Royal Liberty of Havering

The name Havering is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Haueringas" and means 'the settlement of the family or followers of a man called Hæfer', an ancient folk name.[2] From the 13th century the suffix -atte-Bower was added and means 'at the royal residence'.[2] The London Borough of Havering and the small settlement of Havering-atte-Bower continue to use these names.

Havering Palace, a resort house for hunting, was well established by the early 12th century. This suggests that the manor of Havering was in royal ownership prior to 1066, although the beginning of its association with royalty is unrecorded.[3] Havering was recorded as part of the Becontree hundred of Essex in the Domesday Book of 1086. The manor was held directly by the Crown, with the monarch acting as lord of the manor. Because they were not normally resident in Havering, and did not appoint a representative to act in their place, the residents of Havering enjoyed unusual autonomy. In 1251 Havering had a population of nearly 2,000.[4]

A liberty was formed by charter for the manor of Havering in 1465. The charter issued in 1465 by King Edward IV reconfirmed many existing rights. The event was celebrated by the issue of a copper token for currency in the late 18th century, which uniquely among the many coins of that era bears the date 1465. The charter gave residents of the area freedom from taxation, its own local magistrates and gaol, and, earlier, freedom from the service of writs by the Essex Quarter Sessions. The famous Romford Market was another privilege that was guaranteed under this arrangement.

The government of the liberty was in the hands of a high steward, deputy steward, clerk of the peace and coroner. The high steward was chosen by the lord of the manor. The office of deputy steward was instituted by the 1465 charter, being appointed by the high steward.[5] The clerk of the peace and coroner were elected by the tenants and inhabitants of the liberty. In 1848 other officers of the corporation were a high bailiff, under bailiff, two head constables and nine petty constables.[6] Gallows Corner was used as the place of execution in the liberty.

The manor and liberty originally comprised the large ancient parish of Hornchurch which was divided into eight wards. By the 16th century 'Romford side' comprising the five northern wards of Romford Town, Harold Wood, Collier Row, Noak Hill, and Havering had achieved some degree of self-government. The remaining 'Hornchurch side' consisted of Hornchurch Town, North End, and South End wards. Hornchurch Town ward was absorbed into North End and South End around 1722. Havering ward grew independent of Romford in the 17th century and became a separate parish in the 1780s.[7][8] In 1849 Romford became a parish in its own right.[1]

The manor was sold by the Crown on 23 September 1828 and the right to appoint the high steward and justices of the liberty was transferred to the private owners. During the 19th century ad hoc boards, such as unions for poor law or public health, started to erode the powers of the liberty. It was unreformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and the Municipal Corporations Act 1883 made provision for the liberty to be absorbed into the county of Essex, but did not force the amalgamation.[1] Under the Local Government Act 1888 the property of the liberty was merged with that of the county, and the offices of high and deputy steward were no longer filled. The separate court of quarter sessions, limited to three justices, continued to exist, and a high bailiff and coroner continued to be appointed.

One of the three justices was elected by the inhabitants of the manor. The last election took place on 3 July 1891 at the market court house. The candidates were Major Holmes of Grey Towers, Hornchurch, and Alfred William Harvey of Romford. Holmes won the election with 78 votes to 42.[9]

On 21 October 1891 the Essex quarter sessions resolved "that a petition be presented to Her Majesty praying that an Order in Council be made to unite the Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower to the County of Essex, so far as the same is not already united by the Local Government Act, 1888."[10] The Order in Council, under the Liberties Act 1850, was made on 9 May 1892, and came into effect on 1 July 1892. The last high bailiff was paid a pension of £3 for life, while the coroner became a county employee.[11]

In 1894, under the Local Government Act 1894, the central part of the Romford parish, named Romford Urban formed the Romford Urban District while the remaining parts of the liberty went on to form part of Romford Rural District. The modern day London Borough of Havering, created in 1965, takes its name from the liberty and incorporates the original area and other territories formerly part of Chafford hundred, including North Ockendon, Rainham, Upminster, Cranham, and Wennington. Modern day references to the liberty include the Liberty Shopping Centre and Royal Liberty School.

• McIntosh, Marjorie (1986). Autonomy and Community: The Royal Manor of Havering, 1200-1500. Cambridge University Press.
• McIntosh, Marjorie (1991). A Community Transformed: The Manor and Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower 1500-1620. Cambridge University Press.