Catalogue

Quarter Sessions

Reference: Q/A Catalogue Title: Quarter Sessions Area: Catalogue Category: Public Records Description: Administrative Records

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Quarter Sessions

Catalogue Contents

COMMITTEES (Ref: Q/A/C)Finance Committee (Ref: Q/A/C/1-3)Ref: Q/A/C/1

Minute book, April 1867 - March 1889

(1 volume, leather half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/2

Reports of Finance Committee to Quarter Sessions, June 1867 - April 1876

(1 volume, leather half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/3

Reports of Finance Committee to Quarter Sessions June 1876 - January 1883

(1 volume, leather half bound)

Highways and New Bridges Committee (Ref: Q/A/C/4-5)

Under the Highways and Locomotives Act 1878 former turnpike roads disturnpiked between 1870 and 1878 became main roads and the responsibility of the county

Ref: Q/A/C/4

Minute book, December 1878 - November 1888

(1 volume, leather half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/5

Second report,of the Highways and New Bridges Committee: Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act (1878), February 1879

(1 booklet)

Licensing Committee (Ref: Q/A/C/6-10)

Established under the Licensing Act, 1872 to confirm licences granted by Petty Sessions. The Committee did not itself grant Licences.

Ref: Q/A/C/6

Minute book, September 1872 - May 1909

(1 volume, calf half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/7

Minute book, June 1909 - June 1921

(1 volume, calf half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/8

Minute book, September 1921 - June 1938

(1 volume, calf half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/9

Plan of Petty Sessional Divisions (under the Licensing Act, 1904), August 1905

(1 plan)

Ref: Q/A/C/10

Certificates of reduced charges for licensing of railway refreshment rooms, and theatres, (under Licensing Act, 1904), March 1905 - March 1907

(1 file)

Miscellaneous Committee Minutes and Reports (Ref: Q/A/C 11-12)

Note regarding Chief Constable of Police
The first Chief Constable, Major James Wemyss, was appointed on 10 December 1839 and a police force was established in 1840. Reports of the Chief Constable are entered in the Order Books. For other police records see Police Records catalogue.

Ref: Q/A/C/11

Miscellaneous committee (including Bridges, Industrial School, Police, Prison and Visiting) minutes, March 1880 - March 1889

(1 volume, leather half bound)

Ref: Q/A/C/12

Miscellaneous reports to Quarter Sessions 1879 - 1889

(1 bundle)

County Rate Committee (Ref: Q/A/C/13-14)

This committee was the responsibility of ths Quarter Sessions under whose auspices the last meeting was held on 15 March 1889. Thereafter, as the County Rate Basis Committee, starting on 14 August 1889, it was the responsibility of the County Council. For the continuation of this committee see CC/A11/1-3.

Ref: Q/A/C/13

Minute book, July 1866 - December 1884

(1 volume)

Ref: Q/A/C/14

Minute book, June 1885 - March 1921

(1 volume)

Executive Committee (Ref: Q/A/C/15-18)

This committee was established under the Contagious Disease of Animals Act, 1879. The committee continued to exist after 1889 under the auspices of the County Council. For the continuation of the minutes of this committee see CC/A7/1/1-4

Ref: Q/A/C/15

Minute book, no. 1, November 1878 - July 1885

(1 volume)

Ref: Q/A/C/16

Minute book, no. 2, July 1885 - January 1886

(1 volume)

Ref: Q/A/C/17

Minute book, no. 3, January 1886 - December 1887

(1 volume)

Ref: Q/A/C/18

Minute book, no. 4, March 1888 - March 1889

(1 volume)

Industrial School Committee (Earl's House School) (Ref: Q/A/C/19-20)

4 April 1889 was the last date when this committee met on the responsibility of Quarter Sessions. The first meeting under the County Council was held on 25 April 1889. For the continuation of the minutes of this committee see CC/A9/1/1-3.

For admission and discharge registers of Earl's House Industrial School see D/X 1065/2-3.

Ref: Q/A/C/19

Minute book, no. 1, July 1885 - December 1886

(1 volume)

Ref: Q/A/C/20

Minute book, no. 2, July 1885 - July 1891

(1 volume)

COUNTY SURVEYOR AND ARCHITECT (Ref: Q/A/P)

The architect continued in office under the County Council and the same plans continued to be consulted

Durham Gaol Plans (Ref: Q/A/P/1-95)Ref: Q/A/P/1

Plan of third or upper floor of Debtors' Ward, 19 November 1858

(1 plan, 26 cm x 32.5cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/2-5

Debtors' ward: plans of additions to south end, November 1858

(4 plans, 32.5cm x 53cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/6

Plan of wash house, and storage rooms, 24 September 1858

(1 plan, 37cm x 56cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/7-14

Plans of proposed additions for male prisoners, by William Crozier, C.E., 16 January 1866 Scale: ¹/8 "to 1 foot (/P/7) Sheet no 1: Basement plan (/P/8) Sheet no 2: Ground plan (/P/9) Sheet no 3: First floor plan (/P/10) Sheet no 4: Second floor plan (/P/11) Sheet no 5: Plan of roof showing cisterns and flues and slates and skylights (/P/12) Sheet no 6: South elevation and sectional elevation of north side (/P/13) Sheet no 7: East elevation, cross section, west elevation and longitudinal section (/P/14) Sheet no 8: details of cornices, windows, cell doors, masonry etc.

(8 plans, 52.5cm x 75cm., paper, linen backed, colour wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/15

Durham County Prisons: block plan of additions for male prisoners, 1865

(1 plan, 71 x 82cm, tracing paper on linen backing, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/16

Additions for male prisoners: plan of boundary walls, by William Crozier, 10 July 1865 Scale: 16 feet to 1 inch

(1 plan, 51cm x 76cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/17

Proposed addition for male prisoners: addenda to general plans, south end of south wing, n.d.

(1 plan, 38cm x 54cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/18

New wing to men's prison: warming and ventilating arrangements, G. Haden & Son, Trowbridge, 22 March 1866

(1 plan, 51cm x 71.5cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/19

Drawings of flap-trap, 1867 Scale: half full size

(1 plan, 41.5cm x 66 cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/20

Plan of treadmill by Messrs. G. Haden & Son, 15 St. George's Chambers, Albert Square, Manchester, 7 May 1868 Scale: 1:4

(1 plan, 46.5cm x 74.5cm, tracing paper, colour -wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/21

Plan of dark and light refractory cells in basement of south wing, 1867 Scale: 1/4" to 1 foot

(1 plan, 45cm x 32.5cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/22-33

Plans of proposed additions to south wing, by William Crozier, M.I.C.E., 1872 and 1873

(12 plans)

Ref: Q/A/P/34-47

Plans of Governor's, Deputy Governor's and Chaplain's houses, 1863, 1867

(14 plans)

Ref: Q/A/P/48-95

Plans of women's prison by Ignatius Bonami, 1849 - 1856, and plans of additions by William Crozier, 1864

(58 plans)

Police Station plans (Ref: Q/A/P 96-108)Ref: Q/A/P/96-97

Plans of Durham new Central Police Station, 1878

(2 plans)

Ref: Q/A/P/98-102

Plans of Seaham Harbour Police Station; 1859 - 1880

(5 plans)

Ref: Q/A/P/103-105

Plans of Stockton Police Station, 1870

(3 plans)

Ref: Q/A/P/106-108

Plans of proposed additions to Consett Police Station, 1874

(3 plans)

County Court plans (Ref: Q/A/P 109-122)Ref: Q/A/P/109

South elevation of vestibule and witnesses' room and details of County Court, plan no. 17, n.d.

(1 plan, 57.5cm x 94cm, paper, linen-backed, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/110-122

Proposed improvements to County Courts, 1874 (/P/110) Sheet no 1: Ground plan as at present (/P/111) Sheet no 2: First Floor plan (as at present) (/P/112) Sheet no 3: Roof plan (as at present) (/P/113) Sheet no 5: Front elevation (as at present and proposed) (/P/114) Sheet no 6: Block plan (as at present) (/P/115) Sheet no 9: Roof plan (as proposed) (/P/116) Sheet no 10: Plan of Crown Court (as proposed) (/P/117) Sheet no 11: Plan of Nisi Prius Court (as proposed) (/P/118) Sheet no 12: Longitudinal Section (as proposed) (/P/119) Sheet no 13: Transverse Section of Crown Court (as proposed) (/P/120) Sheet no 14: Transverse Section of Vestibule, Central Hall and Main Stairs (/P/121) Sheet no 15: Longitudinal Section of Central Hall (/P/122) Sheet no 16: Plan of ceilings

(13 plans)

Assize Court plans (Ref: Q/A/P 123-134)Ref: Q/A/P/123

Block plan of Assize Court and grounds showing new roads and footpaths, n.d.

(1 plan, paper, 43cm x 39.5cm, duplicated)

Ref: Q/A/P/124

Block plan of Assize Court as Q/A/P/123

(Waxed linen, 45.9cm x 43.5.cm)

Ref: Q/A/P/125

Assize Courts, Durham: provision of women barristers' robing room, January 1926 Scale: 8 feet to 1 inch

(1 plan, 44.5cm x 62.5cm, waxed linen)

Ref: Q/A/P/126

Assize Courts, Durham: installation of electric light, n.d. Scale: 8 feet to 1 inch

(1 plan, 54.5cm x 66.5cm, paper, duplicated)

Ref: Q/A/P/127

Assize Courts Durham, sectional elevation of vestibule (facing hall), 1874 Scale: 1/2" to 1 foot

(1 plan, paper, pen and ink, 25 x 54.5cm)

Ref: Q/A/P/128

Proposed improvements to courts sheet 24: west elevation of Nisi Prius Court as proposed and east elevation of Crown Court as proposed

(1 plan, 35.5cm x 59cm, paper, ink, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/129

Assize Courts Durham, plan of Crown Court showing fittings in court, n.d. Scale: 1/4" to 1 foot

(1 plan, paper, linen backed, 38.5cm x 45cm)

Ref: Q/A/P/130

Plan of Civil Court showing fittings in court

(1 plan)

Ref: Q/A/P/131

Plan of Crown Court showing ventilation and sleeper walls

(1 plan)

Ref: Q/A/P/132

Plan of Civil Court showing ventilation and sleeper walls

(1 plan)

Ref: Q/A/P/133

Assize Courts: plan of ceilings of court and central hall

(1 plan)

Ref: Q/A/P/134

Assize Court: plan of central hall vestibule and witnesses room

(1 plan)

Clerk of Peace Record Office plans (Ref: Q/A/P 135-139)Ref: Q/A/P/135

Clerk of Peace and Record Office: elevation of bookcase C in Mr. Watson's office n.d. Scale: 1/2" to 1 foot

(1 plan 34cm x 20cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/136

Plan of bases in recess at side of fireplace in Mr. Watson's Office No scale

(1 plan, 34 x 20cm, paper, ink)

Ref: Q/A/P/137

Partition in passage Scale: 1/2" to 1 foot

(1 plan, 35.5cm x 34.5cm, paper, pencil)

Ref: Q/A/P/138

Plan of Clerk of the Peace and Record Office, North Bailey, Durham

(1 plan, 58.5cm x 34cm, paper, pencil)

Ref: Q/A/P/139

Cupboards: Plan Room: elevation of doors, n.d. 1/2" scale

(35.5cm x 42cm., paper, ink)

Exchequer Offices plan (Ref: Q/A/P 140)Ref: Q/A/P/140

Plan and elevation of Exchequer Offices, Court of Chancery, Durham Scale: 4 feet to 1 inch

(1 plan 54cm x 78cm, paper, colour wash)

Assize and Crown Court plans etc. (Ref: Q/A/P 141-143)Ref: Q/A/P/141

New Assize Courts, Durham: Warming and Ventilation plan, sheet no. 21, n.d. Scale: 1/4" to 1 foot

(1 plan, 56cm x 72cm, paper, colour-wash)

Ref: Q/A/P/142-143

Engraving of interior of Crown Court and central hall, n.d.

(2 pictures, mounted on card)

Durham Gaol plan (Ref: Q/A/P 144)Ref: Q/A/P/144

Plan of site of Durham Gaol transferred to Prison Commissioners, 1887 (?)

(1 plan)

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (Ref: Q/A/W)

J.P.s were charged by their commission to enquire into abuses of weights and measures. From 1795 they were empowered to appoint Inspectors of Weights and Measures. From the mid-nineteenth century, the inspectorate of weights and measures was administered by the Chief Constable and he referred to their work in his reports. The Inspectorate of Weights and Measures was transferred to the County Council at the same time as the police force.

Verification of Weights (Ref: Q/A/W/1-24)Ref: Q/A/W/1-24

Indentures of Verification, December 1825 - November 1931 Record verification of weights by Court of Receipt of the Exchequer or the Standards Department of the Board of Trade

(24 parchments)