CHESTER CITY CORONER

The records listed below were deposited in the Chester City Record Office on 27 September 1976 and 30 October 1979 by Mr M.G.Holloway, then H.M. Coroner for Cheshire (West District). In accordance with the requirements of the Lord Chancellor, coroners' records relating to reported deaths are closed to public inspection for 75 years and these are marked with an asterisk on the list. The remainder of the records are closed to public inspection for 30 years, in accordance with the Public Records Act 1967.

The earliest reference to coroners in Chester occurs in 1289, when Crown pleas relating to the city were heard before the justice of Chester. In 1300, Edward I granted the citizens power to 'choose from themselves coroners in the aforesaid city as often as it shall be needful' (see CH/13) and in 1506, Henry VII granted to the mayor and his successors 'that every year they may choose of the more discreet and honest citizens... two citizens to be coroners' (see CH/32).

Until 1835, the coroners were drawn from a variety of trades and occupations. The first coroner appointed following the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 was a solicitor, Faithful Thomas and all the subsequent coroners were trained solicitors. From the mid 1930s, the office was associated with the firm of David Hughes, solicitors. In 1983, the number of coroners' districts in Cheshire was reduced from three to two and since then, a coroner has not been based in Chester.