Norfolk Quarter Sessions

The records are being classified according to the following scheme:

C/S - The Court in Session

C/Sa - Administration

C/Sb - Finance

C/Sc - Enrolment, Registration and Deposit

C/Sd - Justices of the Peace

C/Se - Clerk of the Peace

The assignment of records to the above categories is based upon the arrangement of Quarter Sessions records laid out in the Guide to the Essex Record Office, a copy of which is available in the searchroom.

<span class="wrapper"><p>The Record Office has Q.S. records for Norwich and Great Yarmouth. See also boroughs of King's Lynn and Thetford, below.</p> <p>City of Norwich Q.S. records (at R.O.)</p> <p>Sessions books or minute books, 1511-50; 1553-56; 1561-1618; 1629-1971.</p> <p>Search books (alphabetical lists of persons indicted at both City and County Sessions), 1623-80 (City) and 1624-74 (County).</p> <p>Files : indictments and recognizances, 1538, 1547, 1554, 1563-1749 (a few gaps), 1760-1838.</p> <p>Files : interrogations and depositions, 1549-1554, 1557-1600, 1648, 1684-1711, 1717, 1722-65, 1770-90.</p> <p>Files : 1921-71.</p> <p>Grand Jury presentments, 1692-1835.</p> <p>Returns of prisoners, 1681-82, 1702-1833.</p> <p>List of prisoners (indexed), 1836-1903.</p> <p>Cases books, 1867-1971.</p> <p>Registers of convictions, 1836-1944</p> <p>Copies of depositions of witnesses, 1855-90.</p> <p>Recorders' notebooks, 1859-60, 1960-71.</p> <p>Minute books of administrative business, 1839-1955.</p> <p>Visiting Justices to Norwich Gaol : order books, 1846-1878.</p> <p>Visiting Justices to Norwich Infirmary Asylum : minutes, 1854-60, 1862-64.</p> <p>Rating : appeals to poor rates, 1724-1859.</p> <p>Debtors : schedules (listing debtor's estate and effects and his creditors) and discharges of, 1678-1781 (with gaps).</p> <p>Registers of settlement examinations, 1754-1811.</p> <p>Removal orders, 1686-1829.</p> <p>Orders for passing vagrants, with examinations, 1740, 1747-64.</p> <p>Constables' charges for conveyance of (named) soldiers, sailors and families, 1756-61.</p> <p>15 Bastardy orders, depositions etc., 1689-1711, 1733, 1734, 1808.</p> <p>Clerk of Peace's correspondence, 1921-1971.</p> <p>Estreats of fines, 1845-1971.</p> <p>Signatories to Solemn League and Covenant, 1644, and signatories against, 1677-1719; declarations against transubstantiation, 1673-81, 1684-88; oaths of allegiance, 1689-1725, 1762-1780, 1831-42; oaths of allegiance of Anglican clergy, 1767-1844, of Roman Catholics, 1778 and 1791, and of schoolmasters, 1812-23; subscribers to fund for repression of rebellion, 1745.</p> <p>Sacrament certificates, 1713-1827. With typescript personal names index.</p> <p>Papists' estates : returns, 1717, 1723, 1745.</p> <p>Land tax assessments, 1710-1832 (almost complete), together with window tax, 1708, 1710-1760s (with gaps).</p> <p>Licensed victuallers and alehousekeepers : register, 1596-1604; original recognizances, 1760-1807 (with typescript index of alehouses and licencees). (Pre-1760 entered in sessions minute books).</p> <p>Officers' appointments and oaths : surveyors of highways, 1767-1837.</p> <p>Great Yarmouth Borough Sessions (at R.O.)</p> <p>Summary list published in the "Guide to the Great Yarmouth Borough Records", Paul Rutledge, 1972.</p> <p>Sessions records attached to borough court rolls, 1502-03, 1509-21, 1523-24, 1531 1623, 1630-51, 1661-1676.</p> <p>Sessions books, 1567-94, 1597-1702, 1704-1732, 1903, 1959.</p> <p>Waste (draft) sessions books, 1640-44, 1676-88, 1707-96, 1811-1864.</p> <p>Sessions files, 1700-1863, 1943, 1945-71. Highway sessions file 1743-98.</p> <p>Justices' order books, 1715-1836. (Visiting Justices to the Gaol order book 1846-75 and minutes 1843-76 are held by the Great Yarmouth Museums).</p> <p>Test rolls, 1673-1853.</p> <p>Recorder's minutes 1872-80, 1882-3, 1887-93, 1914-68.</p> <p>Register of appeals 1898-1958.</p> <p>Clerk's case books 1911-64.</p> <p>King's Lynn Borough Sessions</p> <p>(held by Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk at Town Hall, King's Lynn; access can be arranged by appointment through the Norfolk R.O.)</p> <p>Sessions books, 1726-1858, 1866-1957.</p> <p>Minute books, 1620-1685, 1729-1865.</p> <p>Oath rolls, 1689-95, 1718-1847.</p> <p>Miscellaneous papers, C18-C19.</p> <p>Sessions files c. 1816-1971</p> <p>Thetford Borough Sessions</p> <p>(held by Thetford Town Council at King's House, Thetford. List available in R.O.)</p> <p>Sessions books, 1610-1626, 1632/3-1639.</p> <p>Minute books, 1751-1833, 1839-1951.</p> <p>Files, 1897-98, 1938-51.</p> <p>Jury lists, 1894-1914.</p> <p>Recorder's notebooks, 1937-1947.</p> <p>Licensing sessions minutes, 1682-86.</p> <p>Clerk of Peace's letter book, 1916-23.</p> <p>Licensed victuallers and alehousekeepers : recognizances, 1571-1584 (with gaps), 1620-29.</p> <p>Apprentices : enrolments, 1528, 1531.</p> <p>Officers' appointments : visitors and clerk under 1890 Lunacy Act, 1894-1903.</p> <p>Justices : commissions of peace, 1833-72; oaths, 1830-1926.</p></span>

Items on this list are closed to public inspection for 30 years from the date of creation.