As
previously reported everyone in Chester knows this is true. Now there is an
official government statement about this:
Is it legal to shoot a
Welshman with a longbow on
Sunday in the Cathedral
Close in Hereford; or inside
the city walls of Chester after
midnight; or a Scotsman
within the city walls of York,
other than on a Sunday?
It is illegal to shoot a Welsh or
Scottish (or any other) person
regardless of the day, location or
choice of weaponry. The idea that it
may once have been allowed in
Chester appears to arise from a
reputed City Ordinance of 1403,
passed in response to the Glyndŵr
Rising, and imposing a curfew on
Welshmen in the city. However, it is
not even clear that this Ordinance
ever existed. Sources for the other
cities are unclear; Hereford, like
Chester, was frequently under attack
from Wales during the medieval
period.
Unlawful killings are today covered by
the criminal law; see also Art. 2 of the
European Convention on Human
Rights on the right to life.
But some silly laws
actually are true:
It is illegal to beat or shake
any carpet or rug in any
street. However, beating or
shaking a doormat is allowed
before 8am.
This is an offence under s60 of the
Metropolitan Police Act 1839. In other
districts, it is an offence under s28 of
the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.
Other offences covered by s28
include:
- keeping a pigsty in front of
your house;
- slaughtering cattle in the
street;
- erecting a washing line across
the street;
- singing profane or obscene
songs or ballads in the street;
- wilfully and wantonly
disturbing people by ringing
their doorbells or knocking at
their doors.
This
New York Times article has more details about other unusual laws.
