Bevendean History Project
Justice and Civil administration
Quarter Session
The courts of quarter sessions or quarter sessions were local courts
traditionally held at four set times each year in the Kingdom of
England (including Wales) from 1388.
Quarter sessions generally sat in the seat of each county and county borough. They were abolished in England and Wales in 1972, when the Courts Act 1971 replaced them when their powers were split between the crown courts and magistrates courts.
The quarter sessions were named after the quarter days on which they met in England from 1388. These days were later settled as Epiphany, Easter, Midsummer, and Michaelmas sessions.
The quarter sessions also had some limited civil jurisdiction. Much of the court’s administrative business was delegated to committees of magistrates, who had specific responsibilities. Most of these administrative functions were transferred to county councils when they were established in 1889.
These functions included: -Quarter sessions generally sat in the seat of each county and county borough. They were abolished in England and Wales in 1972, when the Courts Act 1971 replaced them when their powers were split between the crown courts and magistrates courts.
The quarter sessions were named after the quarter days on which they met in England from 1388. These days were later settled as Epiphany, Easter, Midsummer, and Michaelmas sessions.
The quarter sessions also had some limited civil jurisdiction. Much of the court’s administrative business was delegated to committees of magistrates, who had specific responsibilities. Most of these administrative functions were transferred to county councils when they were established in 1889.
• Repair of county roads and bridges
• Highway diversions
• Construction and maintenance of county buildings
• Administration of the county gaol (jails)
• Supervision of public and private lunatic asylums
• Supervision of petty sessions
• Licensing of public houses
• Supervision of the English Poor Laws (pre-1834)
• The county militia
• The police
• Setting county rates
County Councils
County councils were created by the Local Government Act 1888, largely
taking over the administrative functions of the unelected county courts
of quarter sessions. County councils consisted of councillors, directly
elected by the electorate; and county aldermen, chosen by the council
itself.
Modern Parishes
Civil parishes in their modern sense were established in 1894, by the Local Government Act 1894. The Act set up Urban Districts and Rural Districts and established elected civil parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors. These were grouped into their rural districts. Boundaries were altered to avoid parishes being split between counties.
Modern Parishes
Civil parishes in their modern sense were established in 1894, by the Local Government Act 1894. The Act set up Urban Districts and Rural Districts and established elected civil parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors. These were grouped into their rural districts. Boundaries were altered to avoid parishes being split between counties.
