Funny laws

[louiseclair]

I'm writing an essay about British laws, and want to know does anyone know somewhere i can find out laws from 'the olden days' that still stand. I remember going to York dungeon and seeing one about being able to shoot a Scottish man in a kilt with a cross bow or something equally as mad

[cyanide]

Try here
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6528 /shaunlaws.htm
or if you can get to a library this book is brilliant
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strange-Laws-Old-Engla nd/dp/0749950366

[ruby27]

I think you need to be a bit more speciic than olden, any ideas about which century.

[Philtaz]

In Chester, you may shoot a Welshman with a bow and arrow provided he is within the City walls and it is past midnight.

[Iggle Piggle]

Many 'old' laws have been repealed or amended in some way, but there are some old laws still standing.
old laws like the one about shooting Welshmen after midnight are effectively redundant even if they are still on the statute books as this act would simply be murder now.
Not the answer, but I hope it helps.

[louiseclair]

Thanks for the answers. I love the sillyness of it all...

The welsh one is exactly the sort of thing i was looking for.

Sorry for not being 'specific' enough Ruby27

Cyanide...that was a huge help so thanks.

[johnlambert]

The insane, imbiciles and lunatics are still not allowed to vote

[louiseclair]

That rules me out then! ;-)

[chompu]

Town Police Clauses Act 1847 has some good ones from Victorian times. Particulary Section 28.

[crayzee-gal]

I'm actually aware of this one - we had a real laugh about it in law class. Basically, you're apparently allowed to shoot a Scotsman in York with a bow and arrow, but NOT on a Sunday. My favourite weird laws are the Hackney cab one and the dying in Westminster Palace one.

[weirworn]

MP's are not allowed to die in the House of Commons. It is shown as across the river in the St. Thomas's hospital

You are not allowed to sell a second hand anchor to anyone under the age of 16 before 8 o' clock in the morning. There's a £20 fine if you get caught.

Women are not allowed to eat chocolate on public transport in case they inflame the men.

Taxi drivers must carry a bale of hay in the boot of their cabs. (To feed the horses)
You may urinate against the rear wheel of your car in London. But you may still get done for other laws.