List of Civic Offices – Medieval Londoners

List of Civic Offices in Medieval London

This table records essential information about civic offices in MLD. The first column records the standardized names given by MLD to civic offices, whether elected or appointed. The second column notes the years of service for that office currently recorded in MLD, in which the ‘year’ is the first year of an annual term of office. A straight line separating a span of years (-) indicates that all known officeholders for these years are in MLD. A wavy line (~) indicates that there are some gaps in this span. Because this table will be updated as officeholders are added, it is important to note the access date when citing this page.

The third column records alternative titles or names for this office, as well as the sources used for the names of officeholders and sometimes a brief description of the office. We aim to cite the primary source recording the election or appointment, either in the Source field or in the Activity field when we have used lists of officeholders from an authoritative secondary source. See Sources and Abbreviations for the abbreviated references used in the Notes column. For abbreviations in the Activity field of MLD records, users need to consult the list of abbreviations in the publication cited in the Source field for that record.

In the official MLD record of an officeholder’s term of office, the Activity field begins with ‘Elected’ when the office is elected (as noted in the third column) or ‘Served’ when the office is appointed. These individual records are most easily found using Browse Records. Because not all elections and appointments to civic offices are recorded in extant sources, MLD also includes civic officeholders when mentioned in other contexts, although the Activity field for these records does not begin with ‘Elected’ or ‘Served.’ These incidental references (such as when a mayor or aldermen serve as witnesses to a deed or preside over a court, or when a minor office like Sheriff’s clerk is noted in a legal record) are, however, rarely noted in the Civic Office field for mayors, sheriffs, and aldermen for which definitive lists are available. The main exceptions are appearances in twelfth- and early thirteenth-century documents, when the lists of officeholders like aldermen are less secure.

For more on the changing numbers, selection process, status, and duties of these civic officials, see Caroline M. Barron, London in the Later Middle Ages: Government and People 1200-1500 (Oxford, 2004), esp. chapters 6-8. For legal offices, see Penny Tucker, Law Courts and Lawyers in the City of London, 1300-1500 (Cambridge, 2007), esp. chapter 7. The descriptions for many of the offices noted below owe much to these two works. Many thanks to Penny Tucker for her help with describing the legal offices in this chart. The table below also notes other publications on specific offices. The most high-status offices are in red; legal offices are in purple.

This is a work in progress, so we welcome corrections and contributions: please notify us via our Contact form.

Cite this page as: “List of Civic Offices in Medieval London,” Medieval Londoners, at https://medievallondoners.ace.fordham.edu/list-of-civic-offices/ (accessed [today’s day/month/year]).

Office (standard spelling)	Years in MLD	Notes on alternative titles, sources, and duties
Alderman	1108, 1148≈1227, 1230-1550	Beaven, I and II, with corrections (and many additions for the 13th century) by McEwan, Aldermen. Also in MLD is data from "Attendance of Members at the Court of Aldermen, 1416-1462," in Barron thesis, 541-3. The office dates back to the early 11th century, but only some aldermen are known for period up to c. 1230. Terms of election varied over time; the office was hereditary before the late 13th century, but by 1394 aldermen generally seved for life. One alderman served for each of the 24 wards (23 before 1394).
Assayer of oysters	1409~1449	Assayer of oysters at Queenhithe and Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 586.
Auditor	1390~1488	Auditor of the accounts of the Bridgewardens and Chamberlain. Cal. Letter Books; Barron thesis, 594-99 (for 1409-62)); London Bridge (1501); LMA CLA/007/FN/002/003-004, 060. Individual references also recorded for some Auditors for other years between 1368 and 1547 in HPO, 1386-1421; HPO, 1422-61, and HPO, 1509-1558. By the late 14th century two alderman and four commoners were usually elected each year as auditors. See B. Masters, "Introduction" to Chamber Accounts of the Sixteenth Century (London, 1984): ix-xxxii.
Bailiff of Billingsgate	1416~1439	Barron thesis, 582. Appointed to adminster the quay and collect tolls; the city aquired the right to charge tolls here in 1400. His servant was also named in 1416.
Bailiff of piepowder court of Southwark	1550	Carlin, Southwark, 292.
Bailiff of Queenhithe	1298, 1316, 1416~39	Ekwall (1298, 1316); Barron thesis, 582. Appointed to adminster the quay and collect tolls, a right the city enjoyed since the mid-13th century.
Bailiff of Southwark	1327~1552	Carlin, Southwark, 291-2. On occasion a deputy or under bailiff was named.
Beadle of the ward	1417, 1419, 1422, 1426, 1428-9, 1438-40, 1444, 1450, 1453-4, 1456, 1461	Barron thesis, 545-55. Taken mainly from the Journals and memoranda rolls. Coverage is spotty since names are not available for all wards in all years.
Bridgewarden	1303, 1311, 1320, 1325, 1336-7, 1342~50, 1355, 1381~1464, 1473-88, 1501, 1537 1388-92, 1403-62, 1485-89, 1501	Ekwall (1303-1336); Cal. Letter Books; Barron thesis, 600-1 (for 1404-62); London Bridge (1381, 1501, 1537); LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/003-004, 018-019, 060. Two elected each year. Notice of the dates of service often come from the accounts in the Bridge House records, although the Activity field for these records still starts with 'Elected.'
Chamber Clerk	1294~1505	Controller. Barron, London, 363; Tucker, Law Courts, Appendix 8.3. By late 15th century, his duties included preparing annual accounts of the city, serving as clerk to civic committees, disbursing money, and attending court of aldermen, among others. Chosen by the common council. Received share of fees from freedom entries and, by the late 14th century, an annual wage of 100s. Office often held for life.
Chamber serjeant		By the late 14th century, the Chamberlain had 3 serjeants who were chosen by the common council Received an annual salary of 40s and a share of fees from enrolling freedom entries. Duties included collecting city property rents. A high-level office often held for life.
Chamberlain	1237, 1274-1532	Barron, London, 361-2, drawing on B. R. Masters, The Chamberlain of the City of London 1237-1987 (London, 1988), 105-09; supplemented by Cal. Letter Books. Supervised city revenues; responsible for assets of orphans. Elected and usually served a term of multiple years. Two chamberlains up until 1300, thereafter one. See B. Masters, "Introduction" to Chamber Accounts of the Sixteenth Century (London, 1984): ix-xxxii.
City attorney at Boston fair
City clerk		A generic designation for clerks who worked for the city in some undefined capacity; they could have helds positions such as a clerk of the Guildhall, a Mayor's court clerk, or a chamber clerk, among others. Some would have had formal legal training. Tucker, Law Courts, appendces.
Clerk of Bridge works	1440~86, 1501-2	LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/003-004, 060; Barron thesis, 593; London Bridge (1501). Composed and wrote duplicates of the Bridge accounts. Tended to be a permanent position.
Clerk of city works	1478-1518	Master of the works of the city; Clerke of the Workes and Repractions of the landes and tenements belongyng to the Chamber. B. R. Masters, "The City Surveyor, the City Engineer and the City Architect and Planning Officer," Guildhall Miscellany 4:4 (1973): 237-55.
Clerk of Common Clerk	1529	The Common Clerk had four clerks in his office by the 1460s. Incidental references only.
Clerk of mayor's court	1436, 1440; 1454-82, 1488, 1492, 1507-8, 1512~23, 1526, 1529~40	Tucker, Law Courts,Baker, Men of Court. They were able to work as attorneys for litigants in the Mayor's court, who paid them for their services, but likely earned more private income from writing out bills and other court documents for clients. By the mid 15th century, there are are references to four clerks or attorneys of the Mayor's court; the fourth was appointed by the Common Clerk. Although clients usually hired clerks of the Mayor's court to represent them in the Mayor's court, there are instances of chamber clerks and serjeants working in both the Mayor's and Hustings courts. By 1537, all but one of the clerks serving as attorneys had specific jobs, such as dealing with city orphans, enrolled deeds, handling sureties in legal actions and swearing in Company wardens. The second clerk, received 25s from the city, plus fees that he made.
Clerk of recorder	1517	Tucker, Law Courts.
~~Clerk of sheriff's court~~	~~1497~~	~~See below, Sheriff's clerk. One reference. Baker, Men of Court.~~
Clerk of the Guildhall	1456-7, 1473, 1480-1	Also clerk of the Guildhall Chamber. Tucker, Law Courts; Baker, Men of Court; LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/060.
Clerk of undersheriff	1529	Tucker, Law Courts.
Coalmeter	1427~1460	Coalmeter at Queenhithe and Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 585.
Collector of Bridge passage-tolls	1404~84	Keeper of monies/tolls on carts and wains crossing the Bridge. LMA, CLA/007/FN/003-004, 060; London Bridge (1501); Barron thesis, 591 (she names 3 and labels the office Bailiff of London Bridge).
Collector of Bridge rents	1404~1486, 1501	Receiver/Renter/Rent gatherer of rents on properties of London Bridge. Barron thesis, 589; LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/003-004, 060; London Bridge (1501). One to two men served in this office each year.
Collector of Bridge rents and farms at the Stocks/ Collector of Bridge farms at the Stocks	1424~1501	Collector/Renter/Rent gatherer of Bridge farms at the Stocks; receiver of foreign and quit rents and farms from the butchers and fishmongers at the Stocks. Later the office was focused only on collecting the farms at the Stocks. Barron thesis, 590; LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/060; London Bridge (1501).
Common attorney	1376~1540	Licensed by the city to serve as an attorney (i.e., who could represent a litigant) in the Sheriffs' court from 1393 onwards (before that, sheriffs' clerks could act as attorneys in this court). By the 15th century, most were 'lawyers' in that they had legal training and were inreasingly members of a legal inn. Tucker, Law Courts, App. 8.4
Common Clerk	1274~1514	Barron, London, 364, drawing on B. Masters, "The Town Clerk," Guildhall Miscellany 3 (1969): 55-74. A permanent, waged official. First termed 'the principal clerk of the city' in the 1270s with an annual salary of 100s, which rose to £10 by c. 1335, and was supplemented by fees for enrolling deeds, wills, and writs. Duties were many and included drafting letters, serving as an envoy, keeping city records safe, compiling records such as the Letter Books, Journals, and city custumals. Elected by the common council by the late 14th century. Had four clerks by the 1460s.
Common councillor	1376~~1485	Cal. Letter Books, HPO 1386-1421; CPMR; CLA/007/FN/02/060. Representative body that began in the 14th century. Their numbers varied depending on how they were elected, either by ward or craft, both of which were over time subject to limitations. Between 1422 and 1454, the size of the council almost doubled to 188. Elected every year, but many served multiple terms. [Incidental references thus far, but more common councilmen will be added in due course.]
Common Hunt	1379~1500	Barron, London, 368. Duties included supervising hunting expeditions of the mayor and aldermen, maintaining the city's hunting hounds, and securing venison warrants. Chosen by the common council. A permanent position that paid £10 annually from the late 14th century.
Common pleader (before 1518)	1315~1498	Before 1518, 'common pleader' referred to clerks (many of them lawyers with legal training) who were hired by clients to speak on their behalf in the city courts, although some were also employed by the city to provide advice on the common law or to represent the city as an advocate in other courts. The title of commun narrator civitatis (as in CLBE, 20) could also refer to the Common serjeant, which in MLD is standardized as Common serjeant-at-law (see below).
Common pleader	1518-1554	A new city office in the early 16th century (although the title had been used in the 13th and 14th century). Generally had legal training. Tucker, Law Courts, App. 8.1.
Common serjeant-at-arms	1291~1504	Common crier. Barron, London,366, drawing on P.E. Jones, "Common Crier and Serjeant-at-Arms," Transactions of Guildhall Historical Association 3 (1963): 80-7, and LMA file by B. Masters, "Officers of the Mayor's Household before 1600." Appeared by late 13th century. A humbler legal office. Selected by the common council.
Common serjeant-at-law	1319~1545	Common serjeant; common pleader. Barron, London, 359-60 who draws on B. R. Masters, "The Common Serjeant," The Guildhall Miscellany 2 (1967): 379-89. Also Tucker, Law Courts and Baker, Men of Court. At first the city's legal advisor and prosecutor in its own courts, who also watched over the interests of orphans. Originally a high office elected by all freemen but later chosen by the common council and mainly served as their legal advisor. The office was often a stepping-stone to higher legal offices.
Common Weigher		There were various common weighers, including a common weigher of silk.
Constable of the ward	1417, 1422, 1424, 1426-7, 1429, 1441. 1439, 1445-6, 1448, 1450-1, 1454-61	Barron thesis, 545-55. Taken mainly from the Journals and memoranda rolls. Coverage is spotty since names are not available for all wards in all year
Controller of the balance		There were several different types of balances.
Cornmeter	1300, 1322, 1428~1458	Cornmeter at Queenhithe and Billingsgate. Ekwall (for servants of the cornmeter 1300, 1322); Barron thesis, 584. Position usually held by cornmongers; their job was to measure grain brought in or sent our for sale. Also could arrange for the grain to be carried to the bakers and brewers at standard rates. There were nine master cornmeters in 1300, with 23 servants, some of whom were also cornmongers (Riley, ed., Liber Albus, i, 272; EMCR, 102-3). See also Meter, below.
Coroner	1225-1509	Barron, London, 370-2, drawing on W. Kellaway, "The Coroner in Medieval London," Studies in London History Presented to P.E. Jones (London, 1969), 87-9. Deputy coroner was entered when noted in one of these sources.
Keeper of Blackwell Hall	1405, 1424-5, 1462	Custos. Barron thesis, 588. Market house for cloth set up here c. 1397-8. The keeper collected rents from those leasing space here. The office came to be controlled by the Drapers but supervised by the city.
Keeper of city's charters	1270	Title held by Arnold Fitz Thedmar, but not evident afterwards.
Keeper of St Botulph's quay
Keeper of the common seal	1425, 1427, 1440-8, 1451, 1455, 1458, 1461	Keeper of the keys to the common chest. Barron thesis, 579-80. The keepers included the mayor, 1-4 aldermen, and 3-4 commoners. They held the keys to the inner and outer chests containing the common seal.
Keeper of the conduit
Keeper of the gate		Various gates specified. Probably the same as the keeper of the keys of a gate.
Keeper of the great beam	1376, 1411, 1420~58	Custos. Barron thesis, 581. The position was held by a Grocer.
Linenmeter at Steelyard
Mayor	1190-1558	MASL. One elected each year. Often served for many years in the 13th century, but stricter term limits were enforced by the second half of the 14th century.
Mayor's esquire	1381-1522	Mayor's swordbearer. Barron, London,365. Title originated c. 1381. Mostly a ceremonial office. See T. K. Collett, "The Swordbearer," Transactions of the Guildhall History Association (Dec. 1956): 39-45.
Mayor's serjeant	1492	Lambert, Skinners. Incidental references only.
Mayor's valet	1445	Incidental references only. Barron thesis. See B. R. Masters, "The Mayor's Household before 1600," in Studies in London History presented to P.E. Jones (London, 1969): 95-11.
Meter	1322	Various types of tasks involving supervision of measuring and/or selling specific commodities. In 1322 (CLBE, 167) meters were appointed a Queenhithe and Billingsgate to guard where corn was sold and prevent it from being taken out of the city (during a period of grain shortages). See also Cornmeter, Linenmeter, Oystermetere, and Saltmeter in this chart.
MP	1283, 1290, 1296~1385	Beaven, I, 263-74. 2-4 men elected for the term of a specific parliament.
MP	1386-1558	HPO, 1386-1421; HPO, 1422-61 (in print but eventually will be online); HPO, 1461-1504 (volume is not yet published, but we worked from a list of London MPs compiled for this volume by Matthew Davies); HPO, 1509-1558. 2-4 men elected for the term of a specific parliament. The introductions to the London constituency in these volumes provide the best discussion of this position.
Oystermeter	1407, 1420, 1445.	Oystermeter at Queenhithe or Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 587. Billingsgate oystermeter position was held by three of the mayor's valets from 1445.
Porter of ___	1309-10, 1321, 1409-10, 1414-16, 1431, 1454, 1460	Janitor or keeper of specific gates of the city. Ekwall; Cal. Letter Books; Barron thesis, 556.
Porter of Bridge House	1424~1486, 1501	Keeper of the door of Bridge House in Southwark, who also kept and maintained the dogs of the Bridge House to safeguard its contents. Barron thesis, 592; LMA, CLA//007/FN/02/003-004, 060; London Bridge (1501). One man tended to hold the office for many years.
Recorder	1298, 1304, 1320~1545	Barron, London, 356; Tucker, Law Courts, Appendix 7.1. In the late 13th-14th century, mainly supervised record-keeping in the city courts and offered advice about the law and procedure. Primarily professional lawyers, especially by the late 14th century. By the 15th century, he was the chief legal officer of the city, who represented the city in royal courts. He could take on private clients (especially the city crafts), but the city did not like this distraction. Recorders often served multiple years in a row.
Saltmeter	1427~1459	Saltmeter at Queenhithe and/or Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 583.
Scavenger of the ward	1422	Barron thesis, 545-55. Names are not available for all wards.
Secondary	1453, 1465-6, 1474, 1494-7, 1504-6, 1509~30	By the 15th century, the secondary had become the head of the sheriff's clerical administration, which was based in the sheriff's compters or counters; one sheriff was based near the Poultry and the other at Bread Street. There was also a deputy secondary at the Bread Street compter. Baker, Men of Court; Tucker, Law Courts; B. Masters, "The Secondary," Guildhall Miscellany 10 (1964): 425-33.
Serjeant at mace	1436~1508	Serjeant of the Chamber of the Guildhall. Barron thesis, 569; LMA, CLA//007/FN/02/003, 060; London Bridge (1501). Men tended to serve multiple years in this position.
Serjeant of the Channel	1385~1517	Barron, London, 369. First appointed in the mid 1380s to keep streets clean and clear of rubbish; his remit expanded to some markets and the banks of the Thames in the 15th century. Assisted by a valet. Probably appointed by the court of aldermen, the office was often held as a serjeant of the chamber.
Sheriff	1190-1558	MASL. Two sheriffs elected each year. Each had his own undersheriff, secondary, and clerk of the papers, and a variety of other staff.
Sheriff's clerk	1445~1497	Unspecified clerk of the sheriff. Probably appointed to a specific counter or held a specific role in the counter (e.g., the secondary's clerk), but others could have focused on purely clerical work such as registering writs received from the central courts. Tucker, Law Courts; Baker, Men of Court. Incidental references only.
Sheriff's prothonotary	1527	Tucker, Law courts. Incidental references only.
Tax assessor		Anyone who assessed taxes on behalf of the city. Ekwall; Cal. Letter Books. Incidental references only.
Tax collector		Anyone who collected taxes on behalf of the city. Ekwall; Cal. Letter Books. Incidental references only.
Undersheriff	1298, 1309, 1374, 1379, 1383, 1391~1535	Barron thesis, 357-58; Ramsay thesis; Tucker, Law Courts, App. 7.3; and information from Hannes Kleineke at the HPT. Originally known as a sheriff's clerk, the title of undersheriff came into regular use by 1356. Originally one, but later an undersheriff for each sheriff. Even by the 14th century but especially by the 15th, had significant legal training. By the 15th century, their chief duties were to administer the sheriff's court and counter. Sheriffs also appointed an undersheriff for Middlesex (he is not consistently noted in MLD).
Warden	1172, 1265-70, 1272-3, 1284-98, 1320-1, 1391-2	Custos. MASL; ODNB. A warden was occasionally selected to represent the interests of the king during periods of conflict with the city; the last one served in 1391-2.
Warden of Boston fair		Incidental references only.
Warden of Ludgate gaol	1409-10, 1414-16, 1431, 1441, 1457-60	Custos/Keeper of Ludgate gaol. Barron thesis, 556. Also a deputy (locumtenens) of Ludgate gaol in 1416 and 1431, and an valet/yeoman (custos velett) in 1454, and sub-warden (sub custos) in 1457-60.
Warden of Newgate gaol	1310-11, 1386, 1416, 1431, 1434, 1441, 1446~56	Custos/Keeper of Newgate; Janitor of Newgate; Keeper of the keys of Newgate. Ekwall; Barron thesis, 557. Coverage spotty even for 1446-56,
Waterbailiff	1385~1522	Keeper of the water of the Thames and surveyor of nets. Barron, London, 367. First appeared in the mid 1380s. Was assisted by a valet. Selected by the common council, though on occasion in the 15th century at the instance of the king or the duke of Gloucester.
Wine searcher	1422, 1439~61	Barron thesis, 573-6. Twelve vintners, usually appointed by the court of aldermen, to search out corrupt wine. Appointed annually. Six searched in the eastern and six in the western part of the city.
Yeoman of the Chamber		Incidental references only.