13th century court post and site of law court, 'Rochford Lawless Court', King's Hill (EHER 19766)

The Lawless Court, a court leet for the Honour of Rayleigh, was held at King’s Hill, East Street (EHER 26408), in the open air, from midnight to cock-crow on the 1st Wednesday after Michaelmas. Proceedings were conducted in a conspiratorial whisper. The Whispering or Lawless Court Post which stands in the garden was originally erected at King’s Hill, Rayleigh (1216-1272), and moved to Rochford with the court proceedings in the fifteenth century.

The Lawless Court, a court leet for the Honour of Rayleigh, whose late survival and peculiar customs attracted antiquarian interest, was transferred from Rayleigh to Rochford in the fifteenth century. It was held at King’s Hill, East Street (EHER 26408), in the open air, from midnight to cock-crow on the 1st Wednesday after Michaelmas, proceedings were conducted in a conspiratorial whisper. King’s Hill house is dated to around 1300 or earlier, with later additions and alterations. The Whispering or Lawless Court Post which stands in the garden was originally erected at King’s Hill, Rayleigh (1216-1272), and moved to Rochford with the court proceedings in the fifteenth century. Until the nineteenth century access to King’s Hill was via Old Ship Lane. It is not at all clear what this early building is doing at this site, it is isolated from the remainder of the town and set back from the road frontage, and one possibility is that it was an early manorial administrative building. <1> The Whispering Court Post stands in the garden approximately 4 metres south of the south wall of the house (EHER 26408), the south face is dated 'KH 1867', the east face 1340 and the north face has a plaque relating restoration November 1935. The date of origin of the Whispering Court is unknown, but it is believed to have been held at Kings Hill, Rayleigh during the reign of Henry III, 1216-1272. Said to have originated when a normally absentee Manorial Lord returned home and heard, at midnight unsuspecting tenants plotting to murder him. As penance for their treachery they were commanded to assemble at Kings Hill, annually on the Wednesday after Michaelmas at midnight to do homage for their lands in a whisper. Morant says the time is 'upon the first cock-crowing; without any light but such as the heavens will afford'. It is believed Robert Riche, second Earl of Warwick moved the Court to Kings Hill, Rochford, nearer his home Rochford Hall. The Deeds of the Manor of Kings Hill stipulate that the post must never be removed. In the 18th century a feast was held at The Kings Head before the tenants set off for the Whispering Court. <2>