High Steward of Sutton Coldfield
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The High Steward of Sutton Coldfield was an office relating to the government of the town of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England.
History
[edit]Prior to the Royal Charter of 1528 Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers of Chartley held the office of High Steward under the Crown. He also held office as Bailiff of the Manor, Keeper of the Rolls and Keeper of Coldfield Walk. The salaries for these posts, under a grant of 1525, were to be paid at the rate of £16 a year to him and his son Henry for life.
On the granting of the Charter the town was to be held by a Warden and Society (roughly equivalent to Mayor and Corporation) and the inhabitants of the town. The Charter granted the right to appoint a High Steward, although this right was not exercised until 1547. The High Stewards were appointed for life and were to be entitled to a Deputy to assist in the duty of holding courts. At least in the 16th century, the High Steward was expected to have a knowledge of English law; but the role soon became symbolic and the duties largely ceremonial, and latterly the work was done entirely by Deputies.
The High Stewards were all persons of standing and mostly members of aristocratic Warwickshire and Staffordshire families.
In 1974 the Corporation of Sutton Coldfield merged with that of Birmingham and the office of High Steward became extinct.
List of High Stewards
[edit]| High Steward | Term of office | Other Peerage(s) | Monarch (Reign) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Sir John Throckmorton (1524–1580) | 1547 | 1580 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Sir Henry Goodere (1534–1595) | 1582 | 1595 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Sir Richard Repington (1534–1611) | 1595 | 1611 (Died in Office) | ||
 | Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (1591–1646) | 1612 | 1646 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Sir Richard Newdigate (1602–1678) | 1646 | 1678 (Died in Office) | Baronetcy from 24 July 1677 | |
 | Sir Thomas Thynne (1591–1646) | 1679 | 1714 (Died in Office) | Viscount Weymouth from 11 December 1682 | |
 | Thomas Willoughby, 1st Baron Middleton (1672–1729) | 1714 | 1729 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Francis Willoughby, 2nd Baron Middleton (1692–1758) | 1729 | 1758 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Francis Willoughby, 3rd Baron Middleton (1726–1774) | 1758 | 1774 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Thomas Willoughby, 4th Baron Middleton (1728–1781) | 1774 | 1781 (Died in Office) | ||
 | Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth (1734–1796) | 1781 | 1796 (Died in Office) | Marquess of Bath from 18 August 1789 | |
 | Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford (1751–1812) | 1796 | 1812 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Henry Willoughby, 6th Baron Middleton (1761–1835) | 1812 | 1835 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of Aylesford (1786–1859) | 1835 | 1859 (Died in Office) | ||
| | William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh (1824–1905) | 1859 | 1905 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Sir John Benjamin Stone (1838–1914) | 1905 | 1914 (Died in Office) | ||
| Vacant 1914–1925 | |||||
 | Sir Francis Newdegate (1862–1936) | 1925 | 1936 (Died in Office) | ||
| | Sir Henry Ramsay Cameron Fairfax-Lucy, Bt. (1870–1944) | 1936 | 1944 (Died in Office) | ||
| Vacant 1944–1951 | |||||
| | Rupert Leigh, 4th Baron Leigh (1908–1979) | 1951 | 31 March 1974 (Abolished) | ||