BOROUGH OF DONCASTER PETTY SESSIONAL COURT

The borough of Doncaster was authorised to appoint its own justices of the peace under the borough charter of 1467. In 1835, the Municipal Corporations Act separated the magistracy from the corporation and a separate commission of the peace was granted to the borough, although no records survive from 1835 to 1853. The magistrates had jurisdiction within the boundaries of the borough alone. Other parts of the area which since April 1974 have been within the metropolitan borough fell under the authority of the Lower Strafforth and Tickhill division of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The division held courts at Doncaster and Thorne. Court registers 1889-1967; juvenile court registers 1933-1970; matrimonial court minute books 1938-1949; registers of clubs 1903-1931, of licences 1872-1902, of music and dancing licences 1911-1931; minute books of the justices' clerk 1853-1950; probation officers register of offenders, 1914-1949; accounts 1914-1972

<p>For the counts of the lower Strafforth and Tishill Division see MC1 and MC2</p>

Unless otherwise stated, everything over 30 years old is available for inspection

Acc 568, 1113, 1727

The borough of Doncaster was authorised to appoint its own justices by the borough charter of 1467. Under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 the borough was granted a commission of the peace in 1835. Records of the justices prior to 1836 are to be found amongst the borough records (see AB5/6). The commissions of the peace for the borough are to be found at MC7.

The justices had jurisdiction only within the boundaries of the borough. Offences committed in other parts of the area now within the metropolitan district were dealt with by the West Riding justices for the Lower Strafforth and Tickhill division, which held courts at Thorne and at Doncaster