The Home Circuit 1735 - 1799

This Circuit covered the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
London & Middlesex were dealt with separately.
1108 confirmed executions were recorded in the period, together with 64 possible ones.

Essex.

The Assizes were always held at Chelmsford. Executions were normally carried out at Chelmsford. 225 confirmed executions have been traced together with a further 22 possible ones.

Hertfordshire.

The Assizes were always held at Hertford. From 1741 executions took place at Gallows Hill on the Ware Road leading out of Hertford.
111 confirmed executions have been traced, plus 4 more possible ones.

Kent.

The Assizes we held at Rochester for both Lent and Summer Assizes during the years 1737 - 1741 and 1743 - 1748 and at the Lent Assizes only in 1735, 1749, during the years 1753 - 1764
and in 1773. All other Assizes were held at Maidstone.
308 confirmed executions have been traced together with a further 14 possible ones. Most were carried out on Penenden Heath at Maidstone.

Miscellaneous jurisdictions in Kent.

Canterbury, Rye, Sandwich and Tenterden were able to pass death sentences at Quarter Sessions and these led to 9 executions.

Surrey.

The Lent Assizes were held at Kingston-upon-Thames except in 1738, 1742, 1744, 1747 and 1750, when they were held at Guildford. In the years 1745, 1748 and 1743
when they were held at Croydon.

The Summer Assizes were also held at Kinston-upon-Thames in the periods 1735 - 1743 and 1745 - 1751, in 1753 and 1756.
They were held at Croydon in 1744, 1749, 1755, 1758 and in odd-numbered years from 1761 to 1803.
They were held at Guildford in 1752, 1754, 1757, 1759 and in even-numbered years from 1760 to 1799.
337 confirmed executions have been traced during the period together with a further 14 possible ones.
These were carried out at several locations, principally on Kennington Common but also at Kingston & Guildford.

Sussex.

The Lent Assizes were held at East Grinstead from 1735 to 1799. The Summer Assizes were held at Horsham in the even-numbered years from 1736 to 1798; and at Lewes in the
odd-numbered years from 1735 to 1799.

There were 88 confirmed executions and 10 possible ones with most being carried out at Horsham.

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