Lord Mayor

History of the Lord Mayoralty

First Mayor of Westminster

In 1540, Henry VIII turned Westminster Abbey into a cathedral and so the town of Westminster became a city. When, after only ten years, the cathedral was changed into a royal collegiate church, Westminster retained the title of a city because of its special place at the heart of the nation. But this was unusual, for it had no mayor and no town council. Indeed, it continued to be run by the Dean of Westminster Abbey and his manor court.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, in 1586, the government agreed that Westminster could have a town council in the form of the Court of Burgesses. With a new Act of Parliament 12 wards were created in the city, and for each ward there was one burgess (or councillor in modern terms) and an assistant burgess.

Because the monarch was unwilling to let the burgesses choose their own mayor the chairman of the Court of Burgesses had to be the High Steward of Westminster Abbey. He was normally a great officer of state, and therefore the position of chairman was held by a succession of famous men. Over three centuries the office was held by a large number of prime ministers, who had the additional duty of presiding over the Council for the City of Westminster.

Their duties as royal ministers meant that they could not always attend the weekly meeting of the Court of Burgesses, so they appointed one of the senior Burgesses as Deputy High Steward to act in their place. This system prevailed until 1900, when another Act of Parliament created Councillors for Westminster and permitted them to elect their own mayor. The last High Steward of Westminster to preside over the council was Robert Cecil, Marquees of Salisbury, Prime Minister and direct descendant of William Cecil, the first High Steward. The first mayor to be elected was the Duke of Norfolk. The historic links with Westminster Abbey are maintained with the Lord Mayor holding the position of Deputy High Steward of the Abbey.

First Lord Mayor of Westminster

On 11 March 1966 the Mayor of Westminster was raised to the style and dignity of Lord Mayor by Letters Patent granted by Her Majesty the Queen. The Letters Patent are held in the Plate room with other Civic Insignia and Treasures. There are 24 Lord Mayors in England and Wales, including within the capital the Lord Mayors of Westminster and London.