Libraries Court records

Petty sessions (magistrates or police court)

Petty sessions courts met daily and dealt with minor crimes, licensing, juvenile offenders and civil matters such as bastardy, child maintenance and adoption.

To access records held by us, visit the Central Library search room, please make an appointment (with at least one day notice).

City of Manchester Petty Sessions Court

We hold some records for the City of Manchester Petty Sessions Court, 1839 to 1970 (ref GB127.M117). The Manchester Petty Sessions area of jurisdiction was the Borough or City of Manchester.

Manchester County Petty Sessional Division

A growth in population of Manchester and Salford led to the formation of the Manchester County Petty Sessional Division in 1868. It met at the newly built Strangeways Court. Lancashire Record Office holds records for this division (ref GB124.A.PSDM). We also hold some records for this court (ref GB124.A.TRAFF, restricted access. Email archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk to request access).

The division's area of jurisdiction comprised areas outside of Manchester and Salford. For example in 1885 it included the following townships: Barton-on-Irwell, Blackley, Burnage, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Clifton, Crumpsall, Didsbury, Failsworth Flixton, Gorton, Great Heaton, Heaton Norris (that part outside The Borough of Stockport), Levenshulme, Little Heaton, Moss Side, Moston, Newton Heath, Openshaw, Pendlebury, Prestwich, Reddish, Stretford, Urmston, Withington and Worsley.

By 1908 the townships in the Division comprised: Barton, Clifton, Davyhulme, Failsworth, Flixton, Gorton, Heaton Norris, Irlam, Levenshulme, Pendlebury, Prestwich, Stretford, Swinton, Urmston and Worsley.

The following boroughs or divisions in the Manchester region also had their own petty sessions or magistrates courts:

  • Altrincham - we hold some records, 1874 to 1974 (ref GB124.A.TRAFF)
  • Bolton Borough - records are held by Bolton Archives (ref JBO)
  • Bolton County - records are held by Lancashire Record Office (ref PSBo) and  Bolton Archives (ref JLA)
  • Bury Borough - we hold Court Registers 1886 to 1954, Clerks' Registers 1928 to 1940, Juvenile Court Registers 1933 to 1955, Clubs' Registers 1922 to 1962, Licensing Registers 1872 to 1943, Music Licensing Register 1893 to 1946, Bastardy Orders 1904 to1954, Maintenance Orders 1944 to 1954, Minute Books 1882 to 1970 (ref GB124.A17)
  • Bury County - we hold Court Registers 1930 to 1955, Juvenile Court Registers 1933 to 1955, Licensing Registers 1903, Music Licensing Register 1948 to 1964, Maintenance Orders 1900 to 1954, Bastardy Orders 1892 to 1954 (ref GB124.A17)
  • Dukinfield - records are held by Cheshire Record Office
  • Heywood Borough - we hold Court Registers 1913 to 1955, Clerk's Register 1920 to 1922, Juvenile Court Registers 1933 to 1951, Maintenance Orders 1902 to 1952, Bastardy Orders 1902 to 1959, Nuisance Orders 1904 to 1918, Court Orders 1931 to 1959, Probation Case Committee Minute Book 1950 to 1964 (ref GB124.A17)
  • Hyde - records are held by Cheshire Record Office
  • Middleton Division - records are held by Lancashire Record Office (ref PSMd and PSMi)
  • Middleton Division - records are held by Lancashire Record Office (ref PSMd and PSMi). We also some court registers 1955 to 1990 for Middleton Magistrates Court (ref GB124.A.MIDD, restricted access)
  • Oldham - we hold records 1889 to 1976 (ref GB124.A.OLD restricted access)
  • Rochdale Borough - we hold Court Registers 1935 to 1991 (ref GB124.A.ROC restricted access). Some records are also held by Lancashire Record Office (ref PSRo)
  • Salford - we hold court registers 1875 to 1993 for the City and County Borough of Salford and also court registers 1894 to 1991 for the Borough of Eccles. These records have not been catalogued
  • Stalybridge and Tameside area - records are held by Tameside Local Studies and Archives, and
  • Stockport (Borough and County) - records are held by Stockport Archive Service .
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