High Sheriff of Down

The High Sheriff of Down is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Down. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he has ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.

History

The first (High) Shrivalties were established before the Norman Conquest in 1066 and date back to Saxon times. In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence. Despite however that the office retains his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in a county.

While the office of High Sheriff ceased to exist in those Irish counties, which had formed the Irish Free State in 1922, it is still present in the counties of Northern Ireland.

High Sheriffs

• 1326: John Mandeville
• 1610: Richard West
• 1620: Nicholas Ward
• 1624: Nicholas Ward
• 1634: Henry Savage
• 1641: Peter Hill
• 1655: James Trail
• 1656: Bernard Ward (son of Nicholas HS 1620)
• 1657: Roger West (son of Richard HS 1610)
• 1661: Robert Ward (son of Bernard HS 1656)
• 1662: Nicholas Ward (son of Bernard HS 1656)
• 1663: John Savage
• 1667: Robert Ward
• 1669: William Waring of Waringstown
• 1670: William Montgomery
• 1675: John Hawkins of Rathfriland
• 1690: Bernard Ward (killed in duel, 1690)
• 1699: John Haltridge

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

References

• "High Sheriffs of County Down 1714–1857". Newry and Louth Advertiser, 10/08/1857.

1. Sheriff of Nottingham
2. High Sheriff of Kent
3. Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon
4. William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie
5. County Down
6. Andrew Mulholland
7. Edward Bayly
8. Milne Barbour
9. High Sheriff of Dorset
10. William Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley
11. High Sheriff of Hampshire
12. Sir Thomas Dixon, 2nd Baronet
13. Robert Ward (1754–1831)
14. James Blackwood, 2nd Baron Dufferin and Claneboye
15. William Brownlow (British Army officer)
16. Gerald Gartlan
17. List of High Sheriffs of England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2008
18. High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
19. High Sheriff of Avon
20. Francis Needham, 3rd Earl of Kilmorey