Quarter Sessions

Stories from Dorset Quarter Sessions

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Quarter Sessions records are a rich source for many types of historical research.   With responsibility for both local justice and administration many people had dealings with the Quarter Sessions court at some point.  The records of the Quarter Sessions are a starting point for some fascinating stories of life in Dorset particularly during the 19th… Read more Stories from Dorset Quarter Sessions

Quarter Sessions: What are they?

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One of the largest but least used collections at the Dorset History Centre is the records of the Dorset Quarter Sessions. The Quarter Sessions were local government and local justice rolled into one until the County Councils were established in 1888 and Magistrates and Crown Courts took over local court cases in 1971. Every English… Read more Quarter Sessions: What are they?