The High Sheriff of Dorset is an ancient high sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years.[1] Until 1567 the Sheriff of Somerset was also the Sheriff of Dorset.

On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Dorset was retitled High Sheriff of Dorset.[2]

The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Dorset. In modern times the high sheriff has become a ceremonial role, presiding over public ceremonies.

List of Sheriffs of Dorset

1066–1700

  • Hugh fitz Grip
  • 1086 Aiulf the Chamberlain
  • 1240 Hugh de Vivonne
  • Before 1567 – See Sheriffs of Somerset and Dorset
  • 18 November 1567: Robert Coker[3]
  • 18 November 1568: Robert Williams[3]
  • 12 November 1569: John Young,[3] of Melbury Sampford
  • 13 November 1570: William Huddye[3]
  • 14 November 1571: Henry Uvdale[3]
  • 13 November 1572: John Strode,[3] of Parnham
  • 10 November 1573: Richard Rogers,[3] of Bryanston
  • 15 November 1574: Sir John Horsey,[3] of Clifton
  • 15 November 1575: Sir Matthew Arrundel,[3] of Wiltshire
  • 13 November 1576: William Webbe,[3] of Motcombe
  • 12 November 1577: Nicholas Turbervill,[3] of Bere
  • 17 November 1578: Thomas Mullins[3]
  • 23 November 1579: Thomas Chaffin,[3] of Chettle
  • 21 November 1580: George Trenchard,[3] of Woolton
  • 27 November 1581: Nicholas Martin,[3] of Athelhampton
  • 5 December 1582: John Williams,[3] of Herringston House, Winterborne Herringston
  • 25 November 1583: Thomas Strangeways[3]
  • 19 November 1584: Henry Coker,[3] of Mappowder Court
  • 22 November 1585: Sir John Horsey,[3] of Clifton Maybank
  • 14 November 1586: Christopher Percy[3]
  • 4 December 1587: Sir? Richard Rogers[3]
  • 25 November 1588: Robert Frampton[3]
  • 24 November 1589: John Brown, of Frampton[3]
  • 24 November 1590: Thomas Chaffin[3]
  • 25 November 1591: Sir Ralph Horsey,[3] of Clifton Maybank
  • 16 November 1592: John Williams[3]
  • 26 November 1593: George Morton[3]
  • 21 November 1594: Robert Strode[3]
  • 27 November 1595: Thomas Hussey,[3] of Shapwick
  • 22 November 1596: Sir George Trenchard[3]
  • 25 November 1597: Thomas Freke,[3] of Iwerne Courtnay (alias Shroton)
  • 28 November 1598: George Morton[3]
  • 2 December 1599: Robert Miller,[3] of Little Bredy
  • 24 November 1600: Thomas Uvedale[3]
  • 1601 John Stoker
  • 1602 John Rogers
  • 1603 John Fitzjames of Leweston
  • 1604 John Tregonwel of Milton
  • 1605 John Ryves of Blandford
  • 1606 Robert Napier of Middlemarsh Hall, Minterne Magna
  • 1607 William Web
  • 1608 Christopher Auketil
  • 1609 Edmund Uvedale of Little Crichel[4]
  • 1610 John Henning of Pokeswell
  • 1611 Sir Thomas Freke of Iwerne Courtnay (alias Shroton)
  • 1612 John Strangeways of Melbury Sampford and Abbotsbury
  • 1613 Robert Coker
  • 1614 Sir John Hanham of Wimborne Minster
  • 1615 John Brewyne
  • 1616 John Tregonwel
  • 1617 John Browne
  • 1618 Sir Walter Erle of Charborough
  • 1619 Anthony Ashley
  • 1620 Sir Nathaniel Napier of More Crichel
  • 1621 Edward Lawrence
  • 1622 John Harbin
  • 1623 William Francis
  • 1624 Bampfield Chafin of Folke
  • 1625 Francis Caldecot
  • 1626 William Uvedell
  • 1627 Leweston Fitzjames of Leweston
  • 1628 Thomas Still of Redlinch
  • 1629 Angel. Grey of Stinsford
  • 1630 Sir John Meller of Little Bredy
  • 1631 Brian Williams
  • 1632 John Browne of Dorchester and Frampton
  • 1633 William Colyer of Pidle
  • 1634 Sir Thomas Trenchard of Wolveton, Charminster
  • 1635 John Feele
  • 1636 (Jan–Oct) John Freke of Cerne Abbey and Westbrooke House, Upwey[5]
  • 1636 Richard Rogers
  • 1637 Sir John Croke of Payne's Place, Motcombe [6]
  • 1638 Richard Bingham of Melcomb
  • 1639 William Churchill
  • 1640 Sir William Uvedale
  • 1641 Edward Lawrence of Creech Grange, Steeple [7]
  • 1642–1644 Sir Francis Fulford of Toller Fratrum [8]
  • 1645 John Fitzjames of Leweston [9]
  • 1646 Robert Coker of Mappowder Court[10]
  • 1648 William Savadge [11]
  • 1649 Henry Henley of Leigh, Winsham, Somerset and Colway, Lyme Regis [12]
  • 1646–48 (Parliamentary): Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury
  • 1650 Sir Gerrard Napier, 1st Baronet of Middlemarsh Grange, Minterne Magna [13]
  • 1651 Sir Hugh Windham, Kt [14]
  • 1652: John Turberfield of Beer[15]
  • 1654 Arthur Radford [16]
  • 1655 James Gould of Dorchester [17]
  • 1656 John Michell
  • 1657 John Strode of Parnham [18]
  • 1660 Thomas Fownes
  • 1661 John Rogers
  • 1662 Woolley Meller
  • 1663 Thomas Freke of Shroton and Melcombe Horsey [19]
  • 1664: Robert Swayne
  • 12 November 1665: Roger Clavel[20]
  • 7 November 1666: John Brown[21]
  • 6 November 1667: John Tregonell, of Milton[22] replaced by John Jeffery
  • 6 November 1668: John Tregonell, of Milton[23]
  • 11 November 1669: Robert Barber[24]
  • 4 November 1670: Robert Seymour[25]
  • 9 November 1671: Thomas Moore[26] of Hawkchurch
  • 11 November 1672: Michael Harvey[27] of Clifton Maybank
  • 12 November 1673: William Frampton[28]
  • 5 November 1674: John Bingham[29]
  • June 1675: John Michel of Kingston Russell [30]
  • 15 November 1675: Thomas Gollop[31]
  • 10 November 1676: John Every of Wootton Glanville[32]
  • 15 November 1677: Robert Pelham[33][34]
  • 14 November 1678: William Weston, of Weston[35]
  • 23 November 1678: John Hardy[36]
  • 27 November 1678: William Laurence[37]
  • 13 November 1679: William Weston, of Weston[38]
  • 4 November 1680: George Pitt[39]
  • late 1680: Sir Robert Napier, 1st Baronet, of Punknoll [citation needed]
  • 1682 George Ryves of Ranston[40][41]
  • 1683 Robert Browne
  • 1684 Charles Bruine [42]
  • 1684 George Fulford of Toller Fratrum [43]
  • 1684 William Lewis of Houke[44]
  • 1685 Charles Bruine [45]
  • 1687 Thomas Turberville [46]
  • 1688 James Gould of Dorchester[47][48]
  • 1689 (Nov): Sir Nathaniel Napier, 2nd Baronet[49][50]
  • 1690 John Still of Shaston St James [51]
  • 1691 Andrew Tucker [52]
  • 1692 John Hoskyns [53] replaced by Richard Rose [54]
  • 1693 John Hoskyns [55]
  • 1694 Thomas Skinner [56] replaced by Thomas Cooper of Sherborne [57]
  • 1695 William Bennet [58]
  • 1696 Sir Thomas Hardy[59][60]
  • 1697: Thomas Bower [61]
  • 1698: William Cox of Brockhampton [60]
  • 1699 (Jan–Nov) William Okeden of Little Crichel [62]
  • 1699: John Richards [63]

1701–1800

1801–1900

1901–1973

  • 1901 Captain Edward Wilmot Williams, of Herringstone House, Dorchester [235]
  • 1902 Colonel John Bullen Symes Bullen, of Catherston Leweston, Charmouth [236]
  • 1903 Colonel John Mount Batten of Upcerne House, Dorchester [237]
  • 1904 Hastings Burton Middleton, of Bradford Peverell, Dorchester [238]
  • 1905 Reginald Douglas Thornton, of Birkin House, Dorchester [239]
  • 1906 Henry Stilwell, of Steepleton Manor, Dorchester [240]
  • 1907 Humphrey Frederick Weld, of Chideock Manor, Bridport [241]
  • 1908 Charles Ethelston Parke, of Henbury House, Wimborne [242]
  • 1909 Alexander Edward Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, of Hinton St. Mary, Sturminster Newton [243]
  • 1910 Hector Edmond Monro, of Edmondsham House, Cranborne, Salisbury [244]
  • 1911 George Hamilton Fletcher, of Leweston Manor, Slierborne [245]
  • 1912 James Hainsworth Ismay, of Iwerne Minster House, Blandford [246]
  • 1913 Henry Frank Ward Farquharson, of Eastbury Park, Tarrant Gunville, Blandford [247]
  • 1914 Frederick James Bosworth Wingfield-Digby, of Sherborne Castle, Sherborne [248]
  • 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Farrer, of Binnegar Hall, East Stoke, Wareham [249]
  • 1916 Frederick George Alexander Lane, of Bloxworth House, Wareham [250]
  • 1917 Freeman Roper, of Forde Abbey, Chard [251]
  • 1918 Alban James Woodroffe, of Ware House, Lyme Regis[252]
  • 1919 William Llewellin of Upton House, near Poole [253][254]
  • 1920 Lt.-Col. Thomas Alfred Colfox of Coneygar, Bridport[255]
  • 1921 Major Joseph Gundry, of The Hyde, Bridport [256]
  • 1922 Alfred Douglas Pass, of Wootton Fitzpaine, Charmouth [257]
  • 1923 Sir Reginald John Pinney of Racedown, Crewkerne [258]
  • 1924 Major Kenneth Robert Balfour, of Steepleton Manor, Dorchester.[259]
  • 1925 Major Charles Robert Eustace Radclyffe, of Hyde, Wareham.[260]
  • 1926 Major Hugh Blomfield Nicholson of Mappercombe Manor, Melplash [261]
  • 1927 Capt. Sir Richard Fitzgerald Glyn Bt. of Gaunt's House, Wimborne [262]
  • 1928 Carlton Cross, of Wyke Hall, Gillingham [263]
  • 1929 Harry Rupert Fetherstonhaugh-Frampton, of Moreton New House, Dorchester [264]
  • 1930 Lieut.-Col. Edward George Troyte–Bullock of Zeals House, Zeals [265]
  • 1931 Capt. Berkeley Cole Wilmot Williams, of Herringston, Dorchester [266]
  • 1932 Wilfred John Brymer, of Ilsington House, Piddletown, Dorchester [267]
  • 1933 Lieut.-Col. Edward Philip Le Breton, of Loders Court, Bridport [268]
  • 1934 Capt. Angus Valdemar Hambro, of Merly House, Wimborne [269]
  • 1935 Major Harry Denison Denison-Pender of Strangways, Marnhull[270]
  • 1936 Lieut.-Commander Hector Richard Monro, of Edmondesham, Cranborne, Salisbury[271]
  • 1937 Lieut.-Col. John Bernhard Harbin Goodden of Compton Hawy, Sherborne [272]
  • 1938 Major Rhys Clavell Mansel, of Smedmore, Kimmeridge, Corfe Castle[273]
  • 1939 Henry John Ralph Bankes, of Kingston Lacy, Wimborne [274]
  • 1940 Capt. Lewys Legge Yeatman, of Stock House, near Sturminster Newton [275]
  • 1941 Sir Claud Schuster of The Manor House, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester [276]
  • 1942 Major William John Bates Van de Weyer of Clyffe, Dorchester [277]
  • 1943 Ernest Frederick Cambridge Lane of Poxwell House, near Dorchester [278]
  • 1944 John Henry Lionel Glasbrook of Manor House, Child Okeford, Blandford [279]
  • 1945 William Ralph Garneys Bond of Tyneham, Corfe Castle.[280]
  • 1946 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Philip Colfox, Bt. of Symondsbury Manor, Bridport.[281]
  • 1947 Lieut.-Co. George Ambrose Pinney of Horn Park, Beaminster.[282]
  • 1948 Colonel George Harold Absell Ing of Jerards, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne.[283]
  • 1949 Sir Philip Francis Cunningham Williams, Bt., of Bridehead, Little Bredy, Dorchester.[284]
  • 1950 Lieut.-Colonel John Fitzherbert Symes Bullen, of Catherston, Charmouth, Dorset.[285]
  • 1951 Lieut.-Colonel Joseph William Weld of Lulworth Castle, Dorset.[286]
  • 1952 Commander Henry Kelsall Beckford Mitchell of Folke Manor, Sherborne.[287]
  • 1953 Sir Arthur Nugent Floyer-Acland[288]
  • 1954 Lieut-Colonel Sir Thomas Henry Salt, Bt, of Shillingstone House, Shillingstone, Blandford.[289]
  • 1955 Admiral Sir Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley of Mappercombe Manor, Powerstock, Bridport [290]
  • 1956 William Wigan Llewellin of Upton House, near Poole.[291]
  • 1957 Lieut-Colonel Edward William Seymour of Tarrant Albbey, Blandford.[292]
  • 1958 Major Etienne Henry Tudor Boileau, of Rampisham Manor, Dorchester.[293]
  • 1959 Lieut.-Colonel Kenneth Greville Williams of Stock Hill, Gillingham.[294]
  • 1960 Sir Thomas Edward Lees, Bt., of Post Green, Lytchett Minster, Poole.[295]
  • 1961 Lieut.-Colonel Robert Stanley Grosvenor Perry of Moor Lane House, Briantspuddle, Dorchester.[296]
  • 1962 Lieut.-Commander George Gosselin Marten of Crichel, Wimborne.[297]
  • 1963 Colonel Richard James Longfield, of Lower Silton, Gillingham[298]
  • 1964 Lieut.-Commander Robert Hugh Hodgkinson of Milton Abbey School, near Blandford Forum.[299]
  • 1965 Commander Roger Henry Charles Fetherstonhaugh-Frampton of Moreton House, Dorchester.[300]
  • 1966 Major William Harry Gibson Fleming, of Ranston, Blandford.[301]
  • 1967 Henry Rolf Gardiner of Springhead, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury.[302]
  • 1968 John Mansell of Smedmore, Wareham [303]
  • 1969 Sir William John Colfox of Symondsbury Manor, Bridport [304]
  • 1970 Major-General Edward Alexander Wilmot Williams of Herringston, Dorchester.[305]
  • 1971 Major Nigel Darner Martin, of Came House, Dorchester.[306]
  • 1972 Lieut-Colonel John Lewys Yeatman, of Stock Gaylard House, near Sturminster Newton.[307]
  • 1973 Peter Frank Tiarks of Melplash Court, Bridport.[308]

List of High Sheriffs of Dorset

1974–2000

  • 1974 Brigadier Stafford Floyer-Acland[citation needed]
  • 1975 Lieut.-Colonel James Thomas Amcotts Wilson[309]
  • 1976 George Edward Sealy Woodhouse of West Lodge, Blandford[310]
  • 1977 Major-General Henry Mark Garneys Bond[311]
  • 1978 Major Graham Neville Yeatman[312]
  • 1979 Lady Elizabeth Mary Garneys Williams, of Bridehead, Littlebredy, Dorchester.[313]
  • 1980 George Anthony Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers of Manor House, Hinton St Mary, Sturminster Newton[314]
  • 1981 Sir Stephen George Hammick, 5th Baromet, of Badgers, Wraxall, Dorchester.[315]
  • 1982 Deric Sydney Scott of the Crest, Bournemouth <[316]
  • 1983 Richard Greville Earle of Frankham Farm, Ryme Intrinseca, Sherborne[317]
  • 1984 Mark Roper of Forde Abbey, Chard[318]
  • 1985 Christopher John Rolph Pope of Wrackleford House, Dorchester [319]
  • 1986 Colonel Kenneth Dubois Ferguson, of Studland Bay House, Studland, Swanage.[320]
  • 1987 Lt-Cmdr William Victor Percy Crutchley, R.N. of Mappercombe Manor, Nettlecombe, Bridport [321]
  • 1988 Henry Walter Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax of Charborough Park, Wareham [322]
  • 1989 Mary Anna Marten of Crichel, Wimborne [323]
  • 1990 Peter Winder Allsebrook, of Milton Mill, West Milton, Bridport [324]
  • 1991 Edwin William Ludlow, of Friar Waddon Farm House, Friar Waddon, Weymouth[325]
  • 1992 Giles Patrick Sturdy of Trigon House, Wareham [326]
  • 1993 Richard Guy Grosvenor de Pelet [327]
  • 1994 Capt. Michael Fulford-Dobson, R.N. of Cerne Abbey, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester[328]
  • 1995 John Derek Wrighton of Preston, Weymouth[329]
  • 1996 Wilfrid Joseph Weld[330]
  • 1997 Richard Walter Fielding [331]
  • 1998 Cmdr Peter Gelson Gregson RN [332]
  • 1999 Anthony Graham Yeatman[333]
  • 2000 Michael John Ashley Bond [334]

2001–present

  • 2001 Charles Arnold Grosvenor Perry [335]
  • 2002 James Richard Boughey[336]
  • 2003 Eleanor Weld[337]
  • 2004 Allan Frank Simmons [338]
  • 2005 Charlotte Anne Townshend [339]
  • 2006 David Harold Woodhouse[340]
  • 2007 Adrian Eason Bailey Scott[341][342]
  • 2008 John Roland Raymond[343]
  • 2009: Victoria Mary McDonaugh of Wimborne[344]
  • 2010: Timothy John Palmer of West Woodyates [345]
  • 2011: Alan John Frost of Bournemouth [346]
  • 2012: Jeremy James Richard Pope, of Dorchester [347]
  • 2013: Catriona Janet Payne of Dorchester [348]
  • 2014: Jane Stichbury of Ashley Park, Ringwood [349]
  • 2015: Jennifer Sheila Coombs of Stepleton House, Iwerne Stepleton, Blandford Forum [350]
  • 2016: Sir Philip Williams, 4th Baronet of Bridehead, Littlebredy, Dorchester [351]
  • 2017: Simon John Young of Blandford [352]
  • 2018: Jacqueline Anne Swift of Poole[353]
  • 2019: Philip Henry Warr of Canford Magna, Wimborne[354]
  • 2020: George Henry Streatfeild of Bridport [355]
  • 2021: Michael Matthew Patrick Dooley of Dorchester [356]
  • 2022: Sibyl Fine King[357]
  • 2023: Colin William George Weston[358]
  • 2024: Anthony Woodhouse[359]

References

Bibliography

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