Slaughterhouses The Act of 26 Geo III c 71 (1786) stipulated that slaugher-houses (other than those kept by butchers) should be licensed by Quarter Sessions and that a copy of each licence was to be entered in a book kept by the Clerk of the Peace. The purpose of the Act was to try to reduce cattle and horse theft. No register has survived. (Old numbers for the following documents were Box XXIX 7 and Box Q) 1787-1823