The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the foundation of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Hertfordshire was retitled High Sheriff of Hertfordshire. The High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown in England and Wales, their purpose being to represent the monarch at a local level, historically in the shires. The office was a powerful position in earlier times, as sheriffs were responsible for the maintenance of law and order and various other roles. It was only in 1908 under Edward VII of the United Kingdom that the Lord Lieutenant became more senior than the High Sheriff. Since then the position of High Sheriff has become more ceremonial, with many of its previous responsibilities transferred to High Court judges, magistrates, coroners, local authorities and the police. Below is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Hertfordshire.

List of Sheriffs of Hertfordshire

Prior to 1567 the Sheriff of Essex was also the sheriff of Hertfordshire.

James I

Charles I

Commonwealth

Charles II

William and Mary

William III

Anne

George I

George II

George III

George IV

William IV

Victoria

Edward VII

George V

George V and Edward VIII

Edward VIII and George VI

George VI

Elizabeth II

Arms

List of High Sheriffs of Hertfordshire

20th century

• 1974 Maj The Hon Thomas Edward Baron Dimsdale MC DL of Barkway • 1975 Sir Simon Bowes-Lyon of St Paul's Walden • 1976 Peter Compton Hamilton-Spencer-Smith of Hitchin • 1977 Captain Eric Charles Marsden OBE TD JP of Great Gaddesden • 1978 Martin Acland JP DL of High Cross • 1979 Edmund Leigh Grundy of Royston • 1980 Michael Meredith Hardy of Baldock • 1981 Sir Gerard Sigismund Newman of Royston • 1982 John Christopher McMullen of Westmill, Buntingford • 1983 Lady Stuart-Smith JP, DL (Joan) of Abbots Langley • 1984 Ralph Abel Smith of Woodhall Park • 1985 Gerald Chastel de Boinville MC TD of Walkern • 1986 Antony Woodall of Great Hormead • 1987 Harry Bott MBE DL of Benington • 1988 John Lockhart Wood JP DL of Great Gaddesden • 1989 The Hon Mrs Blount (Susan) of Barkway • 1990 Captain Charles Barclay of Brent Pelham • 1991 Richard Edmonds of Micklefield Hall • 1992 Henry Buxton DL of Wareside • 1993 Ted Harvey of Bishops Stortford • 1994 Lady Staughton JP DL (Joanna) of Sarratt • 1995 Nicholas Halsey TD DL of Great Gaddesden • 1996 Robert Edward Dimsdale DL of Barkway • 1997 (Hugh) Richard Walduck OBE JP DL of Hatfield • 1998 The Hon Richard Oakley Pleydell-Bouverie DL of Peter's Green • 1999 Harry Morton Neal CBE of Sarratt

21st century

Website

High Sheriff of Hertfordshire