PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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THE CHARTER OF INCORPORATION, 1439 In 1439 a petition to King Henry VI set forth the grievances of the townspeople and requested the amalgamation of the manors of Sutton Prior, Sutton Vautort and Sutton Raf and freedom from the Prior of Plympton. The King granted this request by Royal Licence and on
November 12th 1439 it was confirmed by Act of Parliament. The Priors made over the rights
to hold markets and fairs in 1440 on payment of a yearly sum of £41, a rent finally
discharged in 1545. On July 25th 1440, the King granted the first
Charter. Kingston-upon-Hull was the first town in England but their charter was
granted by an act of Royal grace. Plymouth's was the first to be granted by Act of
Parliament, making it the second municipal borough to be created in England. Under the terms of the Charter of Incorporation, the merchants of Plymouth were allowed to form a merchant's guild. Since everyone who ran a business or traded in the town had to become a member, it evolved into a meeting of all the townspeople. The "top management" of the guild comprised twelve aldermen and twenty-four councillors and they met in the guild hall. Sometimes these were meetings of the whole guild, virtually the entire town (men only, of course, at that time) and other times it was just a meeting of the council, the twelve and twenty-four. The councillors were drawn from the four "Wards", Old Town, Venours, Vintry and Looe Street. To head this council, a Mayor was chosen, this event taking place on the first Monday following St Lambert's Day (September 17th). Between then and Michaelmas Day (September 29th) the Corporation walked the boundary of the town, prior to them being sworn in and taking office on Michaelmas Day itself. Next - Local Government of Plymouth 1439 to 1913
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