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Groom Porter

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The Groom Porter was an office at the royal court of the monarch of Britain, who had "the Inspection of the King's Lodgings, and takes care that they are provided with Tables, Chairs, Firing, &c. As also to provide Cards, Dice, &c. when there is playing at Court: To decide Disputes which arise in Gaming". He was also responsible for "oversight of common Billiards Tables, common Bowling Grounds, Dicing Houses, Gaming Houses and Common tennis Courts and power of Licensing the same within the Citys of London and Westminster or Borough of Southwark."[1]

The title may originally have referred to the keeper of the king's furnishings in his bedchamber. It was a position in the royal household, and therefore had certain privileges associated with it.[2] A somewhat extended account of the Office is given in King James I's grant of it to Clement Cotterell in 1620.[3] In 1702 the remuneration was raised to £680 per year, which it remained until it was abolished with other sinecure offices at court in 1782.[1] Eventually, the term became used for the owner, or operator of a gaming hall.[4]

List of Groom Porters

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Before 1660

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Effigy of Thomas Cornewalis, Esq., Groom-Porter to Queen Elizabeth, at East Horsley
  • Thomas Twisday is described as "Grome Porter to the Kynges Chamber" in a Chancery bill (as plaintiff) addressed to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln as Lord Chancellor (1475-80 or 1483-85).[5]
  • Alexander Stavely, as Groom Porter among the Sewers of the King's Chamber, and William Kery, as Groom Porter among the Grooms of the Queen's Chamber, are listed for the Coronation in June 1509 of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.[6]
  • Thomas Sacsebe [? Saxilby] is called "Grome Porter with the Kinges grace" in his Chancery litigation of c. 1518-1529.[7]
  • Richard Wode (died 1521), in his Will styles himself "Grome Porter to the Prince's Grace". His executors and witnesses were gentlemen of the royal household.[8]
  • William Byrche, or Birch, is styled "Groom Porter of the royal household" in Chancery proceedings of 1521.[9]
  • William Oxenbrige is called "Groom Porter of the Queen's gate [sc. grace]," in Chancery proceedings of 1533-38.[10]
  • Thomas Sakevild [? Sackville], is described as Groom Porter to the King, deceased, in a Chancery action of 1538-44 relating to the administration of his goods.[11]
  • Nicholas Fortescue (died 1549), in a will made in 1544 describes himself as Groom Porter of the King's most Honourable Chamber. Will proved 26 September 1549.[12] He is the grandfather of Sir Nicholas Fortescue the Elder.[13]
  • Edward Lewknor, Esquire (Groom Porter to King Edward VI and Queen Mary), ?c.1549-1556.[14][15] Attainted and condemned in 1556, died in the Tower.
  • Edward Cornewallis, presumably in the time of Elizabeth (enumerated as preceding, in 1620 Cotterell appointment).[3]
  • Frauncis Cornewallis, presumably in the time of Elizabeth (enumerated as preceding, in 1620 Cotterell appointment).[3]
  • Thomas Cornewallis, Esquire (c. 1530-1597).[16] His tomb at East Horsley, Surrey, shows 'Sometimes Pensioner, and Groom-Porter unto Queene Elizabth of blessed Memory' (Husband of Katharine (died 1626), daughter of Thomas, Lord Wriothesley, Lord Chancellor).[17][18] (Enumerated as preceding, in 1620 Cotterell appointment).[3]
  • (Sir) Thomas Cornewallis (of Porchester), died 1618,[19] (enumerated, distinct from Thomas (Esquire), as preceding, in 1620 Cotterell appointment).[3] He was styled in 1604 "Mr. Thomas Cornewallis, Groom porter".[20] Described as "Sir Thomas Cornwallis, Groom Porter to the King's household" in Chancery suit under James I.[21]
  • Henry Cornewallis, "our late Groomeporter" (enumerated as preceding, in 1620 Cotterell appointment).[3]
  • (Sir) Clement Cotterell, armiger, of Wilsford, Lincolnshire (b. 1585, fl. 1620, died c. 1631/32),[22] as Groom Porter of the household of King James I, was in 1620 granted power to licence gaming houses for cards and dice, bowling alleys and tennis courts, and such other games for the honest and reasonable recreation of good and civil people.[23][3]

1660-1782

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c 'Hunting, sporting and gaming: Groom Porters and Masters of the Tennis Courts', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (revised): Court Officers, 1660-1837 (2006), pp. 224–225. porter. Date accessed: 7 November 2008.
  2. ^ Thefreedictionary.com: Definition of Groom porter
  3. ^ a b c d e f g 'Pro Clemente Cotterell, Armiger, super Officio de le Groomeporter', in T. Rymer, ed. R. Sanderson, Fœdera, Conventiones, Literae, etc., vol XVII (W. Churchill, London MDCXVII [sic, recte 1717]), pp. 236-38 (Google). Most complete version, in English.
  4. ^ Aske the "Groom Porter"
  5. ^ The National Archives (UK), Early Chancery Proceedings, Twisday v Brygges, ref: C 1/55/60 (Discovery Catalogue). View original at AALT, image 90 (University of Houston).
  6. ^ "82. The Coronation, June 1509: 'The King's Chamber', and 'The Queen's Chamber'," in J.S. Brewer (ed.), Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol. 1: 1509-1514, (HMSO, London 1920: Kraus reprint), pp. 38-43, at p. 42 and p. 41 (Hathi Trust).
  7. ^ The National Archives (UK), Early Chancery Proceedings, Sacsebe v The Sheriffs of London, ref: C 1/574/3 (Discovery Catalogue). View original at AALT, image 0004 (University of Houston).
  8. ^ Will of Richard Wode or Woode, groom-porter to the Prince's grace (P.C.C. 1521, Maynwaring quire).
  9. ^ The National Archives (UK), Early Chancery Proceedings, action for debt against Thomas Clifford, ref: C 131/104/7, C 131/104/25, C 131/264/12, and (against Thomas Sackville) C 241/278/88 (Discovery Catalogue).
  10. ^ The National Archives (UK), Early Chancery Proceedings, Oxenbrige v Oxenbryge, ref: C 1/864/78 (Discovery Catalogue).
  11. ^ The National Archives (UK), Early Chancery Proceedings, Lorde v Averell administration, ref: C 1/1026/36-39 (Discovery Catalogue).
  12. ^ Will of Nicholas Fortescue, Groom Porter of the King's Chamber, Westminster, Middlesex (P.C.C. 1549, Populwell quire).
  13. ^ Fortescue, G.K. "Fortescue, Nicholas (1575?-1633)" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 20. pp. 47–48.
  14. ^ J.G. Nichols (ed.), The Diary of Henry Machyn, Camden Society Old Series XLII (London 1848), pp. 108–114. Machyn calls him 'master Lecknolle'.
  15. ^ 'Reign of Mary, XXII: Letter of Robert Swift to the Marquess of Shrewsbury, 22 June 1556', in E. Lodge, Illustrations of British History, Biography and Manners, 2nd Edition, 3 vols (John Chidley, London 1838), I, pp. 265–68 (Internet Archive), citing source: Talbot Papers, Vol. P, fol. 279.
  16. ^ Will of Thomas Cornwallis of East Horsley, Surrey (P.C.C 1597, Cobham quire). See Nina Green's transcript and explanatory notes at "PROB 11-89-570" (www.oxford-shakespeare.com pdf).
  17. ^ J. Aubrey, The Natural History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey 5 vols (E. Curll, London 1718), III, pp. 248-49 (Internet Archive).
  18. ^ 'Parishes: East Horsley - Church', in H.E. Malden (ed.), A History of the County of Surrey, Vol 3 (VCH, London 1911), pp. 349-52 (British History Online, accessed 14 January 2025).
  19. ^ Will of Sir Thomas Cornwallis of Porchester, Hampshire (PCC 1618, Meade quire).
  20. ^ "7 August 1604. The Bishop of London to Lord Cecil", in M.S. Giuseppi (ed.), Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House, Vol 16, 1604 (HMSO, London 1933), pp. 195-221 (British History Online, accessed 15 January 2025).
  21. ^ The National Archives (UK), Chancery Proceedings, Bishop v Cornwallis ref: C 2/JasI/B41/41 (Discovery Catalogue).
  22. ^ The National Archives (UK), Inquisitiones post mortem, 1631/32, refs Chancery, C 142/488/71 and Wards and Liveries WARD 7/82/104 (Discovery Catalogue).
  23. ^ J. Noorthouck, A New History of London Including Westminster and Southwark (R. Baldwin, London 1773), Chapter X: James I, at pp. 151-52 (Internet Archive), citing A. Anderson, An Historical and Chronological Deduction of the Origin of Commerce, 2 vols (A. Millar, J. and R. Tonson, J. Rivington, etc., London 1764), II, p. 5-6 (Google).
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