General Sessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery

Fo/J/Q

General Sessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery

English

Folkestone had its own Court of Sessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery, which met at least once a year. It is not known for certain when sessions were first held in the Town (Quarter Sessions were held in England by statute from 1363), but records survive in the archives from 1604. The early Sessions were held before the Mayor and three or four Jurats, who were all of them justices of the peace with a jurisdiction exclusive of the County Magistrates. They dealt not only with breaches of the peace, but also with some general matters relating to the Town. Juries were empanelled by the Water Bailiff, who was also Keeper of the Town Gaol; The Town Clerk acted as Clerk of the Peace. The first Recorder to be so styled was Charles Robinson, in 1782 - prior to this the term 'steward' or 'assistant' was used. Although Folkestone was included in Schedule B of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835, as amongst the boroughs which were not to have a Commission of the peace unless by petition or grant, such was subsequently granted and General Sessions held quarterly. Petty Sessions were kept by adjournment from month to month throughout the year. Until 1831, Sessions were held at the Old Court House, which stood at the corner of Church Street and Rendezvous Street. Subsequently, they were held at the Guildhall [the 'Cistern House', on the site of the later Town Hall], the Sessions Hall in the High Street, and, from 1861, at the Town Hall.