Wicklow Grand Jury Abstracts of Presentments

Repository: Wicklow County Archives

Title	Wicklow Grand Jury Abstracts of Presentments
Archive Reference	IE WLAA/GJ
Web Link to this Entry	https://iar.ie/archive/wicklow-grand-jury-abstracts-presentments
Creation Dates	1818-1899
Extent Medium	75 items

Administrative History ↴

The Grand Juries were set up across the country from approximately the 17th century and were an early form of local government. The members were appointed by the County Sheriff, usually from the ranks of major local land owners. The Jury was initially concerned with the administration of justice, but later took on responsibility for building and maintaining roads, bridges, infirmaries, asylums, courthouses and gaols. The Grand Jury was empowered to levy a local County Cess (tax or rate) and met at Spring and Summer Assizes where presentments (works) were passed. The Grand Jury was superseded by the county council system in 1898 but retained its judicial function until it was abolished in 1924.
Archival History ↴

Official Transfer
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

Official Transfer

Scope & Content: Wicklow Grand Jury ↴

The Abstracts of Presentments relate to proposals for works put before presentment sessions at the Spring and Summer assizes and the resulting contracts and payments. They hold a wealth of information, including names, salaries and work of individuals in the employment of the grand jury. Examples of entries include works on roads and bridges, the accompaniment of prisoners, the payment of constabulary and upkeep of dispensaries, fever hospitals and the county gaol. Names and salaries of officials such as the county surveyor or the surgeon at the county infirmary are also shown. Another valuable aspect of these records are the references to landmarks, such as bridges, turnpikes, residences and roads. As well as this detailed information, the general policies, approaches and responsibilities of the Grand Jury in 19th century Ireland are also illuminated.
Appraisal Destruction ↴

Permanent Retention
Arrangement ↴

Printed bound volumes are arranged chronologically, by barony, or county at large

Access Conditions	Access arranged by appointment with archivist
Conditions Governing Reproduction	Permission from archivist required
Creation Dates	1818-1899
Extent Medium	75 items
Material Language Script	English
Finding Aids	Descriptive list Archive Web Link →

There are no Allied Materials

Archivist Note	Wicklow County Archives Archivist
Rules/Conventions	ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
Date of Descriptions	40695