U.K. laws introduced by monarchs and governments throughout history don't always stand the test of time. Below, discover 5 historic and weird pieces of U.K. legislation that are still enforceable today because they've never been repealed, even if they make little or no sense in the 21st century.
1. The Library Offences Act was introduced in 1898 and it made it illegal to gamble in public libraries. The authorities were concerned that readers and students using libraries weren't getting the peace and quiet that they needed when other activities were taking place. The solution was to outlaw gambling and swearing.
2. To avoid delays and disturbances it became the law in London in 1839 that rugs, carpets and doormats should not be beaten or shaken in the street after 8 a.m. Hanging washing across the street between the rows of houses was also forbidden, and it remains so.
3. Travel back to 1313 and King Edward II's reign to discover the oldest law on this list. Edward II passed a law that made it illegal for politicians (and guests) to wear full suits of armour or to carry weapons in parliament. While the armour law made sense in medieval times, over seven hundred years later there's not much call for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and co. to pop on some armour in the houses of parliament, and yet the law still stands.
4. According to the 1872 Licensing Act it is against the law in the U.K. to be drunk in a pub (public.house), yes, the place where people would likely go to get drunk. This law was extended so that bar staff could refuse to serve an inebriated person and drunkenness became illegal in any public space. Whilst the law exists today, there probably aren't enough police officers to round up all the offenders staggering home from the pub or club on a Saturday night.
5. The Metropolitan Streets Act 1867 forbade people to walk their cows along a road/street in London between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. unless the Police Commissioner had given you permission to do so. Presumably, enterprising farmers waited until nightfall to move herds around the capital and to markets! Another piece of legislation means that people can't be drunk when in charge of animals so taking cattle for a nocturnal stroll or riding a dray horse home from ye olde pub whilst inebriated are against the law, in case you were thinking about it.
Incidentally, people are legally required to give way to stampeding cattle. Common sense, surely. Who'd stand there and argue about right of way as a herd of cattle stormed towards them?
So, if you're in the U.K. remember not to wear a suit of armour in parliament or drunkenly beat a rug, accompanied by a cow during daylight hours or you really will be in trouble. You have been warned!
Sources
https://oxbridgehomelearning.uk/blog/you-wont-believe-these-weird-uk-laws/?srsltid=AfmBOorE3x1yFiLnHXROgYu-H1tdWvp1XYSQyHHa20HoHMjqCkgdn3VJ
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/obscure-medieval-laws/
https://emlaw.co.uk/weird-uk-laws/
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/35-36/94/section/12#commentary-c568201
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