Council of the North

The Council of the North was an administrative body set up by King Richard III of England in 1484 to improve government control and economic prosperity over Northern England. It was originally based at Sheriff Hutton and Sandal, England. The reasons for doing so had been the deteriorated state of Northern society since The Harrying of the North under the Normans. Richard was the first post-Norman King of England to legislate and conduct government in the English language, possibly because his experience among his subjects whilst at Middleham Castle had created a mutual respect between them. Die hard Yorkists did not forget this when Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel appeared. This local loyalty did not save Richard from desertion, when the Earl of Richmond rose against him. (Coincidentally, Richmond Castle had seniority over Middleham Castle!)

Related Topics:
Richard III of England - 1484 - Northern England - Sheriff Hutton - Sandal, England - The Harrying of the North - Normans - English language - Middleham Castle - Die hard - Yorkists - Perkin Warbeck - Lambert Simnel - Earl of Richmond - Richmond Castle

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Following the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace, Henry VIII reorganised the council. He placed it under Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset with its seat at York. It met the lodgings of St. Mary's Abbey in the centre of that city; after the dissolution of the abbey the building was retained by the king who formally allocated it to the Council. The building is nowadays called King's Manor.

Related Topics:
Pilgrimage of Grace - Henry VIII - Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset - York

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Noted presidents of the Council:

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• Cuthbert Tunstall, 1530
• Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 1537
• Francis Talbot, 5th Earl of Shrewsbury, 1549
• Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, 1572
• Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, 1628

It was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641, because it was the chief support for Catholic Recusants and Anglicans. After the English Restoration, the Secretary of State for the Northern Department was formed and influenced industry.

Related Topics:
Long Parliament - 1641 - Catholic Recusants - English Restoration - Secretary of State for the Northern Department - Industry

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