Earliest surviving manuscripts date from the (12th, but preserve an earlier oral tradition.
Cyfraith Hywel (or Laws of Hywel Dda) - an early (10th compilation, showing a distinctive tradition from that of the Anglo-Saxon.
There is also an unpublished Oxford DPhil thesis (1952) The Book of Iorwerth (Llyfr Iorwerth) : a critical and definitive text of the Gwynedd (Venedotian) Code of medieval Welsh law by by Aled I.R. Wiliam (MS. D.Phil. d.1159) which can be consulted in the Old Bod.
Open access available to all
Statute of Rhuddlan (aka Statute of Wales) 1284, 12 Edw 1 - Enacted following execution of Dafydd ap Gruffydd & annexation of his principality to England in 1283. Introduced English criminal law, but retain Welsh custom and law in civil proceedings. Government rearranged with the formation of 6 sheriffdoms:Anglesey, Caernarfon, Merioneth, Flint, Carmarthen, and Cardiganshire.
Statute 28 Edw III c.2 1354 Welsh Marches brought under English crown but allowed to keep own customs
Statute 27 Hen VIII c.26 1536 Laws and liberties of England extended to Welsh subjects, but local custom could still be proved.
Stat 34 & 35 Hen VIII c.26 1543 confirmation of 1541 ordinances setting up Great Sessions in Wales
1830 England & Wales become a unified jurisdiction
Some topics are considered in other pages in this guide, while others are included in separate or different guides. Please use the links below to navigate your way to whatever might help!
If your focus is a particular period of English history please see the pages indexed under the Periods tab.