History of English contract law

Modern English contract law is composed primarily of case law decided by the English courts following the Judicature Acts and supplemented by statutory reform.

However, a significant number of legal principles were inherited from recording decisions reaching back to the aftermath of the Norman Invasion.

[1] The case established the ratio that in covenant only damages are recoverable.

[2] A tenant entered a covenant for payment of rent of £20 per annum, for 4½ years.

However, the case was brought for non-payment of £100 which the plaintiff claimed for the rent.