Mayors and Sheriffs - Governing Nottingham
A number of different officers were created during the middle ages to govern Nottingham. Over time the administration of the town became dominated by the mayor, the aldermen and a new town council.
There were a number of different officers who were responsible for governing Nottingham. These officers were:
- The Reeve: this was a tax collector who would collect revenue (the 'farm') for the king and also uphold the king's prerogatives. The reeve would have been appointed by the king or the county sheriff and existed before 1155. In 1189 the burgesses of Nottingham were given the right to appoint their own reeve
- The Bailiff: this was a new name for the reeve which appears in a charter of 1255. In 1284 the burgesses were allowed to appoint two bailiffs, one for the English borough and one for the French.
- The Coroner: this officer first appears in 1230. The coroner had a wider remit than today. His duties included enquiring about murder, rape, treasure trove, wrecks, deaths in prison, outlaws and deodands (a person or object instrumental in killing someone)
- The Mayor: this was a new officer appointed in 1284 who was superior to the bailiffs and became the focus of the town's administration. He was elected for a year from the burgesses at Michaelmas (29 September). He presided over the Borough Court, and may have had his own exchequer
- The Recorder: established in 1399, this officer was a man of law involved in the Borough Court
- The Justices of the Peace: six JPs were established in 1399. One was to be the mayor; another was the recorder, and the remaining four were appointed by the mayor. They were involved in the Borough Court
- The Sheriff first appears in 1449. There were two sheriffs, one for each borough, and this continued until 1835. The sheriffs replaced the bailiffs as the main collectors of taxes for the King. The sheriffs also presided over the new Sheriff's Court, were responsible for the gaol and had to arrest debtors. They received profits from the Borough Court instead of a salary. This is the first occasion that the Sheriff of Nottingham appeared.
- The Aldermen: from 1449 seven aldermen were to be appointed and would act as new Justices of the Peace for the Court of Quarter Sessions. From their number was elected the mayor.
Other officers included chamberlains who collected money from corporation property and used it for public works; bridgemasters who collected money and used it for the maintenance of the Hethbeth Bridge over the Trent; town clerks; and the mayor's sergeant, who would have served writs or court summons.
Read the bond that Thomas Warner had to sign when he became sheriff in 1488 [PDF 18KB] 
The Town Council
After 1449 power ostensibly lay with the mayor and the citizens of the town. However, it was now impractical for all the burgesses to meet to make decisions on town affairs, so a borough council, often called the Hall, was appointed. However, power really rested with the Mayor and the Aldermen.
The council was first established in 1446 and comprised the mayor and twelve burgesses. After 1449 it became usual for the aldermen to be elected from among these twelve councillors. The formation of this council meant that the burgesses effectively lost their right to manage town affairs. The mayor, aldermen and council became very powerful and formed a 'close' corporation, deciding on all matters of government, law (through the courts as the aldermen were also JPs) and trade. The council would meet at the Guildhall. Activities of the council included:
- Creating new burgesses
- Granting licences to trade in the town
- Organising and supervising the market
- Supervising the work of elected officers
- Arranged for the burgesses to pay their regular taxes and to organise regular payments to the crown.
Read the licences issued in 1459 [PDF 20KB]
The council also enjoyed a whole range of entertainments; for example, a special performance was given in the Guildhall by the Queen's Players in 1571-2.
Important mayors in the history of Nottingham include Geoffrey Knyveton who founded the town council in 1446, and Thomas Thurland, a wealthy wool merchant after whom the modern Thurland Street is named.
The council continued until 1835 when the Municipal Corporations Act replaced it with the modern city council, organised into committees and departments.
At Nottinghamshire Archives
The activities of the mayor and the council, and town and legal affairs more widely, can be seen in the following records:
- Mayoralty Rolls record the work of the mayor but often overlap with the records of the borough court. They cover 1369-1370 (reference: CA 4812), 1395-1396 (reference: CA 3942), 1407-1408 and 1414-1415 (reference: CA 3942-4)
- Mayor's Books continue the record begun with the Mayoralty Rolls. These record the proceedings of the council and list some burgesses. They date from 1459 to 1599, with gaps (reference: CA 4478, CA 3955, CA 4494, CA 3350-77, CA 4547, CA 4588)
- Hall Books continue the Mayors Books and record the minutes of the council, with some other content. They are the forerunner of the modern City Council minutes. They cover 1600-1835, with gaps (reference: CA 3378-3594)
- Various indexes are also available.
There are a number of records relating to the council including disputes around its formation, dating 1512-1835 (reference: CA various). These include letters, complaints and abstracts of court records. There are also records relating to customs, 1597-1697 (references: CA 4770-1).
Mayors accounts for 1470-1547, with gaps (references: CA 7416, 4578, 7430, 4585-6)
Sheriffs accounts appear in the Borough Court records
Sheriffs bonds: these were documents signed by each new sheriff to confirm that they would carry out their duties, including paying the tax or farm to the King. They cover 1488-1834, with gaps (reference: CA 380-550)
Mayors' sergeants accounts for 1493, 1499-1500, c 1501-3 (references: CA 7431, CA 7418-7419, CA 7440)
Illustrations
Top right: sheriff's bond, 1488 (reference: CA 380).
Above left: Mayor's book: list of fines or fees paid by merchants to trade in Nottingham, 1459 (reference: CA 4478).
