BC - RECORDS OF BATH CITY COUNCIL AND BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL
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Charter of 7 William IV granting the continuation of a separate Court of Quarter Sessions

Reference Number: BC/1/1/1/23
Level of Description: Item
Title: Charter of 7 William IV granting the continuation of a separate Court of Quarter Sessions
Date: 03 February 1837
Extent: Extent: 1 item
Description: Grant addressed to the Mayor, Aldermen, Burgesses, and inhabitants of the Borough and City of Bath confirming the continuation of a separate Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace in the Borough. The grant follows a petition from the Council of Bath made in response to the Act of Parliament to provide for the regulation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales [5 & 6 William IV, c.76], requesting that the Borough be permitted to keep its own Court of Quarter Sessions.

The Recorder of Bath is appointed as Justice, with the power to enquire into all felonies and other offences committed within the Borough. The Recorder is commanded to keep the peace, enforce the statutes and ordinances, and to hear and determine all crimes according to the law and statutes of the realm.

Where any difficulty arises in determining a matter, judgment shall not be given by the Recorder alone unless in the presence of one of the Justices appointed to hold Assizes in the county of Somerset.

Issued by writ of the Privy Seal.

Language: English

Physical Description:
This charter is ruled in red ink and is ornamented with a black and white border shaded with cross-hatching. The initials ‘W’ in ‘William’, ‘F’ in ‘Fourth, and ‘G’ in ‘Grace’ in the first line of text are flourished. In the centre of the upper border is the Royal Coat of Arms with supporters. To the left are two female figures separated by a vase, and to the right is a seated figure of Justice, a vase and another female figure. The left margin includes a figure of Justice, a crown, a portrait of the king, a cherub and a female figure. The right border is identical except for the portrait of the King, which is replaced with a portrait of the Queen. Surrounding the figures are foliate flourishes.

Width 75cm x height 55cm.

Seal:
The Great Seal is pendent by cords and is in good condition.