Petty Sessions began at the beginning of the 18th century as extra meetings to lessen the burden on Justices of the Peace in Quarter Sessions. The normal practice was to subdivide a shire into geographical divisions with each magistrate being assigned to a particular division. The Sessions were held twice monthly in each division as opposed to the Quarter Sessions, which were held every three months.
The Petty Sessions dealt mainly with minor cases such as drunkenness, assaults, larceny, trespassing, fraud and juvenile cases, as well as ale licensing and adoption. They required the presence of two Justices of the Peace but no jury.
The Colwyn Division was formed in 1974 (new Clwyd Divisions post 1974) and covered areas previously under Colwyn Bay and Isdulas Denbighshire Divisions (pre 1974).
This collection includes: minute books, court registers, juvenile court registers and financial records.
Related material-
PSD/C- Colwyn Bay Petty Session records (1898-1974)
PSD/F- Isdulas Petty Session records (1872-1974)