Radnorshire Quarter Sessions Records

ORDER BOOKS

ROLLS OR FILES

SUPPLEMENTARY RECORDS

Bridges

Roads

Police, Gaols Court Proceedings etc.

Railways

Appointments of Sheriffs, Deputy-Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, County Officials

Land Tax Assessments

Accounts, Fees (County Treasurer, Clerk of the Peace, etc)

Service as High Constable, Jurors

Lunacy

Elections

Friendly Societies

Licensing

Religion

Annuities

Militia

Contagious Diseases

Memoranda Books - Quarter Sessions, Clerk of the Peace

Gamekeepers

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Miscellanea

Files of County Licensing Committee (County Confirming and Compensation Committee)

Shrievalty Papers

Treasurer and Clerk

Joint Counties Asylum, Abergavenny (Cos Radnor, Brecon and Monmouth)

Clerk of the Peace

Enclosure Awards

Railways and Tramways (additional)

Appeals Committee

Shrievalty (additional)

Arranged into the following: order books; rolls or files; and supplementary records.

Transfer from the National Library of Wales. Enclosure awards were transferred on behalf of the County Solicitor, 1985 and 1987.

The Court of Quarter Sessions in Radnorshire sat four times a year, attended by the Justices of the Peace of the county. Quarter Sessions courts began in Wales after the Acts of Union, 1536-1543. The Quarter Sessions played a major role in the local administration of Radnorshire until the late nineteenth century, when many of its administrative functions were transferred to the County Council. However, the judicial role of the Courts continued until their abolition in 1971. The Court of Quarter Sessions heard a broad range of cases including burglary, assault, drunkenness, poaching, vagrancy, rioting, unlawful cutting of timber, and encroachment. Forms of punishment handed down by the justices were fines, flogging, imprisonment and transportation. The Court also heard disputes between individuals, such as non-payment of debts, and was responsible for the administration of the Poor Laws. There were numerous administrative matters overseen by the courts, including licensing alehouses, determining wage-levels and controlling registration of charities and nonconformist meeting houses. In addition, the Court had responsibility for overseeing the upkeep of bridges, gaols and houses of correction.