LIEUTENANCY RECORDS

Records, files and papers of the Lord Lieutenants of Flintshire and Clwyd, 1803-1992, as well as brochures and pamphlets relating to the Lieutenancy.

Some items can only be accessed with permission from H.M. Lieutenant for Clwyd.

The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post honorarily. Both men and women are eligible for the post. The office can be considered viceregal, but not equivalent to that of a Governor-General, as Lord Lieutenants have virtually no role in local government, nor are they responsible for promulgating local ordinances in the monarch's name.

Partial reform of local government in England since 1995 has led to the creation of so-called ceremonial counties to which lord-lieutenants are now appointed. The Lieutenancies Act 1997 is the most recent piece of primary legislation dealing with Lieutenancies in England and includes the definitive list of the current areas used. Ceremonial counties may comprise combinations of county council areas and unitary authorities. Since the local government re-organisation of 1996 in Wales, lord-lieutenants are now appointed to preserved counties.

Lord-lieutenants are the monarch's representatives in their lieutenancy. It is their foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown, and in so doing they seek to promote a spirit of co-operation and good atmosphere by the time they give to voluntary and benevolent organisations and by the interest they take in the business and social life of their counties.

The modern responsibilities of lord-lieutenants include:

Arranging visits of members of the Royal family and escorting Royal visitors;

Presenting medals and awards on behalf of the Sovereign, and advising on Honours nominations;

Participating in civic, voluntary and social activities within the Lieutenancy;

Liaising with local units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force and their associated cadet forces;

Leading the local magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace; and

Chairing the local Advisory Committee for the Appointment of the General Commissioners of Income Tax, a tribunal which hears appeals against decisions made by the HM Revenue and Customs on a variety of different tax related matters.

As the sovereign's representative in his or her county, the Lord-Lieutenant remains non-political and does not hold office in any political party. They are appointed for life, although the customary age of retirement is 75 and the sovereign may remove them.

The Lord-Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants that he or she appoints. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant takes over when the Lord-Lieutenant is abroad, ill, or otherwise incapacitated. The Lord-Lieutenant appoints between 30 to 40 Deputy Lieutenants depending on the county's population size. They are unpaid, but receive minimal allowances.

Arranged chronologicaly by Deposit.

Some items can only be accessed with permission from H.M. Lieutenant for Clwyd

Please order documents using the alternative reference number (where provided).

A hard copy of the catalogue is available in Flintshire Record Office.

Compiled by Steven Davies for the ANW project.

Usual copyright regulations apply

All records deposited at Flintshire Record Office have been retained.

Further accruals are possible