Administrative History | The original County Courts developed out of the shire courts of Anglo-Saxon England. After the Norman Conquest, the shire reeves (Sheriffs) became their presiding officers and remained so until the establishment of the modern County Courts under the Act of 1846. During the Middle Ages the County Courts lost their criminal jurisdiction and their judicial competence became restricted to pleas of certain trespasses and actions for less than 40 shillings. The court books also record the Sheriffs' proclamations, declarations etc relating to elections. |
Custodial History | These records were deposited with Derbyshire in October 1906 having been found amongst the County Quarter Sessions records, probably because the courts met in the same building. |