Stornoway Sheriff Court operates within the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highlands and Islands, which also comprises the courts situated at Aberdeen, Banff, Dingwall, Dornoch, Elgin, Fort William, Inverness, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Lochmaddy, Peterhead, Portree, Stonehaven, Tain and Wick. The sheriff court at Stornoway was the ordinary court for the Isle of Lewis. Shortly after the Second World War, Harris, with the exception of Bernera, formerly under the jurisdiction of the sheriff-substitute at Portree as part of the Lochmaddy or Long Island District, passed into that of the sheriff-substitute at Stornoway. This does not appear to be covered by any statutory order. As of The Sheriff Court Districts (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1996, Stornoway Sheriff Court District covers wards 1-23 in the area of Western Isles. Sheriffs of Stornoway 1827 John MacKenzie (sheriff-substitute) 1837 John MacKenzie (sheriff-substitute) 1847 A L MacDonald (sheriff-substitute) 1857 A L MacDonald (sheriff-substitute) 1867 A L MacDonald (sheriff-substitute) 1877 Charles Grey Spittal (sheriff-substitute) 1887 John Black (sheriff-substitute) 1897 George James Campbell (sheriff-substitute) [Administrative history taken from National Records of Scotland online catalogue]
ORDINARY COURT 1 Minute books, 1788-1959 2 Roll books, 1826-1966 3 Register of ordinary actions ('A' register), 1899-1974 4 Register of summary applications ('B' register), 1909-1972 5 Register of decrees, 1829-1971 6 Register of sequestrations, 1857-1910 7 Sequestration reports, 1862-1869 8 Register of poindings, 1842-1977 9 Borrowing receipt books, 1871-1925 10 Record of indorsations, 1863-1906 11 Appearance books, 1911-1933 12 Register of consignations 13 Fatal accident inquiries, 1936-1954 14 Register of procurators, 1841-1957 15 Adoption register, 1951-1975 16 Adoption processes, 1932-1975 17 'A' processes, 1947-1964 18 'B' processes, 1936-1975 19 Register of clubs, 1924-1949 20 Interlocutor sheets, 1863-1919 21 Sequestration petitions, 1840-1841 22 Miscellaneous petitions, 1882-1896 WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION 23 Special register, 1908-1950 24 Memoranda of agreement, 1908-1943 25 Not yet allocated 26 Record of compensation paid into court, 1928-1949 SMALL DEBT COURT 27 Court books, 1842-1976 28 Reports of arrestments, 1911-1937 29 Not yet allocated 30 Not yet allocated DEBTS RECOVERY COURT 31 Court books, 1867-1907 32 Not yet allocated SUMMARY REMOVINGS COURT 33 Court books, 1909-1975 COMMISSARY 34 Commissary record, 1816-1847 35 Commissary minute book, 1865-1898 36 Not yet allocated 37 Not yet allocated 38 Not yet allocated CRIMINAL COURT 39 Criminal record, 1851-1954 40 Criminal and quasi-criminal roll, 1921-1973 41 Indictments, 1846-1974 42 Criminal processes, 1851-1920
Paper records
Open
Digital item level catalogue available through the National Records of Scotland http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ Catalogue reference starting SC33