A section of the proposed Canal from Newcastle to Haydon Bridge relating to the Acomb area, 1796
The Quarter Sessions were the quarterly meetings of Justices of the Peace who met to hear some criminal cases and to deal with local administrative issues. Many kinds of record were deposited with the local Quarter Sessions in accordance with Acts of Parliament to ensure their permanent preservation and to make them available for public inspection. Amongst these are plans and books of reference relating to public undertakings, for example, the building of canals, railways and the introduction of gas and water schemes. Northumberland Archive Service holds in the region of 300 deposited plans and books of reference relating to proposed schemes in Northumberland.
