Lieutenancy
Reference: L 1 Catalogue Title: Lieutenancy Area: Catalogue Category: Public Records Description: Correspondence
Covering Dates: 1907-2006
Catalogue Index
Use and to reveal/hide the structure of the catalogue index (requires Javascript to be enabled in your internet browser options). Click to jump directly to information at a specific level of the catalogue.
- Lieutenancy
- Lieutenancy Correspondence (Ref: L 1)
- Deputy Lieutenants (Ref: L 1/Section 01)
- Honours and Awards (Ref: L 1/Section 02)
- Royal Visits (Ref: L 1/Section 03)
- Requests for Royal Visits and General Correspondence (Ref: L 1/Section 04)
- Specific Royal Visits (Ref: L 1/Section 05)
- King George V and Queen Mary (Ref: L 1/Section 06)
- Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (Ref: L 1/Section 07)
- Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Ref: L 1/Section 08)
- The Prince [Charles] and Princess of Wales (Ref: L 1/Section 09)
- The Duke of York (Ref: L 1/Section 10)
- The Earl and Countess of Wessex (Ref: L 1/Section 11)
- The Princess Royal (Ref: L 1/Section 12)
- Princess Margaret (Ref: L 1/Section 13)
- The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Ref: L 1/Section 14)
- The Duke and Duchess of Kent (Ref: L 1/Section 15)
- Princess Alexandra (Ref: L 1/Section 16)
- Dinners and Special Services (Ref: L 1/Section 17)
- Deputy Lieutenants' Dinners (Ref: L 1/Section 18)
- Publications (Ref: L 1/Section 19)
Catalogue Description
Lords Lieutenant are representatives of the Crown for each county, appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The role is non-political and their first duty is to uphold the honour and dignity of the Royal Family.The County Durham Lieutenancy covers the post 1974 County Durham, together with Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton (North of the Tees).
The role of Lord-Lieutenant was created by Henry VIII and they were initially responsible for the maintenance of order and all military measures required for local defence. The Regulation of the Forces Act 1871 removed the Militia from the Lord Lieutenant's direct control, but they retain strong links with the Volunteer Reserve Forces and uniformed organisations in their area.
Prior to the nineteenth century, Lords Lieutenant appointed the Clerk of the Peace. Today, they are usually Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the appointment of magistrates.
They are responsible for the organisation of Royal visits to the county. They also encourage submissions of worthy individuals or organisations for honours and awards, including presenting said decorations where the recipient is unable to attend an Investiture.
Each Lord Lieutenant appoints deputies who assist them in their duties, principally by providing specialist local knowledge. The number of deputies for each county is determined by population size. As of 2014, County Durham had 50 deputy lieutenants.
Catalogue Contents
19-21
Ref: L 1/191, 3, 22-23
Ref: L 1/12, 4-15, 24-32
Requests for Royal Visits and General Correspondence (Ref: L 1/Section 04)2, 4-6
Ref: L 1/27-15, 24-32
Files are arranged according to which member(s) of the Royal Family made the visit. Those who are married are grouped together with their respective spouses, even where they visited separately and where the couple subsequently separated.
7
Ref: L 1/710, 24/1-10
Ref: L 1/108, 25/1-14
Ref: L 1/826/1-12
Ref: L 1/26/114, 27/1-10
Ref: L 1/141/12
Ref: L 1/1211, 15, 28/1-20
Ref: L 1/1129/1-8
Ref: L 1/29/130/1-10
Ref: L 1/30/19, 13, 31/1-17
Ref: L 1/932/1-13
Ref: L 1/32/133/1-9
Ref: L 1/33/134/1-9
Ref: L 1/34/116-18
Ref: L 1/16