ABSTRACT
Touring England between 1535 and 1543, John Leland noticed how many castles had become ruinous. Even assize accommodation within royal castles was often neglected, and in the sixteenth century trials often moved instead to town halls. This chapter examines the accommodation provided for trials before 1700. It discusses the characteristics of the English legal system, tracing its history back to the early Middle Ages. The chapter shows how over this long period, the setting of the trial became more and more enclosed, shifting from the open air to the Great Hall and on towards the dedicated court building. In the second half of the sixteenth century the first purpose-built, permanently fitted courtrooms began to appear. By this point, information about trial procedures is also becoming more plentiful and shows how modifications made to cope with increasing business affected accommodation requirements.
