High Sheriff of Essex

The High Sheriff of Essex was an ancient Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Essex was retitled High Sheriff of Essex. The High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown in England and Wales, their purpose being to represent the monarch at a local level, historically in the shires.

Contents

• King Edmund I The Magnificent
• William I William II Henry I Stephen
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• Edward VI
• Mary
• Philip Mary
• Elizabeth
• 15671600
• 2000present
• References

The office was a powerful position in earlier times, as sheriffs were responsible for the maintenance of law and order and various other roles. It was only in 1908 under Edward VII that the Lord Lieutenant became more senior than the High Sheriff. Since then the position of High Sheriff has become more ceremonial, with many of its previous responsibilities transferred to High Court judges, magistrates, coroners, local authorities and the police.

This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Essex. Prior to 1567 the Sheriff of Essex was also the Sheriff of Hertfordshire.