The Stannary Parliament at Crockern Tor

Edward I's Stannary Charter of 1305 made Tavistock, Ashburton and Chagford the stannary towns of Devon, and Plympton became the fourth in 1307. Tinners, a word that took in miners, tin-works owners and others in the industry, chose representatives at a special court in each stannary. Each of the four sent 24 jurats, which made a parliament of 96.

It usually met in the open air at Crockern Tor, in the middle of the moor. Its decisions could change the laws that governed tinners. The last convocation was held in 1786. The stannary courts themselves met at Lydford, where they also ran a prison. The Devon and Cornish stannary courts were merged after the Stannaries Act 1855, and the Stannaries Court (Abolition) Act 1896 handed their powers to the county authorities. As late as the 1980s an honorary stannator was named whenever a new tin mine opened.