In the period 1922 to 1925, a series of groundbreaking legislative enactments reframed English property law in terms favourable to alienation and a market in land, providing the basis on which much of the relevant modern law rests. The Law of Property Act, Trustee Act, Settled Land Act, Administration of Estates Act, Land Registration Act, and the Land Charges Act 1925 together set out a new vision for how rights in land, trusts, inheritance, and land registration would work. Whilst much of that legislation has now been repealed, updated, or superseded, the Law of Property Act 1925 remains the key statute for land law in England and Wales. Elsewhere, the legacies of 1925 have shaped the development of subsequent legislation, case law, and reform.
In the lead up to the centenary of the 1925 Acts coming into force on 1 January 1926, this conference will celebrate and examine the impact of that legislation. Papers will consider the history, drafting, policy, and legacies of the 1925 legislation 100 years from their enactment.
The expectation is that selected papers will be gathered into an edited volume after the conference.
There will be a conference dinner on 8th September.
A limited number of single and twin ensuite rooms are available at Selwyn College for conference guests on 7 and 8 September. Guests can book these rooms directly at: https://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/conferences/accommodation-booking, using the code SEL31335. After inputting the code, scroll through to September, and those dates will be highlighted. Room bookings include breakfast.
Please contact Dr Lorren Eldridge ( le377@cam.ac.uk ) in case of any questions.
The Call for Papers for this Conference is open until 1 May 2025.