History

The History of the North Yorkshire Lieutenancy

Originally the Sheriff was responsible for maintaining order and using the military measures necessary for defence of his local area. However, in Tudor times, Henry VIII allowed some noblemen to raise local armies to resist invasions. These were the first Lord-Lieutenants.

Following the Restoration in 1660 the Lord-Lieutenants were restored and given greater powers;  it was only in 1921 that they lost the power to call on able-bodied men to fight. Nevertheless, duties connected with the Armed Forces of the Crown, and in particular the Volunteer Reserve Forces and Cadets, remain an important part of today’s role.

Today the Lord-Lieutenant is an honorary office appointed by the Crown, under letters patent, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, and holds the Office until retirement at not later than the age of 75.

The Office of Lord-Lieutenant

The role of Lord-Lieutenant was created in 1547 at the end of Henry VIII’s reign with the task of maintaining stability in the shires and when necessary, for raising forces to combat foreign-led unrest. Since early in the Twentieth Century the primary role of the Lord- Lieutenant has been as the Monarch’s representative in the County.

Lord-Lieutenants are selected by the Appointments Office at 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister then recommends a single name to The Queen for appointment. The tenure used to be for life but Lord-Lieutenants now retire at 75. The Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire is supported by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and over fifty Deputy Lieutenants. These are men and women of wide experience and background from across North Yorkshire, the largest geographic Lieutenancy in the country.

The Lord-Lieutenant is responsible for arranging all aspects of visits by members of The Royal Family. These visits cover a variety of venues from large businesses to small voluntary organisations and from church services to military events. North Yorkshire has over one Royal visit a month, but there are many more engagements which members of the Royal Family cannot undertake. These are undertaken by the Lord-Lieutenant, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant or one of the Deputy Lieutenants and include religious services of all faiths, youth organisation events, voluntary organisation events and Regular and Reserve Forces and Cadets events. There are also numerous major Civic occasions attended by the Lieutenancy.

The Lord-Lieutenant also deals with the appointments of Magistrates, The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and for Voluntary Service, with vetting people proposed for Honours and recommending names for The Queen’s Royal Garden Parties. Some decorations are also presented by the Lord-Lieutenant on behalf of HM The Queen.

And an excellent, well researched article by Mrs S E Lochner JP DL, Chairman of the Surrey Branch of the Magistrates Association, on the history of the Lieutenency – and in particular the links with the magistracy, can be downloaded from the link below.

The Office of High Sheriff

The High Sheriff holds office for one year and is the Sovereign’s representative in the County for matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of Law and Order. The office of High Sheriff (the Shrievalty) is the oldest continuous secular office under the Crown and has existed for over a millennium, predating the office of the Lord-Lieutenant by several hundred years. Indeed, until 1908, the High Sheriff took precedence over the Lord-Lieutenant.  More information on the history of this ancient office can be found here.