179:
1255:"Since 1557, the Borough of Ipswich has granted the Office of High Steward to twenty-four distinguished men... The power to appoint a High Steward was not granted by Royal charter, and it was not until 1665 that the person holding the office of High Steward was first referred to in a Royal charter, by King Charles II."
90:
His appointment might rest with the Crown, or with the
Governing Council or Close Body of the Corporation, sometimes subject to the approval of the Crown. ...an officer of great dignity and some influence, but with practically no duties or emoluments; usually a gentleman of high position, perhaps the
685:"This office is now become a mere honorary distinction, but there can be no doubt that at one time the High Steward was considered as a necessary check on any abuse of the royal prerogative, and as a means of communication between the Corporate authorities and the Ministers of the Crown."
58:
boroughs governed by corporations, the new governing bodies were given the right to appoint the steward in lieu of the lord. These stewardships were often instruments of patronage, with prominent courtiers obtaining charters for boroughs which in turn named them as steward.
1114:
27:. Originally a judicial office with considerable local powers, by the 17th century it had declined to a largely ceremonial role. The title is usually awarded for life, and in some cases has become associated with a particular
788:..they seem to occur with some regularity in the more developed towns only around the 1520s and 1530s when we find high stewards for, for example Cambridge and Bristol, Exeter, Dorchester, Plymouth and Oxford
368:: 2015 Austin Mitchell former MP for Great Grimsby awarded the post. Office in abeyance following Austin Mitchell's death on 18 August 2021. (Revival of former office of High Steward of Great Grimsby)
590:
In addition a number of boroughs formerly appointed stewards. The following stewardships which are no longer filled, were listed in directories of the late 19th and early 20th centuries:
1185:
1071:
128:, to the office of High Steward. Following uproar among the townspeople, the Duke declined the office, which remained vacant. In 1836 the reformed town council instead appointed the
1435:
1200:
1257:
104:. The act provided that the provisions of existing charters, where they were not inconsistent with the legislation, were to remain in force. Many of the new councils had
713:
1329:
1180:
827:
31:
title. As of 2007 twenty-four communities have the right to confer the status of high steward, although the office is in abeyance in a number of these.
1368:
910:
942:
858:
1353:
379:
375:
329:
116:
corporations. The appointments of stewards by the close corporations had sometimes proved controversial. For example, in 1833, the corporation of
1325:
1306:
1226:
1149:
1079:
78:. By 1689, the High Steward (in some boroughs known as Chief Steward, Capital Seneschal or Lord High Steward) had a purely honorary role.
163:
The following is a list of those persons who have held office as high stewards of towns or cities since the local government reforms of
1204:
483:
359:
1301:
315:
121:
1528:
883:
569:
544:
383:
1261:
1348:
862:
811:
420:
266:
230:
1533:
468:
125:
186:
311:
74:
Over time the legal aspects of the office passed to a deputy: a qualified lawyer eventually given the distinct title of
296:
781:
139:
and their councils were abolished. This has meant that high stewards are now appointed by various successor bodies:
731:
529:
498:
129:
79:
1110:
508:
101:
68:
1075:
105:
71:, and in many the steward was able to use his influence to effectively obtain the election of his own nominee.
833:
1423:
28:
1538:
950:
866:
445:: Lucy Zeal (appointed 2018) the daughter of Lady Elizabeth Godsall who retired as high steward that year.
972:
513:
1508:
803:
Urban patronage in early modern
England: corporate boroughs, the landed elite, and the crown, 1580–1640
493:
310:: Thomas Reginald Stephens 1974–1975; F C Morgan 1975–1978; The Honourable Sir Gordon Slynn (from 1992
164:
148:
1333:
1153:
168:
144:
100:
In
January 1836 the close corporations of boroughs were replaced by elected town councils under the
574:
246:
1439:
773:
336:
286:
211:
1234:
1157:
1106:
60:
801:
767:
190:
887:
591:
325:
255:: Eric Coupland Spencer to 1981. Office revived in 2007 with appointment of Derek Turner by
478:
344:
64:
8:
1311:
1135:
744:. Vol. 3: The Manor and the Borough part 2. London: Longmans Green. pp. 321–322
739:
643:
539:
216:
1283:
655:
647:
619:
463:
400:
117:
891:
769:
The
Reformation and the towns in England: politics and political culture, c. 1540–1640
1122:
807:
777:
396:
136:
51:
219:
in 1968. Created by charter of 1608. Revived in 2015 with appointment of former MP,
595:
256:
152:
75:
20:
627:
623:
349:
135:
With the reform of local government in the second half of the twentieth century,
44:
708:
340:: Vice Admiral Sir Frank Mason KCB to 1988, Stuart Whiteley, CBE, QPM since 1990
304:: Bill Bleakley 1979– 2007. Chris Strachan 2007– 2024. Sue Daish appointed 2024.
741:
English local government, from the
Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act
393:
140:
1522:
735:
689:
The
History of the Ancient Town and Borough of Newbury in the County of Berks
635:
109:
83:
55:
659:
404:
220:
40:
639:
631:
607:
599:
559:
554:
436:
47:
1455:
1409:
1392:
1056:
1039:
1022:
1000:
927:
611:
282:
1287:
663:
523:
1181:"In pictures: Harwich appoints its first ever woman High Steward"
603:
24:
1493:
Kelly's
Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes 1903
1484:
Kelly's
Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes 1899
651:
615:
43:, the office holder originally oversaw the administration of
469:
Richard Bertie 14th Earl of
Lindsey and 9th Earl of Abingdon
113:
1020:"The Duke of Beaufort Founder of Badminton Horse Trials".
1107:"Minutes of civic honours council meeting 20 March 2008"
95:
1203:. Hertford Town Council. 10 August 2003. Archived from
1260:. Ipswich Borough Council. 11 May 2009. Archived from
1284:"Lord Mandelson picked for High Steward of Hull post"
215:: Office was in abeyance after the death of the 20th
399:
and is usually given as an additional office to the
1178:
158:
54:. As towns emerged from manorial control to become
1349:"They shall grow not old: War victims remembered"
973:"Sir Tony Baldry becomes High Steward of Banbury"
352:appointed 2013 after post fell into abeyance 1974
19:is an honorary title bestowed by the councils or
1520:
376:Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
908:"Former headteacher is new Lord High Steward".
806:. Stanford University Press. pp. 171–172.
709:"Harwich: Ceremony To Appoint New High Steward"
1474:. London: Joseph A Whitaker. pp. 741–757.
1371:. Colchester Borough Council. 3 November 2015
706:
403:. Currently, as from June 2020, this is HHJ
285:in 1986. Revived in 2007 as High Steward of
132:, a prominent Whig politician, to the post.
1302:"Ex-trawler chief gets top Grimsby office"
1101:
1099:
1097:
878:
876:
853:
851:
1346:
1072:"Freedom of the Borough for High Steward"
903:
901:
799:
761:
759:
702:
700:
698:
681:
679:
484:Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol
1469:
1294:
1015:
1013:
1011:
730:
316:Peter Temple-Morris, Baron Temple-Morris
1094:
873:
848:
765:
726:
724:
691:. Oxford: Parker & Co. p. 551.
545:Henry Seymour, 9th Marquess of Hertford
384:Penelope, Countess Mountbatten of Burma
1521:
1502:
1472:Almanack for the Year of Our Lord 1897
949:. Banbury Town Council. Archived from
898:
756:
695:
676:
585:
1361:
1008:
863:Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
686:
96:Municipal and local government reform
1463:
1326:"Romsey Town Council Official Guide"
721:
245:: Office in abeyance since death of
173:
1340:
1310:. 13 September 2007. Archived from
1227:"Salisbury, Marquess of (GB, 1789)"
947:Banbury Town Council Official Guide
324:: Office traditionally held by the
312:Gordon Slynn, Baron Slynn of Hadley
281:: Office in abeyance with death of
13:
413:: Graham R Denny JP appointed 2012
392:: This appointment is made by the
247:Sir Randle John Baker Wilbraham Bt
112:majorities in place of the former
91:owner or the patron of the Borough
14:
1550:
1179:Séamus O'Hanlon (30 April 2024).
707:Debbie Sigery (25 October 2007).
275:: Michael Falcon CBE (since 1984)
1233:. 10 August 2003. Archived from
1186:Harwich and Manningtree Standard
530:Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
177:
159:List of high stewards since 1974
1496:
1487:
1478:
1446:
1428:
1424:Stratford gets new High Steward
1417:
1400:
1383:
1318:
1276:
1249:
1219:
1193:
1172:
1142:
1113:. 20 March 2008. Archived from
1111:North East Lincolnshire Council
1064:
1047:
1030:
991:
965:
935:
918:
800:Patterson, Catherine F (1999).
626:(hereditary office held by the
102:Municipal Corporations Act 1835
23:of certain towns and cities in
1529:Ceremonial officers in England
1347:Hugh Fort (15 November 2006).
1076:Great Yarmouth Borough Council
931:. 22 October 1968. p. 10.
820:
793:
1:
1078:. 1 July 2007. Archived from
1060:. 29 August 1981. p. 10.
979:. Radio Horton. 10 March 2016
829:A History of Kingston on Hull
669:
419:: In abeyance since death of
265:: In abeyance since death of
229:: In abeyance since death of
1505:By-ways of Cambridge History
1459:. 8 January 1975. p. 3.
1396:. 12 March 1983. p. 10.
1156:. 5 May 2010. Archived from
1004:. 9 August 1977. p. 12.
509:King's Lynn and West Norfolk
86:summarised this as follows:
7:
1534:Local government in England
1470:Whitaker, Joseph A (1896).
1413:. 19 March 1960. p. 8.
943:"Banbury, an Historic Town"
514:Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
227:Bristol (Lord High Steward)
10:
1555:
1509:Cambridge University Press
1369:"Council Decision details"
1258:"High Stewards of Ipswich"
34:
1436:"Winchester City Council"
1154:Guildford Borough Council
1043:. 1 May 1980. p. 18.
1026:. 6 May 1984. p. 16.
362:to 1998; David Jacobs CBE
766:Tittler, Robert (1998).
575:Charles, Prince of Wales
1440:Winchester City Council
774:Oxford University Press
366:North East Lincolnshire
287:North East Lincolnshire
1453:"Royal High Steward".
925:"Lord Saye and Sele".
832:. 1892. Archived from
687:Money, Walter (1887).
570:Windsor and Maidenhead
93:
1336:on 28 September 2010.
1117:on 23 September 2010.
888:Hereford City Council
714:Eastern Daily Gazette
421:10th Duke of Beaufort
326:Marquess of Salisbury
267:10th Duke of Beaufort
231:10th Duke of Beaufort
88:
1503:Keanes, F A (1947).
1237:on 14 September 2010
1054:"Mr E. C. Spencer".
977:Banbury Town Council
776:. pp. 231–235.
526:(Lord High Steward)
356:Kingston upon Thames
191:adding missing items
1539:Civic high stewards
1330:Romsey Town Council
1264:on 27 February 2012
1207:on 2 September 2010
869:on 13 October 2008.
620:Dukes of Devonshire
586:Former stewardships
540:Stratford-upon-Avon
360:Lord Boyd-Carpenter
217:Baron Saye and Sele
39:Originating in the
1407:"Court Circular".
1390:"Court Circular".
1290:. 7 February 2013.
1231:Cracroft's Peerage
1201:"The Coat of Arms"
998:"Court Circular".
596:Earls of Abingdon)
464:Abingdon-on-Thames
401:Recorder of London
345:Kingston upon Hull
189:; you can help by
137:municipal boroughs
122:Duke of Wellington
118:Kingston upon Hull
1511:. pp. 21–56.
813:978-0-8047-3587-2
583:
582:
397:Court of Aldermen
380:Norton Knatchbull
207:
206:
145:district councils
52:lord of the manor
50:on behalf of the
1546:
1513:
1512:
1500:
1494:
1491:
1485:
1482:
1476:
1475:
1467:
1461:
1460:
1450:
1444:
1443:
1432:
1426:
1421:
1415:
1414:
1404:
1398:
1397:
1387:
1381:
1380:
1378:
1376:
1365:
1359:
1358:
1344:
1338:
1337:
1332:. Archived from
1322:
1316:
1315:
1314:on 17 June 2011.
1298:
1292:
1291:
1280:
1274:
1273:
1271:
1269:
1253:
1247:
1246:
1244:
1242:
1223:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1197:
1191:
1190:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1150:"Annual Meeting"
1146:
1140:
1139:
1133:
1128:
1126:
1118:
1103:
1092:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1068:
1062:
1061:
1051:
1045:
1044:
1034:
1028:
1027:
1017:
1006:
1005:
995:
989:
988:
986:
984:
969:
963:
962:
960:
958:
939:
933:
932:
922:
916:
915:
911:Retford Guardian
905:
896:
895:
894:on 16 July 2011.
890:. Archived from
884:"Chief Stewards"
880:
871:
870:
865:. Archived from
855:
846:
845:
843:
841:
836:on 6 August 2010
824:
818:
817:
797:
791:
790:
763:
754:
753:
751:
749:
728:
719:
718:
704:
693:
692:
683:
628:Earls of Darnley
579:8 February 1975
488:Hereditary Held
479:Bury St. Edmunds
473:Hereditary Held
449:
448:
328:since 1605. The
257:charter trustees
202:
199:
181:
180:
174:
153:charter trustees
69:House of Commons
21:charter trustees
1554:
1553:
1549:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1544:
1543:
1519:
1518:
1517:
1516:
1501:
1497:
1492:
1488:
1483:
1479:
1468:
1464:
1452:
1451:
1447:
1434:
1433:
1429:
1422:
1418:
1406:
1405:
1401:
1389:
1388:
1384:
1374:
1372:
1367:
1366:
1362:
1354:Wokingham Times
1345:
1341:
1324:
1323:
1319:
1300:
1299:
1295:
1282:
1281:
1277:
1267:
1265:
1256:
1254:
1250:
1240:
1238:
1225:
1224:
1220:
1210:
1208:
1199:
1198:
1194:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1161:
1160:on 14 June 2011
1148:
1147:
1143:
1131:
1129:
1120:
1119:
1105:
1104:
1095:
1085:
1083:
1082:on 15 June 2011
1070:
1069:
1065:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1036:
1035:
1031:
1019:
1018:
1009:
997:
996:
992:
982:
980:
971:
970:
966:
956:
954:
953:on 10 June 2011
941:
940:
936:
924:
923:
919:
914:. 14 June 2007.
907:
906:
899:
882:
881:
874:
857:
856:
849:
839:
837:
826:
825:
821:
814:
798:
794:
784:
764:
757:
747:
745:
729:
722:
705:
696:
684:
677:
672:
588:
560:Lady Mary Fagan
499:Sir Bob Russell
350:Peter Mandelson
203:
197:
194:
178:
161:
141:London Boroughs
98:
37:
12:
11:
5:
1552:
1542:
1541:
1536:
1531:
1515:
1514:
1495:
1486:
1477:
1462:
1445:
1442:. 16 May 2012.
1427:
1416:
1399:
1382:
1360:
1339:
1317:
1293:
1275:
1248:
1218:
1192:
1171:
1141:
1093:
1063:
1046:
1029:
1007:
990:
964:
934:
917:
897:
872:
847:
819:
812:
792:
782:
755:
736:Webb, Beatrice
720:
694:
674:
673:
671:
668:
587:
584:
581:
580:
577:
572:
566:
565:
562:
557:
551:
550:
549:17 March 2016
547:
542:
536:
535:
534:18 March 1960
532:
527:
520:
519:
518:12 March 1983
516:
511:
505:
504:
501:
496:
490:
489:
486:
481:
475:
474:
471:
466:
460:
459:
456:
453:
447:
446:
440:
439:appointed 2015
430:
424:
414:
408:
394:City of London
387:
369:
363:
353:
341:
333:
319:
305:
299:
297:Earl of Onslow
290:
276:
273:Great Yarmouth
270:
260:
250:
240:
234:
224:
205:
204:
198:September 2010
184:
182:
160:
157:
130:Earl of Durham
126:prime minister
124:, former Tory
120:nominated the
97:
94:
63:also returned
36:
33:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1551:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1526:
1524:
1510:
1507:. Cambridge:
1506:
1499:
1490:
1481:
1473:
1466:
1458:
1457:
1449:
1441:
1437:
1431:
1425:
1420:
1412:
1411:
1403:
1395:
1394:
1386:
1370:
1364:
1356:
1355:
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1343:
1335:
1331:
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1313:
1309:
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1303:
1297:
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1279:
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1222:
1206:
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1187:
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1159:
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1137:
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1116:
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1108:
1102:
1100:
1098:
1081:
1077:
1073:
1067:
1059:
1058:
1050:
1042:
1041:
1033:
1025:
1024:
1016:
1014:
1012:
1003:
1002:
994:
978:
974:
968:
952:
948:
944:
938:
930:
929:
921:
913:
912:
904:
902:
893:
889:
885:
879:
877:
868:
864:
860:
854:
852:
835:
831:
830:
823:
815:
809:
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804:
796:
789:
785:
783:0-19-820718-2
779:
775:
771:
770:
762:
760:
743:
742:
737:
733:
727:
725:
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710:
703:
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699:
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682:
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675:
667:
665:
661:
657:
653:
649:
645:
641:
637:
636:Kidderminster
633:
629:
625:
621:
618:(held by the
617:
613:
609:
605:
601:
597:
594:(held by the
593:
578:
576:
573:
571:
568:
567:
563:
561:
558:
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553:
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546:
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541:
538:
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531:
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522:
521:
517:
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512:
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503:30 June 2015
502:
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354:
351:
347:
346:
342:
339:
338:
334:
332:died in 2003.
331:
327:
323:
320:
317:
314:) 1978–2009;
313:
309:
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303:
300:
298:
294:
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274:
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228:
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209:
208:
201:
192:
188:
185:This list is
183:
176:
175:
172:
170:
166:
156:
154:
150:
149:town councils
146:
142:
138:
133:
131:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
103:
92:
87:
85:
84:Beatrice Webb
81:
77:
72:
70:
66:
62:
57:
53:
49:
46:
42:
32:
30:
26:
22:
18:
1504:
1498:
1489:
1480:
1471:
1465:
1454:
1448:
1430:
1419:
1408:
1402:
1391:
1385:
1373:. Retrieved
1363:
1352:
1342:
1334:the original
1320:
1312:the original
1305:
1296:
1278:
1266:. Retrieved
1262:the original
1251:
1239:. Retrieved
1235:the original
1230:
1221:
1209:. Retrieved
1205:the original
1195:
1184:
1174:
1162:. Retrieved
1158:the original
1144:
1115:the original
1084:. Retrieved
1080:the original
1066:
1055:
1049:
1038:
1032:
1021:
999:
993:
981:. Retrieved
976:
967:
955:. Retrieved
951:the original
946:
937:
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859:"Governance"
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1307:Fish Update
433:Wallingford
386:since 2010.
382:1979–2010;
378:1940–1979;
318:since 2009.
221:Tony Baldry
41:Middle Ages
1523:Categories
1132:|url=
1037:"Deaths".
772:. Oxford:
670:References
640:Leominster
632:Huntingdon
608:Buckingham
600:Barnstaple
555:Winchester
494:Colchester
458:Date Held
437:Ken Lester
417:Tewkesbury
263:Gloucester
237:Chichester
187:incomplete
1456:The Times
1410:The Times
1393:The Times
1268:28 August
1241:28 August
1211:28 August
1164:28 August
1086:28 August
1057:The Times
1040:The Times
1023:The Times
1001:The Times
957:27 August
928:The Times
840:28 August
624:Gravesend
612:Cambridge
443:Wokingham
411:Southwold
390:Southwark
293:Guildford
283:Carl Ross
243:Congleton
56:chartered
1288:BBC News
1123:cite web
983:10 March
738:(1906).
664:Stafford
592:Abingdon
524:Plymouth
429:: vacant
427:Tamworth
423:in 1984.
322:Hertford
308:Hereford
269:in 1984.
249:in 1980.
239:: vacant
233:in 1984.
76:recorder
61:Boroughs
1375:9 March
1134:value (
748:14 July
656:Reading
648:Newbury
604:Bewdley
337:Ipswich
302:Harwich
279:Grimsby
212:Banbury
110:Radical
67:to the
65:members
45:borough
35:Origins
29:peerage
25:England
1130:Check
810:
780:
652:Oxford
455:Holder
372:Romsey
80:Sidney
48:courts
644:Louth
616:Derby
1377:2016
1270:2010
1243:2010
1213:2010
1166:2010
1136:help
1088:2010
985:2016
959:2010
842:2010
808:ISBN
778:ISBN
750:2010
662:and
169:1974
167:and
165:1965
114:Tory
108:and
106:Whig
82:and
630:),
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151:or
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