Town Clerk of London

The Town Clerk of London is an important position that has existed since the 13th century in the City of London, England. Originally the role was to take the minutes of London council meetings, but over the years the holder's role has gathered responsibility, including staff and executive powers. Historically the incumbent received an annual fee of £10.[1] This has risen to £244,000 in 2016/17, with 55% coming from the City Fund[2] and 40% coming from the City's Cash.[3]

Coat of arms of the City of London.

Responsibilities

The Town Clerk of London has been responsible for recording the minutes of the council of the Corporation of London and its committees since 1274.[4] But historically, the Town Clerk of London's role was also one of a legal advisor and recorder of city law. The Town Clerk has worked at the Guildhall in London since 1411. Today the Guildhall is still used for official functions.[5]

The elected City of London council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers as confirmed by charters of 1377 and 1383 and as written by the Town Clerk of London. The council, with the Town Clerk, has amended the civic constitution, regulated the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amended the functions of the City of London courts via writs.[6]

This was successful, leading to the similar expansion of the City of London courts which had jurisdiction outside London as a type of county court. This gradually took over from the now obsolete circuit criminal court called the Assize Court. The format strongly influenced the development of the High Court of Chancery and Lord Chancellor's jurisdiction based in Westminster.

The Great Fire of London destroyed 80% of the city in 1666. The Guildhall was damaged in this and other great fires.

During the early 17th century, before and after the 1666 Great Fire of London, the Town Clerk's function began to evolve into more complex and multiple roles. The more modern era of the Town Clerk as an executive requires more assistants.

Today the Lord Mayor of the City of London is assisted in his or her day-to-day work by three leading personnel[7] whose titles are the Town Clerk and Chief Executive, the Chamberlain and the Remembrancer.

Town Clerk and Chief Executive

By 2009 the actual title of Town Clerk had resolved into its combined Town Clerk and Chief Executive type position, which is much more than a recorder of minutes of the city council.

As at 2012, The Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City of London was John Barradell. The Town Clerk's Department manages hundreds of officers and employees of the Corporation.[8]

Duties[9] include:

Statue of John Carpenter (1372–1442)- Resides on a plinth in the City of London School. He is also the author of "Liber Albus" which he is shown holding in his hand.
  • Efficient management and execution of City functions.
  • Primary advisor on policy and resources.
  • Servicing meetings of the Court of Common Council and designated committees.
  • Servicing meetings of the Court of Aldermen and designated committees.
  • Investigating complaints against the City.
  • Electoral Registration Officer.
  • Overseer of public relations.
  • Overseer of economic development.
  • Overseer of human resources.

The noted Town Clerk of London

John Carpenter was one of the most famous of London's town clerks, and was the author of the first book of English Common Law[10] called "Liber Albus" (the White Book). The statue of John Carpenter, now residing within the City of London School, shows him holding this book.[11] John Carpenter (1372–1442) also in 1442 bequeathed land to the Corporation of London intended to fund the maintenance and education of four boys born within the City, who would be called 'Carpenter's children'. This later became the City of London School.

Town Clerks of London

List of the known Town Clerks of London from 1274 to 2009, covering 735 years[12]

‡ Date of election

Years servedNameNotes
1274–1306Ralph Crepyn, alias 'Ralph de Alegate'Served as "clericus" or "common clerk" of the city with an absence due to serious injury and Royal inquest from 1285 to 1286 due to the murder of his assailant.
1284–1286John de Bauquell, aka Batequell, Banquell and BankwellServed from 21 November 1284 to 1286 in absence of Ralph Crepyn.
1307-????William [last name unreadable]aka "clerk de la Gyalle"
1311–1335Hugh de WalthamFirst known elected Clerk on 20 November 1311.
25/1/1335‡-c. August 1335Roger de DephamSecond shortest term in office.
29/8/1335‡–1354John de Bourne|
1364?-????John Lucas
7/9/1368‡–1375Henry de Padingstone
10/8/1375‡–1399?Henry Perot
1399?–1417John MarchauntFirst known to be granted a dwelling and pension (£10 per year) upon retirement.
20/4/1417‡–1438John CarpenterMember of Parliament (MP) 1425, 1437–1439
4/10/1438‡–1446?Richard Barnett
18/11/1446‡–1461Roger Spicer, alias TongeFirst known to be dismissed from his office for offences and rebellions against King Edward IV on 5 August 1461.
2/10/1461‡–1490William Dunthorn
9/3/1490‡–1510Nicholas Pakenham
16/7/1510‡–1514Walter Stubbe
20/6/1514‡–1533William PaverFirst known to have committed suicide while in office
1533–1540Thomas Ryshton, or RysshtonAdmitted 13 May 1533, granted annual pension and livery.
1540–1570William BlackwellAdmitted 10 July 1540.
1570–1574Anthony StapletonAdmitted 24 July 1570
1574–1613William SebrightAdmitted 25 May 1574. First known to have a deputy (Richard Langley) admitted to assist in office.
1613–1642John WeldAdmitted 27 April 1613. His deputy was Robert Michell. He was later knighted for service to the Crown.
1642–1649Robert MichellSucceeded to office 15 September 1642 and confirmed 27 October 1642. First Deputy to assume office when required.
3/7/1649‡–1660John SadlerFirst known to be suspended from office (on 4 September 1660), then first to have suspension lifted (on 6 September 1660). He is the first known to be declared incapable of continued service (on 18 September 1660) and retired for cause.
1660–1666Sir John WeldAdmitted 21 September 1660, first to serve two separate terms of office. His deputy (William Avery) was to succeed him on his death per contract.
1666–1672William AveryAdmitted 12 November 1666.
9/2/1672‡–1690William Wagstaffe
1690–1700John GoodfellowElected 17 February 1690/91
2/7/1700‡–1705Henry Ashurst
16/11/1705‡–1717James Gibson
9/5/1717‡–1724Randolph Stracey
1724–1737Thomas JacksonElected 19 March 1723/24
1737–1757Miles ManFirst recorded "Clerk" to the Town Clerk to succeed as Town Clerk upon death, he was then elected 13 July 1737.
10/5/1757‡–1774Sir James HodgesKnighted c. 1760.
1774–1801William RixFirst known Clerk to the Town Clerk to officiate during vacancy of illness of Town Clerk. He was then elected 25 November 1774
1801-1801Edward BoxleyFormer "principal clerk" appointed to fill in during vacancy on 2 September 1801 to 15 December 1801. Shortest term in office
15/12/1801‡–1825Henry Woodthorpe, Sr.First to have his son (Henry Woodthorpe, Jr.) to be his "principal assistant" upon election then to be his appointed deputy on 27 February 1818
6/10/1825–1842‡Henry Woodthorpe, Jr.First son to succeed his father in office. "The Remembrancer" appointed to officiate during vacancy of Town Clerk
23/6/1842‡–1859Henry Alworth Merewether
10/2/1859‡–1873Frederick WoodthorpeSon of Henry Woodthorpe, Jr.[13]
17/7/1873‡–1902Sir John Braddick MoncktonKnighted 1880. The "Remembrancer" appointed to officiate during vacancy of Town Clerk
1/5/1902‡–1935Sir James BellWith effect from 1 June 1902. Knighted 1911
1935–1946Alfred Thomas RoachElected 13 June 1935. The "Comptroller and City Solicitor" (Anthony Frederick Ingham Pickford) appointed to officiate during vacancy of Town Clerk from November 1946
1946–1953Sir Anthony Frederick Ingham PickfordElected 27 February 1947 with effect from 28 November 1946. Knighted 1949
1954–1974Edward Henry NicholsElected 22 October 1953 with effect from 1 January 1954. Knighted June 1982
1974–1982Stanley James ClaytonWith effect 1 April 1974
1982–1991Geoffrey William RowleyWith effect 2 September 1982
1991–1995Samuel JonesWith effect 23 May 1991
1996–1999Bernard Peter HartyNo election date given
1999–2003Tom Christopher SimmonsNo election date given. Former Deputy Town Clerk
2003–2012Chris DuffieldNo election date given
2012–currentJohn BarradellNo election date given. Formerly served Brighton & Hove City Council. Formerly Deputy Chief Executive of Westminster City Council.

References
  1. Allen, Thomas (1828). The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent. With Engravings. (Vol. 1-4 by T. Allen; Vol. 5 by T. Wright.). G. Virtue. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. "City Fund Statement of Accounts 2016/17" (PDF). www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. City of London Corporation. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  3. "City's Cash Annual Report and Financial Statement" (PDF). www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. City of London Corporation. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  4. Court of Common Council: Administrative/Biographical history. See: http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=11567&inst_id=118&nv1=search&nv2=
  5. "The Guildhall", Museum of London.
  6. Court of Common Council: Administrative/Biographical history.
  7. Leading personnel page at: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Council_departments/Leading+personnel.htm -
  8. City of London Corporation – See: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. City of London – Leading personnel – http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Council_departments/Leading+personnel.htm#townclerk
  10. Medieval English common law: foundations for 21st century legal systems. See: English Common Law#Medieval English common law: foundations for 21st century legal systems
  11. Riley, Henry T., and John Carpenter, eds. Munimenta Gildhallae Londoniensis; Liber Albus, Liber Custumarum, Et Liber Horn. 3 Vols. in 4. Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores (Rolls Series), 12. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts, 1859–1862. City of London (England), Henry T. Riley, and John Carpenter. Munimenta Gildhallæ Londoniensis: Liber albus, Liber custumarum, et Liber Horn. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts, 1859.
  12. Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery, "The Town Clerk" – Pages 71–74, from the London Metropolitan Archives, City of London, 40 Northampton Road, London EC 1R 0HB – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk – www.lma.gov.uk – additional information supplied by the Director of Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Gallery, David Bradbury, BA, MA, DipLib, MCLIP.
  13. Cave, Edward; Nichols, John (1842). The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year ... Edw. Cave, 1736-[1868]. p. 557. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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