Catalogue description Supreme Court of Judicature: High Court of Justice, Kings Bench Division: Preliminary Acts

These documents were filed in the Central Office of the Supreme Court in advance of pleadings by parties in actions for damages by collison between vessels, the object being to show how the collision happened while the facts were still fresh in the recollection of the witnesses. The documents take the form of questionnaires and answers, and give the party's view on such matters as speeds, lights, bearings, wind, tide, weather and other particulars. They were sealed by the party concerned before any pleading was lodged, and cannot normally be opened until ordered by the court when the trial might proceed without any further pleadings.

For further records of Queen's (King's) Bench and Admiralty divisions see

HCA 20

Supreme Court of Judicature, Kings Bench Division, 1901-1952

Supreme Court of Judicature, Queens Bench Division, 1875-1901