BRISTOL QUARTER SESSIONS RECORDS

The records were deposited by the Clerks of the Peace in 1927, 1946, 1953, 1961, 1967 and 1971, and by the Chief Clerk to the Crown Court in 1974 and 1984. For details of accessions see accession references 05062, 4579, 4580, 4581, 13451, 25261, 26157, 30252, 33301, 34886, 38988 and 39538.

Sessions were county courts and derive in Bristol from its erection into a county by the charter of 1373.

There were private and public sessions, the former comprising petty and special sessions and the latter comprising General Quarter Sessions and Quarter Sessions. Justices of the Peace held the latter immediately from the crown by a commission under the great seal whose origin goes back to the 14th century. By statute 1 Edw III (1327) the king ordained that certain persons within each county be assigned to keep the peace, and in 1344 it was enacted that this would be by the King's Commission. In 1360 these persons were styled Justices of the Peace for the first time and made complete judges of a court of record. Each justice was appointed by royal commission, by royal letter patent or by act of Parliament.

General Quarter Sessions were those held at the 4 quarters of the year, although these were often adjourned. General Sessions were those held at any other time as need arose. Sessions were to be held before at least 2 JPs, which in Bristol prior to 1835 meant either the mayor or recorder with one of the aldermen or two of the 5 senior aldermen with one other alderman. After the 1835 Municipal Corporation Act aldermen were no longer ex officio Justices of the Peace.

There were several officers of the court:

- the Custos Rotulorum, appointed as the keeper of the rolls by the crown, and usually the Lord Lieutenant;

- the Clerk of the Peace, appointed by the Council, and usually the Town Clerk, although a deputy acted as clerk to the Sessions;

- the Treasurer;

- the Sheriff, to whom a precept had to be issued before a court of Quarter Sessions could be held. The Sheriff or Under-sheriff was always present in court;

- jurors;

- the Constable;

- advocates

By the twentieth century the courts were held before the Recorder in the Guildhall, and Quarter Sessions were abolished by the Courts Act, 1971.