Assize Court
Assize courts were held twice a year in the county. The Gloucestershire Court was part of the Oxford Circuit. Records of the Gloucestershire Assize Court are held at the National Archives at Kew. They are held under the following references:
|
Crown & Gaol Books |
Indictments |
Depositions |
Other |
|||
|
1657-1971 |
ASSI 2 |
1662-1971 |
ASSI 5 |
1719-1971 |
ASSI 6 |
ASSI 4, ASSI 9, ASSI 10, ASSI 93 |
Quarter Sessions (Ref: Q)
As the name suggests, the Quarter Sessions met four times a year (at Epiphany, Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas). They dealt with criminal and civil cases, such as highway repair. The following records contain information about criminal trials:
- Indictments 1728-1836, 1931-1971, (Ref: Q/Sia)
- Indictment Books 1660-1910 (Ref: Q/Sib)
- Depositions 1728-1971, (Ref: Q/SD)
- Order books 1681-1868, (Ref: Q/SO)
- Minute books 1781-1977, (Ref: Q/SM)
Gloucester City Quarter Sessions (Ref: GBR/G3)
As Gloucester was a ‘County Borough’ it had its own Quarter Sessions, including a criminal court and a separate gaol (see the Gaol Records Research Mini Guide):
- Indictment books 1638-1685, (Ref: GBR/G3/Sib)
- Sessions minutes 1773-1952, (Ref: GBR/G3/SM)
- Order Books1608-1812, (Ref: GBR/G3/SO)
Magistrates Court (Petty Sessions)
Petty Sessions Courts, now known as Magistrates Courts, dealt with minor criminal cases. Although they existed in the 1600s, no records before the 1800s have survived. The main criminal court records which have survived are:
- Minute Books, (Ref: PS/**/M)
- Court registers before 1879, (Ref: PS/**/RA)
- Registers of Court Summary Jurisdiction after 1879, (Ref: PS/**/RM1)
- Court Registers, (Ref: PS/**/RM2) and Registers of the Juvenile Court, (Ref: PS/**/RM7)
The ** should be replaced by the district code. For a full list of districts and their codes, and more information about Petty Sessions, please see the Petty Sessions Research Mini Guide.
Crown Court Records (after 1971)
Most of the post 1971 records are still held by the Court Service. For more information please contact Gloucester Crown Court (Email: enquiries@gloucester.crowncourt.gsi.gov.uk).
Some records are held at the National Archives, including some case papers 1970-1980 (TNA Ref: J313 – indexed by name) and some indictments 1972-1974 (TNA Ref: J314)
County Courts
Gloucestershire Archives holds the records of the following County Courts:
- Cheltenham (D5781/CH)
- Gloucester (D7867 & GBR/G7)
- Northleach (D5781/NO & D4084)
- Cirencester (D5781/CI)
- Tewkesbury (D5781/TW)
- Winchcombe (D5781/WI)
- Stow (D5781/ST & D4084)
- Dursley & Stroud (D5742)
- Newent (D7867)
- Newnham (D7867)
These collections include minute books, registers and case files. Some other related material might be held in solicitors’ and personal collections.
Newspapers
Local newspapers are often the best and easiest source to use when looking for information about a crime or trial. They may also give you local opinion about the crime as well as more detail than the actual trial records.