Free-Bench

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

In the will of Anketin de Betteville occurs the expression "saving to Matilda his wife her free bench out of his mansion in Bradstreet according to the custom of the City," 1290-1 (Ct. H.W. I. 96).


Robert de Wyrcestre gave to his wife for life by way of her free-bench his dwelling-house in the parish of St. Andrew, 1333 (ib. 389).

Free-bench is defined by Wharton in his Law Lexicon as a widow's dower out of copyholds to which she is entitled by the custom of some manors. This seems inconsistent with the contention that there were no manors properly so called in the City, but at the same time that it was a well-established custom of the City is shown by the ordinances relating to it set out in the Liber Albus, I. 68, 393.

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

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