High Sheriffs of West Glamorgan

Warrants, declarations and related records of High Sheriffs of West Glamorgan, 1986-2008.

In the medieval period in Wales, the Sheriff was the agent either of the Crown in the Principality or of a Marcher Lord. Following the Act of Union 1536, the administrative and judicial systems of England were introduced into the whole of Wales. From the Tudor period onwards the executive powers exercised by the shrievalty diminished. The military duties were shifted to the Lord Lieutenant, and most of the remaining powers were lost to the Justices of the Peace or their paid officials. The office underwent a decline in status at the beginning of the eighteenth century; it became a position with less power and more expense. As the High Shrievalty became less attractive, more attempts were made to avoid serving the position. Following local government reorganization in 1974, the High Shrievalty of West Glamorgan was created. A new High Sheriff is elected each year from three candidates.

Arranged chronologically by High Sheriff.

No restrictions

It is the policy of the West Glamorgan Archive Service to withhold the names of depositors.

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: West Glamorgan Archive Service, Warrants and declarations of High Sheriffs of West Glamorgan, catalogue; Moore, Patricia, (ed.), Glamorgan Sheriffs: Biographical notes on Sheriffs 1966-1993 and Lists of Sheriffs from the Twelfth Century to the Present Day, (Cardiff, 1995).

A hard copy is available at the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at West Glamorgan Archive Service have been retained.

Accruals are expected