Lancaster Priory

History of the Duchy of Lancaster
and the Office of High Sheriff

The following historical review of the Duchy of Lancaster is taken from the Lancaster Priory "Service of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the Shield Hanging of the High Sheriff of Lancashire" booklet, Friday 30th June 2000; after which Service the new High Sheriff, Rodney Newman Swarbrick Esquire, C.B.E. D.L., presented his Shield in Lancaster Castle. The photographs are from the 2002 event.

The "Heritage of Lancaster" referred to by John of Gaunt ['Gaunt' is derived from 'Ghent' - in Flanders, Belgium] in his will dates from 1265 when Henry III gave his youngest son, Edmund, lands and possessions following the Barons' War. In 1267 Henry created Edmund the first Earl of Lancaster and gave him the County, Honor and Castle of Lancaster.

In 1335 Edward III raised Lancaster to a County Palatine and created Edmund's grandson, Henry Grosmont, first Duke of Lancaster. This gave Henry sovereign rights in the County.

The first Duke died without male issue and the inheritance passed to his daughters, Blanche and Maude. By his marriage to Blanche, John of Gaunt, son of Edward III, acquired the inheritance and in 1390 the Palatine was granted to his heirs forever.

Following the death of his father, John of Gaunt, in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke returned from exile to secure the Lancaster inheritance from claims by his cousin, Richard II. Richard was deposed and Bolingbroke was later crowned Henry IV After his coronation, Henry decreed that the Duchy inheritance should remain separate from all other Crown holdings to be enjoyed by his heirs and successors. It has remained so to the present day.

Thus, distinctive procedures for the inheritance endure, the Chancellor of the Duchy - a Member of the Cabinet - being directly responsible to The Queen for the administration of the Duchy.

The office of High Sheriff has its roots in Saxon times and is the oldest continuous secular office under the Crown.

[The word 'Sheriff' is derived from 'Shire Reeve' - the office of a Reeve being a chief magistrate, in this case responsible for law enforcement for the shire. Shire means county - for example the County of Lancaster is called Lancashire.]

The High Sheriff is the Keeper of The Queen's Peace in a County and executes judgements of the High Court through an Under Sheriff. Office is held for one year during which the High Sheriff is responsible for the well-being of Her Majesty's Judges in the county, and other public duties.

In Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, the High Sheriff is appointed by The Queen in Right of Her Duchy of Lancaster. Each Lord Lieutenant recommends a name to the Chancellor of the Duchy. The Queen 'pricks' the names of the three High Sheriffs on the Lites with a bodkin, a practice dating back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I. The Chancellor of the Duchy attends the pricking ceremony which serves to distinguish appointments to the Shrievalty in the Duchy area from those in the remainder of the country.

During their installations High Sheriffs make a declaration to carry out their historic duties during their year in Office and at a ceremony each year, the Constable of the Castle receives the High Sheriff of Lancashire's Shield which is hung in the Shire Hall of Lancaster Castle.

The Duchy Emblem on the Wind Vane above the John O' Gaunt Gateway

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