DORKING PETTY SESSIONAL DIVISION: RECORDS, 1880-1966; REIGATE (COUNTY) PETTY SESSIONAL...

The deposited records for the Dorking division include the survivors of the series of court registers originated in accordance with the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879 (1880-1945). They, and the Reigate records deposited with them, seem to have suffered damage as a result of flooding at some date. Many are in poor condition, and there are lacunae in the Dorking series.

The Reigate division's records date from 1893, and no earlier records are known.

<span class="wrapper"><p>Earlier records of the Dorking Petty Sessional Division derive from other provenances. The earliest, dating from 1873 (registers of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors, PS7/2/1-5) had strayed from official custody. A minute book, for the years 1877 to 1879 (PS7/1), was deposited by Messrs Hart, Scale and Hodges of Dorking, solicitors, whose partner, John Hart, was clerk to the justices of that period.</p> <p>For subsequent records of the Dorking division, see 2213/- (registers 1945-1966, minutes of the probation committee 1937-1966), and 2222/- (notes of evidence, 1951-1967).</p></span>

• <corpname>Dorking Petty Sessional Division</corpname>
• <corpname>Reigate (County) Petty Sessional Division</corpname>

Access to records less than 75 years relating to adoptions is restricted.

Deposited by the Clerk to the Magistrates under the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967, in February 1976.

The Dorking division was formerly known as the Wotton Division, and comprised Abinger, Capel, Dorking, Effingham, Mickleham, Newdigate, Ockley and Wotton.

The Reigate division comprised Betchworth, Brockham, Buckland, Burstow, Chaldon, Charlwood, Chipstead, Gatton, Horley, Kingswood, Leigh, Merstham and Nutfield. A separate court was held for Reigate Borough (see PS6/-). The division was abolished with effect from 1 Apr 1935 (Surrey Quarter Sessions provisional order 18 Dec 1933, enrolled (amended) 18 Dec 1934). The parishes of Betchworth, Brockham, Buckland, Burstow, Charlwood, Chipstead, Horley, Kingswood and Leigh were added to the Dorking division. The parishes of Gatton and Merstham were transferred to Reigate borough (see PS6/-) and those of Chaldon and Nutfield to the Godstone division (see PS4/1/14-15 and subsequent deposits).