City of Coventry Quarter Sessions Records

QS/63-64

City of Coventry Quarter Sessions Records

1691-1885

English

2 series

The City of Coventry for four centuries before 1842 (in which year it relinquished its status as a County) had its own Quarter Sessions.

2 The Warwickshire Quarter Sessions were first held by adjournment in the City of Coventry on the 5 January 1843. In addition to covering the City of Coventry, they included the parishes within the Atherstone, Coleshill, Kirby and Rugby County Petty Sessional Divisions. As it was estimated that the business at these first adjourned Sessions would take three days if only one Court sat, it was decided to divide into two Courts, and the thirty seven indictments on the calendar were proceeded with. The sentences passed included three men and one woman being transported, each for seven years, for cases of larceny.

3 The County Magistrates apparently did not favour the holding of the adjourned Sessions at Coventry, for at the Warwickshire Easter Sessions on 1 January 1844, they decided to transmit a memorial to Her Majesty's Government and for a deputation, including the Lord Lieutenant, to attend upon the Secretary of State for the Home department representing the inconveniences occasioned by holding the adjourned Sessions at Coventry. The Secretary of State, however, was adamant and declined to take any action for an alteration of the arrangement.

4 The Warwickshire Quarter Sessions therefore continued to hold their Sessions by adjournment at Coventry for a period of 86 years, when by Order in Council the holding of Quarter Sessions in and for the City of Coventry was again restored to the City.

5 The last Warwickshire Quarter Sessions were held by adjournment at Coventry on 27 March 1928, when there were only two cases for trial.

[Notes by W A Sutton, 5th August 1943]