This is a list of the high sheriffs of

County Durham County Durham, officially simply Durham, is a ceremonial county in North East England.UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. The county borders Northumberland and Tyne an ...

, England. In most counties the high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. In the

Palatinate of Durham The County Palatine of Durham was a jurisdiction in the North of England, within which the bishop of Durham had rights usually exclusive to the monarch. It developed from the Liberty of Durham, which emerged in the Anglo-Saxon period. The gr ...

the officeholder was appointed by and was accountable to the Bishop of Durham until 1836 when the Crown claimed authority. The High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. The High Sheriff changes every March.

High Sheriffs of County Durham

*1146 Osbert

15th century

*18 January 1401: Sir Robert Conyers *24 August 1406: Sir Percival de Lyndeley *2 June 1414: Sir William Claxton *2 January 1420: Robert Eure *6 May 1436: Sir William Bowes *4 October 1437:

Robert Ogle Robert Joseph Ogle (December 24, 1928 – April 1, 1998), known as Bob Ogle and Father Bob, was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest, broadcaster, and member of the House of Commons. Early life and career Ogle was born on 24 December 1928 in Rose ...

''The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham'' Vol I. William Fordyce (1857) p150. Google Books *1 October 1438: William Pudsay *5 December 1441: Geoffrey Midleton *28 December 1461: John de Aderton *8 December 1462: Geoffrey Midleton *7 March 1467: William Claxton *6 August 1469: Henry Radclyff *14 August 1470: Sir George Lumley *20 November 1476: Robert Tempest *4 October 1482 – 1502: Sir Ralph Bowes

16th century

*1503–15: Sir William Bulmer of Wilton Castle,(near Redcar) *1516–1517: Roger Lumley *1518–1522:

Sir William Eure ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as part of ...

*1523–26: Sir William Bulmer of Wilton Castle,(near Redcar) *1527: Sir William Bulmer and John Bulmer (jointly) *1528–32: Sir John Bulmer *1533–?: William Hilton *1561:

Robert Tempest Robert Tempest of Holmside Hall was High Sheriff of Durham from 1558-1562. Tempest was the son of George Tempest and Eleanor, daughter of Robert Millott of Whithill, Durham. In addition to Holmside, the family held lands at Bradley, Mordon, Gre ...

Holmside Hall Holmside Hall is an early 19th-century farmhouse and equestrian centre at Holmside, Burnhope, County Durham, England. The farm is built on the site of a medieval manor house which until 1570 was the home of Robert Tempest ( High Sheriff of Dur ...

*1569: Robert Bowes *1576: George Bowes *1576–1591: Sir William Hilton *1592–1594: George Conyers *1595–1610: Sir John Conyers of Sockburn Hall

17th century

*1610–1624: Sir George Selby of Whitehouse, Ryton. *1625–1640: Sir William Belasyse of Morton House *1641: William Collingwood *1642: Sir William Darcy *1645:

Henry Vane the Elder Sir Henry Vane (18 February 15891655), known as the Elder to distinguish him from his son, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1654. He served King Charles in many posts including secre ...

*1646: Sir George Vane of

Barnard Castle Barnard Castle (, ) is a market town on the north bank of the River Tees, in County Durham, England. The town is named after and built around a medieval castle ruin. The town's Bowes Museum has an 18th-century Silver Swan automaton exhibit ...

*1647: Richard Belasyse of Morton House *1648: Clement Fulthorpe *1649: Sir James Clavering of

Axwell House Axwell House (also Axwell Hall or Axwell Park) is a mansion house and Grade II* listed building, at Axwell Park, Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, England. The house and surrounding estate were constructed in 1758 and owned by the Clavering baronets unti ...

, Blaydon on Tyne *1651: Thomas Shadforth *1652: Christopher Fulthorpe of Tunstall Manor *1653: Francis Wren *1654: Rowland Place of

Low Dinsdale Manor Low Dinsdale Manor is a privately owned, much altered, and extended medieval moated fortified manor house situated on the north bank of the River Tees at Low Dinsdale, near Darlington, County Durham, England. It is a Grade II* listed building. T ...

*1655: Thomas Bewick *1656: George Lilburn *1657–58: Timothy Whittingham *1659: Robert Ellison *1660–7: Sir Thomas Davison of Blakiston Hall. *1667–73:

Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton ( 1632 – 24 September 1687) was an English soldier and politician. During the English Civil War he supported the Royalist cause. After the Restoration he sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to ...

*12 February 1671:

*1673: Sir James Clavering of

, Blaydon on Tyne *1674:

*1675–85: Nicholas Conyers *1686–1708: Hon. Charles Montagu

18th century

*1709–20: Mark Shafto of

Whitworth Hall The Whitworth Building is a grade II* listed building on Oxford Road and Burlington Street in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, England. It has been listed since 18 December 1963 and is part of the University of Manchester. It lies at the south ...

*1721–23: Sir Henry Liddell, 3rd Bt of Newton Hall *1723–47: Sir William Williamson, 4th Bt of Whitburn''An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive View of the County of Durham'' McKenzie and Ross (1834) p278. Google Books *1747–89: Sir Hedworth Williamson, 5th Bart. of Whitburn *1789–1810: Sir Hedworth Williamson, 6th Bart. of Whitburn

19th century

*1810–1814: Adam Askew of Redheugh *1815–1818: William Hutchinson *1819–1826: William Keppel Barrington *1827–1828: Cuthbert Ellison of

Hebburn Hall Hebburn Hall also known as Ellison Hall is a 17th-century country mansion, which has been converted into residential apartments and houses, situated at Hebburn, South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear (). It is a Grade II listed building. Long before the Ma ...

*1829–1833: Charles John Clavering of

*1833–1836: William Lloyd Wharton of Dryburn *1837: Anthony Wilkinson, of Coxhoe Hall *1838: Sir Robert Johnson-Eden, Bart., of

Windlestone Hall Windlestone Hall is a mid-16th century Elizabethan country house, heavily rebuilt in 1821 to form a Greek revival stately home, situated near Rushyford, County Durham, England. The Hall sits within 400 acres of designed parkland. It is a Grade I ...

*1839: Sir William Chaytor, Bart., of

Witton Castle Witton Castle is a much-altered 15th-century castle, which is the centrepiece of a holiday and caravan country park at Witton le Wear, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. It is a Grade II* listed building. Details Sir Ralph Eure obtained a lic ...

*1840: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. of Whitburn *1841: William Russell of

Brancepeth Castle Brancepeth Castle is a castle in the village of Brancepeth in County Durham, England, some 5 miles south-west of the city of Durham (). It is a Grade I listed building. History A succession of buildings has been on the site. The first was a ...

*1842: Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of

Whitworth Park Whitworth Park is a public park in south Manchester, England, and the location of the Whitworth Art Gallery. To the north are the University of Manchester's student residences known as "Toblerones". It was historically in Chorlton on Medlock bu ...

*1843: Edward Shippersden of Durham *1844: Henry Witham of

Lartington Hall Lartington Hall is a 17th-century country house, at Lartington, Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is a Grade II* listed building. Architecture The earliest part of the house, built for the Appleby family, is the three-storey four-bayed ce ...

*1845: John William Williamson of Whickham *1846: Ralph Stephen Pemberton of Barnes and Usworth House *1847: John Fawcett of North Bailey *1848: Sir William Eden Bt of

*1849: John Eden of

Beamish Park Beamish may refer to: People *Alfred Beamish (1879–1944), English tennis player *Charles Beamish (1908–1984), Irish rugby player and RAF pilot *David Beamish (born 1952) British public servant *Emma Beamish (born 1982), Irish cricketer *Franci ...

*1850: Robert Hilyard of Horsley Hall *1851: Robert Henry Allan, of Blackwell Hall and

Blackwell Grange Family & Building History The Allan family who populate the story of Blackwell Grange Hotel trace their ancestry back in an uninterrupted line of descent from Henry Allan of Buckenhall in the county of Staffordshire in the year 1290. George Alla ...

*1852: John Bowes, of Streatham Castle *1853: Frederick Acklom Milbank, of Hart *1854: Henry John Baker Baker, of Elemore Hall *1855: Robert Surtees of Redworth House *1856:

Robert Smith Surtees Robert Smith Surtees (17 May 180516 March 1864) was an English editor, novelist and sporting writer, widely known as R. S. Surtees. He was the second son of Anthony Surtees of Hamsterley Hall, a member of an old County Durham family. He is re ...

Hamsterley Hall Hamsterley Hall is an 18th-century English country house at Hamsterley, Consett, Hamsterley, Rowlands Gill, County Durham, England. It is a listed building, Grade II* listed building. The estate at Hamsterley was given, in 1762, by Swinburne Baro ...

*1857: William Beckwith, of Silksworth House *1858: Timothy Hutchinson, of Eggleston Hall *1859: Sir William Aloysius Clavering, Bart., of

*1860: Henry John Spearman, of Burn Hall *1861: Richard Lawrence Pemberton, of Barnes *1862: Henry George Surtees of Dinsdale Hall *1863: John Richard Westgarth Hildyard, of Horsley Hall *1864: John Harrison Aylmer of

Walworth Castle Walworth Castle is a castle of 12th-century origins, situated at Walworth, near Darlington, County Durham, England. It is a Grade 1 listed building. It was completed around 1600, probably by Thomas Holt for Thomas Jenison. It stands on the site ...

*1865: William Peareth, of Usworth House *1866: William Edward Surtees, of

Seaton Carew Seaton Carew is a seaside resort in the Borough of Hartlepool in County Durham, England. It gives its name to the Seaton ward, which had an estimated population of 7,194 in 2021. It is deemed part of the Hartlepool built-up area by the Office f ...

*1867: William Scurfield Grey, of Norton *1868: Anthony Wilkinson, of Hulam *1869: Thomas Charles Thompson, of Sherburn Hall *1870: William Briggs, of

Hylton Castle Hylton Castle ( ) is a stone castle in the North Hylton area of City of Sunderland, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. Originally built from wood by the Baron Hylton, Hilton (later Hylton) family shortly after the Norman conquest of England, ...

, Sunderland *1871: James Cookson, of Neasham Hall *1872: Rowland Burdon, of The Castle, Castle Eden *1873: Charles Freville Surtees, of Mainsforth, Ferryhill *1874: John Fogg Elliot, of Elvet Hill, Durham *1875: Anthony Wilkinson, of Durham *1876: Henry Edward Surtees, of Redworth House and Redforth Grove *1877: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart., of Whitburn Hall *1878: John Joicey, of Newton Hall, Stocksfield, Northumberland *1879: James Laing, of Thornhill, Sunderland *1880: George John Scurfield, of Hurworth House *1881: Matthew Kearney, of the Ford, Lanchester *1882: Robert Anthony Burrell, of Fairthorne, Botley, Hants *1883: Alfred Backhouse, of Pilmore, Darlington *1884: Isaac Lothian Bell, of Rownton Grange, Northallerton *1885: Christopher John Foyle Fawcett, of The North Bailey, Durham *1886: Joseph Richardson, of Potto Hall, Swainby, Northallerton *1887: Gerald Percy Vivian Aylmer, of

, Darlington *1888:

David Dale David Dale (6 January 1739–7 March 1806) was a leading Scottish industrialist, merchant and philanthropist during the Scottish Enlightenment period at the end of the 18th century. He was a successful entrepreneur in a number of areas, m ...

of West Lodge, Darlington *1889: Lindsay Wood, of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street *1890: William James Joicey, of Urpeth Lodge, Chester-le-Street *1891: Joseph Henry Straker, of Willington House, Willington *1892: Sir William Gray, of Greatham Cottage, West Hartlepool *1893: Edward Joicey, of Whinney House, Low Fell, Gateshead-on-Tyne *1894: Colonel Charles John Reed CB, of Springwell Hall, Durham *1895:

Hugh Bell Hugh Bell may refer to: *Hugh Bell (photographer) (1927–2012), American photographer * Hugh Bell (educator) (1780–1860), member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly * Sir Hugh Bell, 2nd Baronet (1844–1931), mayor of Middlesbrough *Sir Hugh Bel ...

of Redbarns, Coatham, Redcar *1896: Major Robert Ropner, of Preston Hall, near

Stockton-on-Tees Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in County Durham, England, with a population of 84,815 at the 2021 UK census. It gives its name to and is the largest settlement in the wider Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. It is part of Teesside and the Tees Val ...

*1897: Colonel Lancelot Allgood Gregson, of Burdon, Sunderland *1898: Samuel Peter Austin, of Cocken Hall, Fence Houses *1899: Utrick Alexander Ritson, of Calf Hall, Muggleswick Park, Consett, and Jesmond Gardens, Newcastle upon Tyne *1900: John Arundel Hildyard, of Horsley House, Eastgate, Darlington

20th century

*1901: George Fenwick Boyd of Moorhouse, Leamside *1902: Sir William Henry Edward Chaytor, Bt., of Croft, Darlington *1903: John Ewer Jefferson Hogg of 59 Elm Park Gardens, SW London *1904: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bt., of Whitburn Hall, near Sunderland *1905: John Edwin Rogerson of

Mount Oswald Mount Oswald is a manor house in Durham, County Durham, England. The house, which is now Durham County Council's The Story museum, is a Grade II listed building. The surviving parkland associated with the house is including in Durham County Counc ...

, Durham *1906: Frank Stobart of

Biddick Hall Biddick Hall is an area in the town of South Shields, in Tyne and Wear, England. Biddick Hall is known for its infant and junior school as well as its conveniences and shops. Biddick Hall is a medium-size council estate in the borough of South T ...

*1907: Rowland Burdon of The Castle, Castle Eden *1908: Slingsby Duncombe Shafto of

*1909: William Cresswell Gray of Tunstall Manor,

West Hartlepool West Hartlepool was a predecessor of Hartlepool, County Durham, England. It developed in the Victorian era and took the name from its western position in the parish of what is now known as the Headland. The former town was originally formed ...

*1910: Hon. James Arthur Joicey of Longhurst, Morpeth (later Baron Joicey) *1911: Lieut-Colonel John Henry Ropner, of Ragworth, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees *1912: Frederick Stirling Newall, of Castle Hill, Wylam-on-Tyne *1913: James Westell, of The Cloisters, Sunderland *1914: Francis Priestman, of Shotley Park, Shotley Bridge *1915: Sir Alfred Molyneux Palmer, of Walworth Castle, Darlington *1916: William Hustler Hustler, of Acklam Hall, Middlesbrough *1917: The Honourable Cyril Arthur Liddell, of Ravensworth Castle, Gateshead *1918: Brodrick Dale, of Apperley Dene, Stocksfield *1919: John Wood, of Coxhoe Hall, Coxhoe *1920: Arthur Francis Pease, of Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas *1921: Col. Maurice Bell (later Sir Maurice Bell) of Rounton Grange, Northallerton *1922: Sir John Storey Barwick, of Ashbrook Grange, Sunderland *1923: Capt. Rowland Burdon Webster, of Wolviston Hall, Stockton-on-Tees *1924: Sir Frank Brown, of Norton Priory, Stockton-on-Tees *1925: Lieut.-Col. George Herbert Stobart, of Harperley Park, Harperley *1926: Sir Thomas Garmondsway Wrightson, Bt., of The Manor House, Eryholme, near Darlington *1927: Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees, of Mainsforth Hall, Ferryhill *1928: John Henry Bacon Forster, of Whitworth House, Spennymoor *1929: Major Henry Siward Balliol Surtees, of Redworth Hall, Darlington *1930: John Stapylton Grey Pemberton, of Ramside, Durham *1931: Capt. Geoffrey Stirling Newall, of Shepherds Dene, Riding Mill, Northumberland *1932: Henry Peile, of Broomshiels Hall, Satley, Tow Law, Co. Durham *1933: Sir Arthur Nicholas Lindsay Wood, of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street *1934: Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker of

*1935: Col Frank Robert Simpson of Bradley Hall, Wylam *1936: Major Johnathan Lee Priestman of Shotley Park *1937:

Leonard Ropner Sir Leonard Ropner, 1st Baronet, (26 February 1895 – 12 October 1977) was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. Background Ropner was the son of William Ropner, third son of Sir Robert Ropner, 1st Baronet. Leonard's grand ...

, of Preston Hall,

*1938: Sir William Gray, of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool *1939: Frank Nicholson, of Southill Hall, near Chester-le-Street *1940: Colonel Sir Robert Chapman, of Undercliff, Cleadon, Sunderland *1941: Col. Harold Edward Kitching, of Elmwood, Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees *1942: Col. Sir Thomas Andrews Bradford, of Aden Cottage, Durham *1943: Col. Hereward Sprot, of St. John's Hall, Wolsingham *1944: Captain Edward Ramsden, of Sands Hall, Sedgefield *1945: Colonel Charles Edwin Vickery, of Whorlton Grange, Whorlton, Barnard Castle *1946: Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Laurence Stapylton Pemberton, of Hawthorn Tower, Seaham *1947: Edward John Westgarth Hildyard, of Horsley Hall, Eastgate *1948: Major Frank Douglas Nicholson, of Quarry Hill, Brancepeth *1949: Captn Sydney Riley Lord of Newbus Grange, Neasham *1950: Lt Col. Robert Appleby Bartram of Broomshiels Hall, near Bishop Auckland *1951: Colonel

Thomas George Greenwell Colonel Thomas George Greenwell, TD, DL (18 December 1894 – 15 November 1967) was a British politician. He was the National Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for The Hartlepools and the managing director of the ship-repair yard, T. W. ...

, of Thornley Cottage, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham *1952: Philip Ivan Pease, of Sledwick, Barnard Castle *1953: Major Sir (Lawrence) Andrew Common, of Hunter House,

Shotley Bridge Shotley Bridge is a village, adjoining the town of Consett to the south in County Durham, England, 15 miles northwest of Durham, England, Durham. It is located on the A694 road (Great Britain), A694 road starting from Consett and Blackhill, Con ...

*1953: Thomas Hawksley Summerson, of Hall Garth, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington *1954: Brigadier Leslie Harrison McRobert, of Meadowcroft, West Hartlepool *1955: Major Sir Basil Robert James Simpson, of Bradley Hall, Wylam *1956: Maurice Oliver Pease, of Eldon House, Heighington, Darlington *1957: Major Aubone Bryce Surtees, of Hurworth Hall West, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington *1958: John Raymond Ropner, of Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, Yorks *1959: Sir John Gamrondsway Wrightson, of Neasham Hall, Darlington *1960: Lieut-Colonel Robert Macgowan Chapman of Cherry Tree House, Cleadon, near Sunderland *1961: Richard Boys-Stones, of Kyo Close, Wylam-on-Tyne *1962: Roger Trelawny Backhouse, of The East House, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, Yorkshire *1963: Commander Shannan Stevenson, of White Hall, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington *1964: John Charles Hedley Booth, of Meadow Bank, Castle Eden *1965: Christopher William Drewett Chaytor, of Croft Hall, Croft, near Darlington *1966: James Kenneth Hope, of West Park, Lanchester *1967: Colonel James Wadham Grant, of Northolme, Moor Lane, Whitburn *1968: Peter Guy Edwards, of Low Walworth Hall, near Darlington *1969: Norman Carse Marr, of Belle Vue, East Boldon, County Durham *1970: Ralph Meredyth Turton, T of The Hall, Kildale, Yorkshire *1971: William Talbot Gray, of Eggleston Hall, Barnard Castle *1972: Sir James Steel, of Fawnlees Hall, Wolsingham *1973: Colonel Hugh Kirton, of Plawsworth House, Plawsworth, Chester-le-Street *1974: Elizabeth Scylla Riley Lord, of Low Dinsdale Old Rectory, Neasham, near Darlington *1975: Thomas Richard Featherstone Fenwick, of Bishop Oak, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland *1976: Lieut.-Colonel Michael Radcliffe Kerens, of The Old Vicarage, Bolam, Darlington *1977: Major William Kemp Trotter, of The Deanery, Staindrop, near Darlington *1978: Colonel Sir William Allison Lee, of The Woodlands, Woodland Road, Darlington *1979: Captain Gerard Maurice Salvin, of

Croxdale Hall The Croxdale Hall Estate at Croxdale near Sunderland Bridge, County Durham, Sunderland Bridge, County Durham, England, has been owned by the Salvin family since the 15th century. Its principal building is the Grade I listed building, Grade I l ...

, Durham *1980: Paul Douglas Nicholson, of Quarry Hill *1981: Lieut-Colonel Robert Benjamin Humphreys, of Peppermires Cottage, Brancepeth, Durham *1982: George Christopher Bartram, of Eldon House, Heighington Village, Newton Aycliffe *1983: Frederick Guy Beadon, of Little Newsham Hall, Winston, Darlington *1984: John Wood Snowdon, of The Old Rectory, Brandsby, York *1985: David James Grant, of Aden Cottage, Whitesmocks, Durham *1986: Rosemarie Hume Gray, of Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, Barnard Castle *1987: Ian George Bonas, of Bedburn Hall, Hamsterley *1988: Robert Patrick Thompson, of The Old Rectory, Wycliffe, Whorlton, Barnard Castle *1989: James Tyrell Brockbank, of The Orange Tree, Shincliffe, Durham City *1990: Captain John Hubert McBain, of Westholme Hall, Winston, Darlington *1991: Sir Anthony Frederick Milbank, of Barningham Park, Richmond, North Yorkshire *1992: Elizabeth Ann Jennings, of Broomshiels Home Farm, Saitley, Bishop Auckland *1993: Desmond Walker *1994: Nicholas David Barclay Straker, of Sough Hill, Caldwell, Darlington *1995: Robert Sale, of Eryholme Grange, Hurworth, Darlington *1996: James Allan Marr, of Brancepeth *1997: Michael Philip Weston, Prebends Gate, 3 Quarryheads Lane, Durham City *1998: Sir William Gray, Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, Barnard Castle *1999: Frank Nicholson, Cocken House, Chester-le-Street *2000: Elizabeth Ann Smyth, Greenbank, Heighington, Darlington

21st century

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:High Sheriff of Durham

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city in north east England **County Durham, a ceremonial county which includes Durham *Durham, North Carolina, a city in North Carolina, United States Durham may also refer to: Places ...

History of County Durham

High Sheriff of Durham This is a list of the high sheriffs of County Durham, England. In most counties the high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. In the Palatinate of Durham the officeholder was appointed by and was accountable to the Bishop of ...