This page is compiled by the Library Service to provide complete coverage of historical sources. It is not intened to replace the more detailed information available from the Devon Record Office.

While starting as a court of law in Tudor times for less serious crimes than the Assizes, the Quarter Sessions had many administrative functions attached to it over the centuries. Records of a wide range of activities are held in the Devon Record Office. Beside the County Quarter Sessions there were also separate sessions for Exeter, Plymouth, Bideford, South Molton, Dartmouth, Tiverton and Torrington. The main records of the Court in session, the order books extend from 1592 to 1971 for Devon (1557-1971 for Exeter). Other records include gaol calendars and records of transportation (for Devon from 1718 to 1775). Plans of major statutory undertakings, such as roads, bridges, ferries, harbours and railways were deposited pursuant to a House of Commons order of 1792, though most for Devon do not survive until after 1810. Deeds of bargain and sale were enrolled from 1536. The Sessions were charged with maintaining registers of various kinds. Among those which survive are registers for freemasons' lodges and printing presses. Publicans' recognizances are a useful source for those studying the history of inns, although the name of the inn is not always given. Devon's listings of Quarter Sessions and other records have been included in the Public Record Office's Access to Archives" database.

Devon County Council was established, like all other county councils in 1889 and took over most of the adminstrative work of the quarter sessions. At first they had relatively few powers but from the start the records of the County Treasurer survive in the DRO. The gradual growth of the county's administrative activities is seen by the Record Office's holdings of other series of records, for example those for education (from 1890), roads and bridges (from 1892) smallholdings (from 1910), public health (from 1912), public assistance (from 1929), planning (from 1931). Many of these functions, for example health, have now been transferred to other authorities. Council minutes were printed and made more widely available from 1905.

Further reading:

Emmison, F.G. and Gray, I. County records. (Historical Association, 1961).

Devon Record Office. Assizes and quarter sessions in Exeter. (1971).