From the 12th century until the passing of the Courts Act of
1971 serious crimes were usually brought before pairs of
professional judges who travelled through groups of counties on
circuits, holding what was known as 'assize' sessions in each
county on a biannual basis. The Soke of Peterborough was included
within Northamptonshire which was part of the Midland circuit
(except 1864-1875 when it was transferred to the Norfolk Circuit).
The Assize Court would often get serious or complex cases referred
up to it from the Quarter Sessions
Court. However, their jurisdiction often coincided as the
Assize Courts would refer cases back to the Quarter Sessions when
the matter had not been dealt with before the assize judges moved
on.
Clerks of Assize kept all the records for the circuits. These
are held at the National Archives. Material relating to the
Midlands is held in ASSI 12 and ASSI 80.
Printed source:
Sutterland's The Northamptonshire Eyre 1329/30, 2 vols, Seldon
Society, 1981.
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