Felons of Hathersage

Description

Before the establishment of police forces, the prosecution of anyone comitting minor crime or antisocial behaviour was the responsibility of the victim and the cost of pursuing such prosecutions often deterred those victims from taking action.  In the 18th century many local associations ‘for the prosecution of felons’ were formed across England which enabled those costs to be shared across communities.  This book describes the story of these local arrangements by exploring the written records of one such association, which was formed in the rural setting of a Peak District village in 1784 and which is still in existence.  It also views the history of the picturesque village of Hathersage from the rather unusual angle of antisocial behaviour.