UK, After-Trial Calendar of Prisoners, 1855-1931

Historical Context

These 'after-trial' calendars are lists, for the most part printed, of prisoners tried at Assizes and Quarter Sessions. In general, the Court of Assizes, held bi-annually, handled more serious cases including those subject to life imprisonment or capital punishment. The Quarter Sessions, held four times a year, dealt with less serious crimes including those that could not be tried by justices of the peace without a jury in petty sessions. The calendars include the following information: number; name; age; trade; previous convictions; name and address of committing magistrates; date of warrant; when received into custody; offence as charged in the commitment; name of the victim; when tried; before whom tried; verdict of the jury; sentence or order of the court.

This Collection

The calendars are arranged yearly, and then alphabetically by county and chronologically within county. Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are also included. The calendars under Middlesex for the years 1868-1897 include those for HM Gaol Newgate of prisoners awaiting trial at the Central Criminal Court, as well as calendars for quarter sessions held within the county. These Central Criminal Court calendars are printed with separate sections for the London (City), Middlesex, Essex, Kent, Surrey and Admiralty jurisdictions, and they contain some information additional to that in the county calendars. The volumes from 1898 onwards include separate sections for each of London, Central Criminal Court, London (North of the River), London (South of the River) and Middlesex.