A barmote court (also written bergjisote, barghmote, bargemote and barmoot) is a court held in the lead mining districts of Derbyshire, England, for the purpose of determining the customs peculiar to the industry and also for the settlements of any disputes which may arise in connection with it.
[1] The barmote courts were set up in 1288, their jurisdiction extending to both the crown lands of the Duchy of Lancaster and those under individual ownership, comprising seven clearly defined districts.
[1] Great barmote courts with wider powers were in place by the fifteenth century, meeting at Easter and Michaelmas.
[11] While the Acts provide for subpoenas and inspection of property, there are no provisions governing interrogatories or disclosure of documents.
In line with tradition, bread, cheese, clay pipes and tobacco are provided at the meetings, and a representative of the monarch who is the Lord of the Field attends.