This is a list of Keepers of the Records in the Tower of London. The position was medieval in origin, and ended in 1838 with the creation of the London
Public Record Office.
In the 16th century the distinction was made between
Chancery Rolls from the reign of
Richard III onwards, which were under the direct control of the
Master of the Rolls, and earlier Rolls that were kept in the
Tower of London, with a designated Keeper. The Masters of the Rolls wished to keep at least a theoretical control over the Keepers, but until 1604 and a judgement against
Sir Roger Wilbraham there was no case law to support the claim.[1]
1643:
John Selden,[10] parliamentary appointee. The royalist choice was the
Lancaster Herald,
William Ryley. Parliament took on Ryley, who had come to London, in 1644, who served as clerk of the records.[11][12]
1651: The
Long Parliament decided that the
Master of the Rolls should take over the post, with a clerk to look into the records.[13] Ryley, who had been assistant to Selden, retained the post.[14]
This is a list of Keepers of the Records in the Tower of London. The position was medieval in origin, and ended in 1838 with the creation of the London
Public Record Office.
In the 16th century the distinction was made between
Chancery Rolls from the reign of
Richard III onwards, which were under the direct control of the
Master of the Rolls, and earlier Rolls that were kept in the
Tower of London, with a designated Keeper. The Masters of the Rolls wished to keep at least a theoretical control over the Keepers, but until 1604 and a judgement against
Sir Roger Wilbraham there was no case law to support the claim.[1]
1643:
John Selden,[10] parliamentary appointee. The royalist choice was the
Lancaster Herald,
William Ryley. Parliament took on Ryley, who had come to London, in 1644, who served as clerk of the records.[11][12]
1651: The
Long Parliament decided that the
Master of the Rolls should take over the post, with a clerk to look into the records.[13] Ryley, who had been assistant to Selden, retained the post.[14]