Vice-Chancellor's Court

[yelkcub]

I've recently come across a Times article from 1861, reporting on a case before the Vice-Chancellor's court. The case concerned a trust fund, and a claim by some of the recipients that other presumed recipients were illegitimate and therefore ineligible to receive funds from the trust. Was the Vice-Chancellor's court civil or ecclesiastical? What kind of cases were brought before such a court, and is it possible that records of these courts survive?
Grateful for help
Ian

[michaelpipe]

This extract refers to Cambridge University, but it describes the function of the Vice Chancellor's Court in that institution.

"This was technically the Chancellor's Court, but was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor by the sixteenth century. From successive monarchs it accrued wide-ranging civil and ecclesiastical powers to try cases affecting University members and other privileged persons in the areas of felony, probate, licensing, morality and discipline. It could suspend from degrees and imprison, though any such sentence was ineffectual unless agreed to by a majority of the heads of Colleges."

from http:
//janus.lib.cam.ac.uk[/url] Vice-Chancellor's Court records

Michael

[Peter Goodey]

This extract refers to Cambridge University

Wrong sort of Vice Chancellor, I'm afraid ;)

The one Ian wants would be this one -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_of_the_High_Court

Chancery Division is described here -

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/chancery.htm


"Trusts" is at the top of their list of duties

[michaelpipe]

Thanks Peter,

Michael

[yelkcub]

Many thanks Michael and Peter - just what I needed to help make sense of the document I am working with
Best wishes
Ian