The Royal Warrant

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 1, Eburacum, Roman York. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1962.

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'The Royal Warrant', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 1, Eburacum, Roman York, (London, 1962) pp. xxi-xxiii. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/york/vol1/xxi-xxiii [accessed 20 April 2024]

THE ROYAL WARRANT

Here printed is the Royal Warrant of 1946 including the Commission's present terms of reference.

Whitehall, April 2, 1946.

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

GEORGE R. I.

GEORGE THE SIXTH, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, KING, Defender of the Faith, To

Our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousin Giles Stephen Holland, Earl of Ilchester, Officer of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin Edward William Spencer, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Member of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, upon whom has been conferred the Territorial Decoration;

Our Trusty and Well-beloved

Sir George Francis Hill, Knight Commander of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Civil Law, Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Sir Charles Reed Peers, Knight, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Civil Law, Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Sir Cyril Fred Fox, Knight, Doctor of Philosophy, President of the Society of Antiquaries, Fellow of the British Academy;

Alexander Hamilton Thompson, Esquire, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Laws, Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Emeritus Professor of History in the University of Leeds;

Rose Graham, Spinster, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Doctor of Letters, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

John George Neilson Clift, Esquire;

Osbert Guy Stanhope Crawford, Esquire, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Walter Hindes Godfrey, Esquire, Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Hugh Stanford London, Esquire, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Duncan Hector Montgomerie, Esquire, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries;

Albert Edward Richardson, Esquire, Royal Academician, Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Professor of Architecture, London University;

Ian Archibald Richmond, Esquire, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Scotland;

Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler, Esquire, upon whom has been conferred the Decoration of the Military Cross, Doctor of Literature, Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Director General of Archaeology in India;

GREETING!

Whereas We have deemed it expedient that the proceedings of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of England shall cover the period up to and, at their discretion, subsequent to the year 1714, and that a new Commission should issue for this purpose:

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 November one thousand nine hundred and thirteen and on any subsequent date.

And We do by these Presents authorize and appoint you, the said Giles Stephen Holland, Earl of Ilchester (Chairman), Edward William Spencer, Duke of Devonshire, Sir George Francis Hill, Sir Charles Reed Peers, Sir Cyril Fred Fox, Alexander Hamilton Thompson, Rose Graham, John George Neilson Clift, Osbert Guy Stanhope Crawford, Walter Hindes Godfrey, Hugh Stanford London, Duncan Hector Montgomerie, Albert Edward Richardson, Ian Archibald Richmond and Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler to be Our Commissioners 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 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-ninth day of March, 1946, in The Tenth Year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty's Command,

J. CHUTER EDE

Historical Monuments (England) New Commission

By Royal Warrant dated December 30th, 1957, the Most Honourable the Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., was appointed Chairman of the Royal Commission, in the room of the Right Honourable the Earl of Ilchester, G.B.E.