A NEW book is set to chart the history of Berkshire’s Lord-Lieutenants over nearly half a millenium.
The Lord-Lieutenants of Berkshire, 1545-2023 will trace the lineage of the 42 people who have served in the role since the reign of Henry VIII, complete with illustrations.
It began with Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who was appointed Lieutenant for the Southern Counties in 1545.
He was designated to co-ordinate regional defences as the country faced threats from French invasion.
Defence remained the principal concern of Lord-Lieutenants until the end of Queen Victoria’s reign, after which the role began to change.
While modern holders of the office continue to support territorial and volunteer forces, they focus predominantly on promoting social cohesion and celebrating public and voluntary services.
The short illustrated history charts continued turmoil during the reign of the Tudors and through the English Civil War, the relative calm of the 18th century, and fresh fears of invasion during the French Revolution.
The role of Lord-Lieutenant was further developed during the 20th century as continued representatives of the Crown in Berkshire.
It was written by Dr Peter Durrant MBE DL was County Archivist of Berkshire for 25 years until his retirement in 2014.
He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2002 and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire in 2018.
More information about The Lord-Lieutenants of Berkshire, 1545-2023 is available via: berkshirelieutenancy.uk
