Date:1685
Description:In 1684 King Charles II forced Newcastle to surrender all its charters. Charters were formal documents granting rights given by a king or queen written by clerks in the royal chancery. This was recorded in the Corporation minute book on 15 October 1684: ‘...it was agreed that the Charter and all Manors, Messuages, lands, Rents, Tenements, Specialties, bonds, debts, goods, Chattels & hereditaments whatsoever which the Town enjoyeth in right of their Corporation be granted and surrendered into the Hands of the King’s most excellent majesty...’ Before this happened the council put the town lands and rents in the hands of local trustees. This money could then go to the church minister for the relief of the poor. King James II granted a new charter in 1685. This reduced the number of capital burgesses and aldermen who could sit on the council. Conveniently the king chose his supporters for these positions. He could also remove any council member when it suited. Four years later the charter was annulled. The borough regained its previous freedoms and privileges. Digitisation project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.
Newcastle was granted a ‘Gild Merchant Charter’ by King Henry III in 1235. A charter ...
During the Medieval and Tudor periods many towns received a Charter of Incorporation. A ...
Parliamentarians executed King Charles I in 1649. England had no king and became ...
Oil on board depicting cartoon detail of images that were considered by the artist ...
This map shows the lands held in trust by the Burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme ...
Ralph Mosley was Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1866 to 1887. He owned a draper’s ...
John Hand wearing robes and chains of office. He was Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme ...
A view of the rear of the Guildhall, looking down the High Street. The Guildhall ...
R.L. Bodley and Son's wines and spirits shop was located on the High Street. This ...
The Mayor Choosing ceremony is a tradition in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The newly ...
This view of The Castle Hotel that stood on the High Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme ...
Watercolour by Alston Emery in 1991 showing the frontage of the Laura Ashley shop, ...
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In 1684 King Charles II forced Newcastle to surrender all its charters. Charters were formal documents ...
The charter is very long and is written on three large sheets of parchment bound along one edge. This ...
By the Stuart period (1603 to 1714) charters had become very elaborate. The charter has been ‘illuminated’ ...
The charter is read from the back page forwards, this is the middle sheet. Digitisation project ...
This the final page of the charter which is read from the back page forwards, this is the top sheet. ...
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Image courtesy of: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Donor ref:Nm.2016.4 (R) (22/49648)
Source: Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme
Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.