughout the town.

The lack of control that the Court Leet had was highlighted in a case reported on 29th June, 1833. A Mr Valentine was accused of having weights under standard. After much discussion the court decided to allow Valentine to correct the weights and then have them returned to him. It was also mentioned that the magistrates had decided the case so the Court Leet jury was discharged.

Another article in the Chronicle, dated May 9th, 1835 concludes with

the powers of the Court Leet are, it appears, entirely regulated by custom or usage, and as most of the functions of that in Preston have long since devolved upon the Magistrates and the Quarter Session, and those that remain are useless or unpopular, it is probable that ere long the new Corporation Reform Bill* will give it the coup de grace." 

*this is probably referring to the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. Preston is specifically mentioned and the newspapers reports for Preston no longer mention the Court Leet & Baron. However, even after the Corporations Act came into being the the Corporation records for 1836 (CBP 1/1) mention that the Town Clerk duties should include attending the Mayor at the Court Leet & Court Baron. A possible slow death.

Other areas maintained their Court Leet for longer. Newspaper articles show that it continued in Penwortham continued until, at least, 30th October, 1847. "The Court afterwards enjoyed an excellent dinner at the Bridge Inn." Other articles show that it continued in Blackpool until 1853 and Kirkham until 1863.

So, why did it end? Preston had grown from a small market town to a rapidly growing, industrial town. The old structures could no longer adequately monitor and govern the town. Over the years the magistrates had acquired greater powers and subsumed many of the roles of the Leet. The Municipal Corporations Act was brought in to cover these points but also to break the control of cliques within the Towns and allow elections with the result based upon the votes of all ratepayers.

As a last comment. When it was suggested that, in Kirkham, the Court should rule on a particular case there was the comment "Court Leet. Humbug."