The section was formed in 1974 to promote the publication of indexed transcripts of the court rolls of the Manor of Wakefield.

It has so far published fourteen volumes covering selected years from the mid fourteenth to the late eighteenth century.

UK subscribers pay £6 a year and receive a copy of each volume as it is published. They also receive an invitation to the various seminars and day schools organized to mark each new publication. Overseas subscribers pay £8 / year.

The Manor of Wakefield covers a vast area from Todmorden in the west to Normanton in the east and as far south as Holme. Its court rolls survive in an almost unbroken run from 1274 up to the 1920s. They are a vital source for historians interested in buildings, the economy, the development of industry, the law, a particular locality, or their own family.

The chair of the section is Professor Paul Harvey and the General Editor is Dr Constance Fraser.

Those wishing to join the section should send an initial payment of £12 to obtain the most recent volume to the Hon Treasurer, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Claremont, 23 Clarendon Road, Leeds, LS2 9NZ. Cheques should be made payable to Yorkshire Archaeological Society.

Copies of past volumes remain available at £12.00p plus £1.50 postage to subscribers and £15.00 plus £1.50 postage to non-subscribers. Overseas rates to be advised.

Volume  1 639-40 edited by Dr C M Fraser and Kenneth Elmsley
Volume  2 1348-50 edited by Dr H M Jewell
Volume  3 1330-32 edited by Professor S S Walker
Volume  4 1583-85 edited by Professor A Weikel
Volume  5 1664-65 edited by Dr C M Fraser
Volume  6 1350-52 edited by Mr M Habberjam, Miss M O'Regan and B Hale
Volume  7 1550-52 edited by Professor A Weikel
Volume  8 1651-52 edited by Miss L Robinson
Volume  9 1537-40 edited by Professor A Weikel
Volume 10 1790-2 edited by A Brent with Dr B J Barber
Volume 11 1608-9 edited by Dr C M Fraser
Volume 12 1338-40 edited by Dr K M Troup
Volume 13 1687-8 edited by Dr C M Fraser
Volume 14 1688-9 edited by Dr C M Fraser