Calendar of Prisoners at Quarter Sessions, Stafford

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Date:1829

Description:The courts of Quarter Sessions were established in 1362 and sat for over 600 years until their abolition in 1971. The court’s initial function was judicial – to hear criminal cases – but over time the court acquired more and more administrative functions. The justices were drawn from the local gentry, who undertook the work free of charge, as a public service. To be selected to serve as a justice of the peace was a mark of standing in the local community.

As its name implies, the court sat every quarter, usually in January, April, July and October. In Staffordshire the sessions were named after religious festivals – Epiphany (January), Easter (April), Translation (July) and Michaelmas (October). Sometimes the amount of business was so great that some had to be adjourned - put off until a later date - in which case extra sessions were held, usually a week or two later.

The court sat in Stafford and prisoners awaiting trial on more serious charges were housed in Stafford Gaol pending trial.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1790s
Performance Advertisement, New Stafford Theatre
Performance Advertisement, New Stafford Theatre

Advertisement for two plays preformed in the fist year of the New Stafford Theatre ...

1830s
Stafford Theatre Advertisement, Paganini Concert
Stafford Theatre Advertisement, Paganini Concert

Advertisement for a concert performed by Signor Paganini at Stafford Theatre, from ...

1900s
Election day, Gaolgate Street, Stafford
Election day, Gaolgate Street, Stafford

Gaolgate Street pictured during the General Election of 1906, showing the offices ...

1930s
Pageant of Transport exhibition, Stafford
Pageant of Transport exhibition, Stafford

Visitors in a Russian Sleigh lent by the Earl of Shrewsbury as part of the 'Pageant ...

1950s
Sydney Barnes, Borough Hall, Stafford
Sydney Barnes, Borough Hall, Stafford

Sydney Barnes is seated second from right. This photograph was taken on the occasion ...

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Donor ref:Q-SB T 1829-4-2 (201/28267)

Source: Staffordshire County Record Office

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.