Liberty of Westminster

infobox historic subdivision
Name= Liberty of Westminster
HQ=
Status= Liberty
Start=
End= 1900
Origin=
Replace= Metropolitan Borough of Westminster


AreaFirst= convert|2500|acre|km2cite vob|population=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/table_page.jsp?tab_id=GB1831ABS_M%5B1%5D&u_id=10073790&show=&min_c=1&max_c=5|name=Middlesex hundreds 1831 census|accessdate=2008-02-20]
AreaFirstYear= 1831The Liberty of Westminster was an independent liberty, locally in the Hundred of Ossulstone, in the county of Middlesex, England.

Following the dissolution of Westminster Abbey, a court of burgesses was formed in 1585 to govern the Westminster area, previously under the Abbey's control. The "City and Liberties of Westminster" were further defined by Letters Patent in 1604, and the court of burgesses and liberty continued in existence until 1900, and the creation of the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster. [ [http://www.londonancestor.com/leighs/gov-westm.htm Description of the City and Liberties of Westminster in 1819] ] [Lewis, Samuel, Topgraphical Dictionary of England, Vol. III, London, 1831] The court of burgesses (or court leet) was headed by the High Steward of Westminster Abbey, who was usually a prominent national politician. He appointed a high bailiff, who served for life, and performed most of the functions usually exercised by a high sheriff of a county. The city and liberty were divided into wards, each with a burgess and assistant burgess, this arrangement being adopted from the system then used in the City of London. The burgesses chose two head burgesses, one for the city and one for the liberty, who ranked next after the high bailiff. A high constable was appointed by the court leet, under whom was a force of constables. These were absorbed by the Metropolitan police in 1829.

Following the dissolution of the court of burgesses in 1900, a link has been retained to the old corporation, as the Lord Mayor of Westminster is "ex officio" Deputy High Steward of Westminster Abbey. [ [http://www.westminster.gov.uk/councilgovernmentanddemocracy/democraticprocessesandevents/mayor/history.cfm History of the Lord Mayoralty of Westminster] ]

The Liberty returned two members to parliament.

Constituent Parishes

The City and Liberties of Westminster contained the following "parishes, townships, precincts and places" in 1829:

*The combined parishes of St Margaret and St John the Evangelist
*The parish of St Martin in the Fields
*The parish of St George Hanover Square
*The parish of St James
*The parish of St Mary-le-Strand
*The parish of St Clement Danes
*The parish of St Paul, Covent Garden
*The parish of St Anne in the Liberty of Westminster
*Whitehall Gardens
*Whitehall
*Richmond Terrace
*The Close of the Collegiate Church of St Peter

The parishes of St Margaret and St John comprised the city, the other parishes the liberties of Westminster.

References