Court of Quarter Session Records

What are they?

Quarter Sessions dealt with criminal and administrative matters until replaced in 1971. The records are:

Minute books including names of jurors; highway act proceedings; fines; orders; appeals; costs; later including bonds and legal aid certificates.
Sessions book including declarations of officers; lists of jurors; names of defendants; pleas, acquittals and sentences; payments to coroners; slaughterhouse licences and stopping up streets orders; appointments of visitors to county asylum; appeals against poor rate payments.
Calendars of prisoners giving name, age and trade of prisoner; whether prisoner could read or write (to 1917); name and address of committing magistrate; date of warrant; date prisoner received into custody; offence; when tried and before whom; verdict; previous convictions; sentence or court order. The calendars are indexed for each session.
Indictments - formal accusations.
Recognizances - bonds to ensure appearance of defendants, prosecutors or witnesses.
Depositions - examinations and statements of defendants and witnesses.
Recorders’ notebooks include notes on proceedings (very abbreviated and often illegible).

What dates do they cover?

Sessions Books, 1880 - 1895 (QS/1)
Minute books, 1918 - 1971 (QS/2)
Recorder's Notebooks, 1920 - 1971 (QS/3)
Calendars of prisoners, 1880 - 1971 (QS/4)
Indictments, 1880 - 1971 (QS/5)
Recognizances and Depositions 1889 - 1971 (QS/6)
Masonic Lodge returns, 1917 - 1967 (QS/7)
Appeals, 1885 - 1970 (QS/8)
Appeals Returns, 194 - 1915 (QS/9)
Order of the Court, 1910 - 1971 (QS/10)
Legal Aid Awards, 1968 - 1970 (QS/11)
Recognizances, 1933 - 1938 (QS/12)
Rating Appeals, 1875 - 1936 (QS/13)
Probation Orders, 1913 - 1933 (QS/14)
Maintenance (Bastardy) Orders, 1924 (QS/15)
Road Closing Orders, 1953 - 1971 (QS/16)
Case Costs, 1927 - 1935 (QS/17)
Miscellaneous papers and correspondence, 1919 - 1949, 1961 (QS/18)
Oddments, 1885 - 1919 (QS/19)
Coroners Affidavits, 1881 - 1907 (QS/20)

Where can I see them?

Sheffield Archives, 52 Shoreham Street

What format are they in?

Paper and parchment

Do I need to order them in advance of my visit?

Yes, we require four days notice before you can access most of the itmes in this collection (Contact Sheffield Archives 0114 203 9395 or archives@sheffield.gov.uk). Please note that access to some records may be restricted under the Data Protection Act and may also be subject to exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact us for further details.

Can I get copies?

Yes, we can normally supply copies for private study purposes, subject to the usual copyright and Data Protection restrictions.

Further information

Sheffield did not have a separate court of Quarter Sessions until September 1880. Before then Sheffield was covered by the West Riding of Yorkshire Quarter Sessions. The court records are held at West Yorkshire Archive Service Headquarters, Registry of Deeds, Newstead Road, Wakefield WF1 2DE Tel: 01924 305980 Email: archives@wyjs.org.uk.

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