Common Law Procedure Act 1854

I Judge may, by Consent, try Questions, of Fact.

The Parties to any Cause may, by Consent in Writing, signed by them or their Attorneys, as the Case may be, leave the Decision of any Issue of Fact to the Court, provided that the Court, upon a Rule to show Cause, or a Judge on Summons, shall, in their or his Discretion, think fit to allow such Trial; or provided the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law at Westminster shall, in pursuance of the Power herein-after given to them, make any General Rule or Order dispensing with such Allowance, either in all Cases or in any particular Class or Classes of Cases to be defined in such Rule or Order; and "such Issue of Pact may thereupon be tried and determined, and Damages assessed where necessary, in open Court, either in Term or Vacation, by any Judge who might otherwise have presided at the Trial thereof by Jury, either with or without the Assistance of any other Judge or Judges of the same Court, or included in the same Commission at the Assizes ; and the Verdict of such Judge or Judges shall be of the same Effect as the Verdict of a Jury, save that it shall not be questioned upon the Ground of being against the Weight of Evidence; and the Proceedings upon and after such Trial, as to the Power of the Court or Judge, the Evidence, and otherwise, shall be the same as in the Case of Trial by Jury.