The Midland Circuit 1735 - 1799.

This Circuit covered the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire,
Nottinghamshire, Rutland and Warwickshire; together with the Counties of the City of Coventry and
Lincoln and the Counties of the towns of Leicester Nottingham and Peterborough.
At least 453 death sentences were carried out as result of trials in this circuit.

Coventry.
The assizes were opened either the day before those for Warwickshire or the same day
or after the close of the Warwickshire Assizes. There were at least 23 executions at Whitley Common.

Derbyshire.
The assizes were always held at Derby. 35 confirmed executions were carried out, the normal
place of execution being Nuns Green, Derby.

Leicestershire.
The assizes were always held at Leicester. Either on the same day or the following one,
as the shire Assizes were opened, Assizes were opened for the County of the Borough of Leicester.
30 executions were carried out, although the site of these is unclear.

Lincolnshire.
The assizes were always held at Lincoln and on the same day were opened for the County
of the City of Lincoln. 95 executions have been recorded during the period. The normal place
of execution was near the West Gate of Lincoln Castle.

Northamptonshire.
The assizes were always held at Northampton. 66 executions were carried out in the period, normally
on Northampton Racecourse.

Nottinghamshire.
The assizes were always held at Nottingham. Either on the same day or the following one,
as the shire Assizes were opened Assizes were opened for the County of the Town of Nottingham.
At least 43 executions were carried out, normally at Gallows Hill, Nottingham.

Peterborough.
28 death sentences led to 10 executions.

Rutland.
The assizes were always held at Oakham and 7 executions were carried out at Mount Pleasant, Oakham

Warwickshire.
The assizes were always held at Warwick. At least 144 executions took place, generally at Gallows Hill,
Warwick.

The paucity of information on Assizes and death sentences for this circuit is allegedly due to the Clerk to
the Midland Assizes destroying all the court records around 1810, apparently because they were taking up too
much room! The Circuit has therefore been reconstructed from surviving records, e.g. Sheriffs Cravings and
Treasury Payments, Circuit Reprieves and newspaper reports.
There are some gaps in the records prior to 1760 mainly in respect of Leicester (shire and borough),
Nottingham (shire and borough) Rutland, Coventry and Warwick.

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