Coroners Records
What are they?
The main series of records are returns of inquests, registers of deaths and inquest files. Returns of Inquests provide information on the date of the inquest, the name of the deceased and age category, whether a post mortem was performed, whether the inquest was held before a jury, verdicts, and a statistical return at the end of each year, among other things. Registers of Deaths Reported tend to record the following details: name index; serial number; filing number by case type; date of report to the coroner; full name and address, age and sex of deceased; type of inquest; verdict; details of adjournments; etc. Inquest files ….
What dates do they cover?
- Sheffield coroner fees and expenses (includes addresses and cause of death) (Bag C 3440), coroners’ appointments late 19th cent (Bag C 3444)
- Sheffield City and the West Riding areas for which the Sheffield City Coroner was responsible coroner’s registers 1926-1974 and inquest files 1940-1974(CC1)
- Barnsley Borough register of inquests 1945 – 1971 (SY 547)
- Rotherham District and Borough Coroner inquest books 1931 – 1954, return of inquests 1928 – 1953 and deaths reports 1953 – 1965 (CC3)
- South Yorkshire Western District (Barnsley and Rotherham) 1974 – 1990 (CC2)
- Public Inquiry and Inquests into the Hillsborough Disaster 1989 – 1991 (CC5)
Where can I see them?
Sheffield Archives, 52 Shoreham Street.
What format are they in?
Paper.
Do I need to order them in advance of my visit?
Coroners’ records are restricted access for up to 75 years. Permission to see records less than 75 years old must first be obtained from the coroners office. For further advice please refer to a member of Sheffield Archives staff tel 0114 203 9395 or email us at archives@sheffield.gov.uk
Can I get copies?
Yes, we can normally supply copies for private study purposes, subject to access restrictions and the the usual copyright regulations. Please contact us at archives@sheffield.gov.uk for further information.
Further information
Prior to the reorganisation of local government in 1974, the records of the Coroner’s Court for the West Riding were organised in divisions. There were thirteen divisions in all: Bradford City; Craven District (near Skipton); Claro District (near Ripon); Doncaster Borough; Doncaster District; Halifax Borough; Halifax District; Huddersfield Borough; Leeds City; Rotherham Borough; Rotherham District; Sheffield City; and Wakefield District.
With the creation of South Yorkshire in 1974, the new county was covered by two coroners’ districts: the Eastern District comprised Doncaster and Rotherham; the Western District covered Barnsley and Sheffield. The records of these districts are now held by their relevant archive services.
There is a 75 year closure period on Coroners’ records, taken from the final date of a file. Anyone wishing to view records less than 75 years old should obtain written permission from the relevant Coroner.