The Royal Warrants

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 5, East. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1975.

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'The Royal Warrants', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 5, East, (London, 1975) pp. xv-xvii. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol5/xv-xvii [accessed 19 March 2024]

THE ROYAL WARRANT

Whitehall, 2nd October, 1963

The QUEEN has been pleased to issue a Commission under Her Majesty's Royal Sign Manual to the following effect:

ELIZABETH R.

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories, QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith,

To

Our Right Trusty and Entirely-beloved Cousin and Counsellor Robert Arthur James, Marquess of Salisbury, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter;

Our Trusty and Well-beloved:

Sir Albert Edward Richardson, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order;

Sir John Newenham Summerson, Knight, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

Nikolaus Pevsner, Esquire, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

Christopher Edward Clive Hussey, Esquire, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

Ian Archibald Richmond, Esquire, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

Henry Clifford Darby, Esquire, Officer of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

Donald Benjamin Harden, Esquire, Officer of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

John Grahame Douglas Clark, Esquire;

Howard Montagu Colvin, Esquire;

Vivian Hunter Galbraith, Esquire;

William Abel Pantin, Esquire;

Stuart Piggott, Esquire;

Courtenay Arthur Ralegh Radford, Esquire;

Arnold Joseph Taylor, Esquire;

Francis Wormald, Esquire;

GREETING!

Whereas We have deemed it expedient that the Commissioners appointed to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of England shall serve for such periods as We by the hand of Our First Lord of the Treasury may specify and that the said Commissioners shall, if The National Buildings Record is liquidated, assume the control and management of such part of The National Buildings Record's collection as does not solely relate to Our Principality of Wales and to Monmouthshire, and that a new Commission should issue for these purposes:

Now Know Ye that We have revoked and determined, and do by these Presents revoke and determine, all the Warrants whereby Commissioners were appointed on the twenty-ninth day of March one thousand nine hundred and forty six and on any subsequent date:

And We do by these Presents authorize and appoint you, the said Robert Arthur James, Marquess of Salisbury (Chairman), Sir Albert Edward Richardson, Sir John Newenham Summerson, Nikolaus Pevsner, Christopher Edward Clive Hussey, Ian Archibald Richmond, Henry Clifford Darby, Donald Benjamin Harden, John Grahame Douglas Clark, Howard Montagu Colvin, Vivian Hunter Galbraith, William Abel Pantin, Stuart Piggott, Courtenay Arthur Ralegh Radford, Arnold Joseph Taylor and Francis Wormald to be Our Commissioners for such periods as We may specify in respect of each of you to make an inventory of the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions connected with or illustrative of the contemporary culture, civilisation and conditions of life of the people in England, excluding Monmouthshire, from the earliest times to the year 1714, and such further Monuments and Constructions subsequent to that year as may seem in your discretion to be worthy of mention therein, and to specify those which seem most worthy of preservation.

And Whereas We have deemed it expedient that Our Lieutenants of Counties in England should be appointed ex-officio Members of the said Commission for the purposes of that part of the Commission's inquiry which relates to ancient and historical monuments and constructions within their respective counties:

Now Know Ye that We do by these Presents authorize and appoint Our Lieutenant for the time being of each and every County in England, other than Our County of Monmouth, to be a Member of the said Commission for the purposes of that part of the Commission's inquiry which relates to ancient and historical monuments and constructions within the area of his jurisdiction as Our Lieutenant of such County:

And for the better enabling you to carry out the purposes of this Our Commission, We do by these Presents authorize you to call in the aid and co-operation of owners of ancient monuments, inviting them to assist you in furthering the objects of the Commission; and to invite the possessors of such papers as you may deem it desirable to inspect to produce them before you:

And We do further authorize and empower you to confer with the Council of The National Buildings Record from time to time as may seem expedient to you in order that your deliberations may be assisted by the reports and records in the possession of the Council: and to make such arrangements for the furtherance of objectives of common interest to yourselves and the Council as may be mutually agreeable:

And We do further authorize and empower you to assume the general control and management (whether as Administering Trustees under a Scheme established under the Charities Act 1960 or otherwise) of that part of the collection of The National Buildings Record which does not solely relate to our Principality of Wales or to Monmouthshire and (subject, in relation to the said part of that collection, to the provisions of any such Scheme as may be established affecting the same) to make such arrangements for the continuance and furtherance of the work of The National Buildings Record as you may deem to be necessary both generally and for the creation of any wider record or collection containing or including architectural, archaeological and historical information concerning important sites and buildings throughout England:

And We do further give and grant unto you, or any three or more of you, full power to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the subject of this Our Commission; and also to call for, have access to and examine all such books, documents, registers and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever:

And We do by these Presents authorize and empower you, or any three or more of you, to visit and personally inspect such places as you may deem it expedient so to inspect for the more effectual carrying out of the purposes aforesaid:

And We do by these Presents will and ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you, Our said Commissioners, or any three or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment:

And We do further ordain that you, or any three or more of you, have liberty to report your proceedings under this Our Commission from time to time if you shall judge it expedient so to do:

And Our further Will and Pleasure is that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us, under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any three or more of you, your opinion upon the matters herein submitted for your consideration.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the Twenty-eighth day of September, 1963, in The Twelfth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,

HENRY BROOKE