Records of Lambeth Magistrates Court, 1877-1964. This collection contains court registers, court minutes, and proforma complaints and orders related to domestic proceedings. Other miscellaneous records have also survived from Lambeth Magistrates Court. While these have not survived in sufficient numbers to elucidate fully the record-keeping activities of the Court, they have been preserved as examples of the kinds of records maintained by the Court Officers, including the Clerk, Gaoler and Warrant Officer.
Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.
Domestic proceedings: A married woman under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Married Women) Act 1895 and subsequent Acts could go to a magistrates' court and apply for orders which in certain circumstances would enable her to separate from her husband, have custody of any children and receive maintenance from him. Under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1844 a mother expecting a bastard child or who had given birth to one could obtain a maintenance order against the putative father.
Lambeth Magistrates Court