High Sheriff of Durham

This is a list of the high sheriffs of County Durham, England.

In most counties the high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. In the Palatinate of Durham the officeholder was appointed by and was accountable to the Bishop of Durham until 1836 when the Crown claimed authority. The High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. The High Sheriff changes every March.

High Sheriffs of County Durham

 * 1146 Osbert

15th century

 * 18 January 1401: Sir Robert Conyers
 * 24 August 1406: Sir Percival de Lyndeley
 * 2 June 1414: Sir William Claxton
 * 2 January 1420: Robert Eure
 * 6 May 1436: Sir William Bowes
 * 4 October 1437: Robert Ogle
 * 1 October 1438: William Pudsay
 * 5 December 1441: Geoffrey Midleton
 * 28 December 1461: John de Aderton
 * 8 December 1462: Geoffrey Midleton
 * 7 March 1467: William Claxton
 * 6 August 1469: Henry Radclyff
 * 14 August 1470: Sir George Lumley
 * 20 November 1476: Robert Tempest
 * 4 October 1482 – 1502: Sir Ralph Bowes

16th century

 * 1503–15: Sir William Bulmer of Wilton Castle,(near Redcar)
 * 1516–1517: Roger Lumley
 * 1518–1522: Sir William Eure
 * 1523–26: Sir William Bulmer of Wilton Castle,(near Redcar)
 * 1527: Sir William Bulmer and John Bulmer (jointly)
 * 1528–32: Sir John Bulmer
 * 1533–?: William Hilton
 * 1561: Robert Tempest of Holmside Hall
 * 1569: Robert Bowes
 * 1576: George Bowes
 * 1576–1591: Sir William Hilton
 * 1592–1594: George Conyers
 * 1595–1610: Sir John Conyers of Sockburn Hall

17th century

 * 1610–1624: Sir George Selby of Whitehouse, Ryton.
 * 1625–1640: Sir William Belasyse of Morton House
 * 1641: William Collingwood
 * 1642: Sir William Darcy
 * 1645: Henry Vane the Elder
 * 1646: Sir George Vane of Barnard Castle
 * 1647: Richard Belasyse of Morton House
 * 1648: Clement Fulthorpe
 * 1649: Sir James Clavering of Axwell House, Blaydon on Tyne
 * 1651: Thomas Shadforth
 * 1652: Christopher Fulthorpe of Tunstall Manor
 * 1653: Francis Wren
 * 1654: Rowland Place of Low Dinsdale Manor
 * 1655: Thomas Bewick
 * 1656: George Lilburn
 * 1657–58: Timothy Whittingham
 * 1659: Robert Ellison
 * 1660–7: Sir Thomas Davison of Blakiston Hall.
 * 1667–73: Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton
 * 12 February 1671: Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton
 * 1673: Sir James Clavering of Axwell House, Blaydon on Tyne
 * 1674: Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton
 * 1675–85: Nicholas Conyers
 * 1686–1708: Hon. Charles Montagu

18th century

 * 1709–20: Mark Shafto of Whitworth Hall
 * 1721–23: Sir Henry Liddell, 3rd Bt of Newton Hall
 * 1723–47: Sir William Williamson, 4th Bt of Whitburn
 * 1747–89: Sir Hedworth Williamson, 5th Bart. of Whitburn
 * 1780: Andrew Robinson Stoney-Bowes of Gibside
 * 1789–1810: Sir Hedworth Williamson, 6th Bart. of Whitburn

19th century

 * 1810–1814: Adam Askew of Redheugh
 * 1815–1818: William Hutchinson
 * 1819–1826: William Keppel Barrington
 * 1827–1828: Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn Hall
 * 1829–1833: Charles John Clavering of Axwell House
 * 1833–1836: William Lloyd Wharton of Dryburn
 * 1837: Anthony Wilkinson, of Coxhoe Hall
 * 1838: Sir Robert Johnson-Eden, Bart., of Windlestone Hall
 * 1839: Sir William Chaytor, Bart., of Witton Castle
 * 1840: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. of Whitburn
 * 1841: William Russell of Brancepeth Castle
 * 1842: Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of Whitworth Park
 * 1843: Edward Shippersden of Durham
 * 1844: Henry Witham of Lartington Hall
 * 1845: John William Williamson of Whickham
 * 1846: Ralph Stephen Pemberton of Barnes and Usworth House
 * 1847: John Fawcett of North Bailey
 * 1848: Sir William Eden Bt of Windlestone Hall
 * 1849: John Eden of Beamish Park
 * 1850: Robert Hilyard of Horsley Hall
 * 1851: Robert Henry Allan, of Blackwell Hall and Blackwell Grange
 * 1852: John Bowes, of Streatham Castle
 * 1853: Frederick Acklom Milbank, of Hart
 * 1854: Henry John Baker Baker, of Elemore Hall
 * 1855: Robert Surtees of Redworth House
 * 1856: Robert Smith Surtees of Hamsterley Hall
 * 1857: William Beckwith, of Silksworth House
 * 1858: Timothy Hutchinson, of Eggleston Hall
 * 1859: Sir William Aloysius Clavering, Bart., of Axwell House
 * 1860: Henry John Spearman, of Burn Hall
 * 1861: Richard Lawrence Pemberton, of Barnes
 * 1862: Henry George Surtees of Dinsdale Hall
 * 1863: John Richard Westgarth Hildyard, of Horsley Hall
 * 1864: John Harrison Aylmer of Walworth Castle
 * 1865: William Peareth, of Usworth House
 * 1866: William Edward Surtees, of Seaton Carew
 * 1867: William Scurfield Grey, of Norton
 * 1868: Anthony Wilkinson, of Hulam
 * 1869: Thomas Charles Thompson, of Sherburn Hall
 * 1870: William Briggs, of Hylton Castle, Sunderland
 * 1871: James Cookson, of Neasham Hall
 * 1872: Rowland Burdon, of The Castle, Castle Eden
 * 1873: Charles Freville Surtees, of Mainsforth, Ferryhill
 * 1874: John Fogg Elliot, of Elvet Hill, Durham
 * 1875: Anthony Wilkinson, of Durham
 * 1876: Henry Edward Surtees, of Redworth House and Redforth Grove
 * 1877: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart., of Whitburn Hall
 * 1878: John Joicey, of Newton Hall, Stocksfield, Northumberland
 * 1879: James Laing, of Thornhill, Sunderland
 * 1880: George John Scurfield, of Hurworth House
 * 1881: Matthew Kearney, of the Ford, Lanchester
 * 1882: Robert Anthony Burrell, of Fairthorne, Botley, Hants
 * 1883: Alfred Backhouse, of Pilmore, Darlington
 * 1884: Isaac Lothian Bell, of Rownton Grange, Northallerton
 * 1885: Christopher John Foyle Fawcett, of The North Bailey, Durham
 * 1886: Joseph Richardson, of Potto Hall, Swainby, Northallerton
 * 1887: Gerald Percy Vivian Aylmer, of Walworth Castle, Darlington
 * 1888: David Dale of West Lodge, Darlington
 * 1889: Lindsay Wood, of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street
 * 1890: William James Joicey, of Urpeth Lodge, Chester-le-Street
 * 1891: Joseph Henry Straker, of Willington House, Willington
 * 1892: Sir William Gray, of Greatham Cottage, West Hartlepool
 * 1893: Edward Joicey, of Whinney House, Low Fell, Gateshead-on-Tyne
 * 1894: Colonel Charles John Reed CB, of Springwell Hall, Durham
 * 1895: Hugh Bell of Redbarns, Coatham, Redcar
 * 1896: Major Robert Ropner, of Preston Hall, near Stockton-on-Tees
 * 1897: Colonel Lancelot Allgood Gregson, of Burdon, Sunderland
 * 1898: Samuel Peter Austin, of Cocken Hall, Fence Houses
 * 1899: Utrick Alexander Ritson, of Calf Hall, Muggleswick Park, Consett, and Jesmond Gardens, Newcastle upon Tyne
 * 1900: John Arundel Hildyard, of Horsley House, Eastgate, Darlington

20th century

 * 1901: George Frederick Boyd of Moorhouse, Leamside
 * 1902: Sir William Henry Edward Chaytor of Croft, Darlington
 * 1903: John Ewer Jefferson Hogg of Elm Park Gardens, SW London
 * 1904: Sir Hedworth Williamson of Whitburn Hall, near Sunderland
 * 1905: John Edwin Rogerson of Mount Oswald, Durham
 * 1906: Frank Stobart of Biddick Hall
 * 1907: Rowland Burdon of The Castle, Castle Eden
 * 1908: Slingsby Duncombe Shafto of Beamish Park
 * 1909: William Cresswell Gray of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool
 * 1910: Hon. James Arthur Joicey of Longhurst, Morpeth (later Baron Joicey)
 * 1911: Lieut-Colonel John Henry Ropner, of Ragworth, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees
 * 1912: Frederick Stirling Newall, of Castle Hill, Wylam-on-Tyne
 * 1913: James Westell, of The Cloisters, Sunderland
 * 1914: Francis Priestman, of Shotley Park, Shotley Bridge
 * 1915: Sir Alfred Molyneux Palmer, of Walworth Castle, Darlington
 * 1916: William Hustler Hustler, of Acklam Hall, Middlesbrough
 * 1917: The Honourable Cyril Arthur Liddell, of Ravensworth Castle, Gateshead
 * 1918: Brodrick Dale, of Apperley Dene, Stocksfield
 * 1919: John Wood, of Coxhoe Hall, Coxhoe
 * 1920: Arthur Francis Pease, of Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas
 * 1921: Col. Maurice Bell (later Sir Maurice Bell) of Rounton Grange, Northallerton
 * 1922: Sir John Storey Barwick, of Ashbrook Grange, Sunderland
 * 1923: Capt. Rowland Burdon Webster, of Wolviston Hall, Stockton-on-Tees
 * 1924: Sir Frank Brown, of Norton Priory, Stockton-on-Tees
 * 1925: Lieut.-Col. George Herbert Stobart, of Harperley Park, Harperley
 * 1926: Sir Thomas Garmondsway Wrightson, Bt., of The Manor House, Eryholme, near Darlington
 * 1927: Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees, of Mainsforth Hall, Ferryhill
 * 1928: John Henry Bacon Forster, of Whitworth House, Spennymoor
 * 1929: Major Henry Siward Balliol Surtees, of Redworth Hall, Darlington
 * 1930: John Stapylton Grey Pemberton, of Ramside, Durham
 * 1931: Capt. Geoffrey Stirling Newall, of Shepherds Dene, Riding Mill, Northumberland
 * 1932: Henry Peile, CBE, of Broomshiels Hall, Satley, Tow Law, Co. Durham
 * 1933: Sir Arthur Nicholas Lindsay Wood, of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street
 * 1934: Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker of Hamsterley Hall
 * 1935: Col Frank Robert Simpson of Bradley Hall, Wylam
 * 1936: Major Johnathan Lee Priestman of Shotley Park
 * 1937: Leonard Ropner, of Preston Hall, Stockton-on-Tees
 * 1938: Sir William Gray, of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool
 * 1939: Frank Nicholson, of Southill Hall, near Chester-le-Street
 * 1940: Colonel Sir Robert Chapman, of Undercliff, Cleadon, Sunderland
 * 1941: Col. Harold Edward Kitching, of Elmwood, Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees
 * 1942: Col. Sir Thomas Andrews Bradford, of Aden Cottage, Durham
 * 1943: Col. Hereward Sprot, of St. John's Hall, Wolsingham
 * 1944: Captain Edward Ramsden, of Sands Hall, Sedgefield
 * 1945: Colonel Charles Edwin Vickery, of Whorlton Grange, Whorlton, Barnard Castle
 * 1946: Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Laurence Stapylton Pemberton, of Hawthorn Tower, Seaham
 * 1947: Edward John Westgarth Hildyard, of Horsley Hall, Eastgate
 * 1948: Major Frank Douglas Nicholson, of Quarry Hill, Brancepeth
 * 1949: Captn Sydney Riley Lord of Newbus Grange, Neasham
 * 1950: Lt Col. Robert Appleby Bartram of Broomshiels Hall, near Bishop Auckland
 * 1951: Colonel Thomas George Greenwell, of Thornley Cottage, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham
 * 1952: Philip Ivan Pease, of Sledwick, Barnard Castle
 * 1953: Major Sir (Lawrence) Andrew Common, DSO, of Hunter House, Shotley Bridge
 * 1953: Thomas Hawksley Summerson, of Hall Garth, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington
 * 1954: Brigadier Leslie Harrison McRobert, of Meadowcroft, West Hartlepool
 * 1955: Major Sir Basil Robert James Simpson, of Bradley Hall, Wylam
 * 1956: Maurice Oliver Pease, of Eldon House, Heighington, Darlington
 * 1957: Major Aubone Bryce Surtees, of Hurworth Hall West, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington
 * 1958: John Raymond Ropner, of Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, Yorks
 * 1959: Sir John Gamrondsway Wrightson, of Neasham Hall, Darlington
 * 1960: Lieut-Colonel Robert Macgowan Chapman of Cherry Tree House, Cleadon, near Sunderland
 * 1961: Richard Boys-Stones, of Kyo Close, Wylam-on-Tyne
 * 1962: Roger Trelawny Backhouse, of The East House, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, Yorkshire
 * 1963: Commander Shannan Stevenson, of White Hall, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington
 * 1964: John Charles Hedley Booth, of Meadow Bank, Castle Eden
 * 1965: Christopher William Drewett Chaytor, of Croft Hall, Croft, near Darlington
 * 1966: James Kenneth Hope, of West Park, Lanchester
 * 1967: Colonel James Wadham Grant, of Northolme, Moor Lane, Whitburn
 * 1968: Peter Guy Edwards, of Low Walworth Hall, near Darlington
 * 1969: Norman Carse Marr, of Belle Vue, East Boldon, County Durham
 * 1970: Ralph Meredyth Turton, T of The Hall, Kildale, Yorkshire
 * 1971: William Talbot Gray, of Eggleston Hall, Barnard Castle
 * 1972: Sir James Steel, of Fawnlees Hall, Wolsingham
 * 1973: Colonel Hugh Kirton, of Plawsworth House, Plawsworth, Chester-le-Street
 * 1974: Elizabeth Scylla Riley Lord, of Low Dinsdale Old Rectory, Neasham, near Darlington
 * 1975: Thomas Richard Featherstone Fenwick, of Bishop Oak, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland
 * 1976: Lieut.-Colonel Michael Radcliffe Kerens, of The Old Vicarage, Bolam, Darlington
 * 1977: Major William Kemp Trotter, of The Deanery, Staindrop, near Darlington
 * 1978: Colonel Sir William Allison Lee, of The Woodlands, Woodland Road, Darlington
 * 1979: Captain Gerard Maurice Salvin, of Croxdale Hall, Durham
 * 1980: Paul Douglas Nicholson, of Quarry Hill
 * 1981: Lieut-Colonel Robert Benjamin Humphreys, of Peppermires Cottage, Brancepeth, Durham
 * 1982: George Christopher Bartram, of Eldon House, Heighington Village, Newton Aycliffe
 * 1983: Frederick Guy Beadon, of Little Newsham Hall, Winston, Darlington
 * 1984: John Wood Snowdon, of The Old Rectory, Brandsby, York
 * 1985: David James Grant, of Aden Cottage, Whitesmocks, Durham
 * 1986: Rosemarie Hume Gray, of Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, Barnard Castle
 * 1987: Ian George Bonas, of Bedburn Hall, Hamsterley
 * 1988: Robert Patrick Thompson, of The Old Rectory, Wycliffe, Whorlton, Barnard Castle
 * 1989: James Tyrell Brockbank, of The Orange Tree, Shincliffe, Durham City
 * 1990: Captain John Hubert McBain, of Westholme Hall, Winston, Darlington
 * 1991: Sir Anthony Frederick Milbank, of Barningham Park, Richmond, North Yorkshire
 * 1992: Elizabeth Ann Jennings, of Broomshiels Home Farm, Saitley, Bishop Auckland
 * 1993: Desmond Walker
 * 1994: Nicholas David Barclay Straker, of Sough Hill, Caldwell, Darlington
 * 1995: Robert Sale, of Eryholme Grange, Hurworth, Darlington
 * 1996: James Allan Marr, of Brancepeth
 * 1997: Michael Philip Weston, Prebends Gate, 3 Quarryheads Lane, Durham City
 * 1998: Sir William Gray, Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, Barnard Castle
 * 1999: Frank Nicholson, Cocken House, Chester-le-Street
 * 2000: Elizabeth Ann Smyth, Greenbank, Heighington, Darlington

21st century
• 2001: Thomas Macklyn Swan, The Old Hall, Bedburn, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

• 2002: Andrew Martell, Shotley Hall, Shotley Bridge, Consett

• 2003: Peter Morrison Cook, Broomsheils Hall, Satley, Bishop Auckland

• 2004: Richard Louis Coad, The Glebe, Thorpe, Barnard Castle

• 2005: Simon Jonathon Henry Still

• 2006: Sareth Ann Nainby-Luxmoore

• 2007: Ian Roberts Dewhirst

• 2008: Paul Francis Adrian Townley of Barnard Castle

• 2009: Alasdair MacConachie, of Darlington

• 2010: Bernard Robinson, of Cotherstone, Barnard Castle

• 2011: Roger Steven Peregrine Howell of Castle Eden

• 2012: Henry (Harry) Francis Cecil Vane of Selaby Hall, Gainford, Darlington

• 2013: Peter Stuart Bell of Old Elvet, Durham

• 2014: Gerald Charles Osbourne of Croft

• 2015: James Mark Featherstone Fenwick of Foresters Lodge, Wolsingham

• 2016: Gerard Salvin of Croxdale Hall, Durham

• 2017: Caroline Patricia Peacock of Bishop Auckland

• 2018: Dr Stephen Michael Cronin of Durham.

• 2019: Peter Haswell Candler of Durham

• 2020: David Andrew Gray of Bishop Auckland

• 2021: John Robert Harle of Brandon Village

• 2022: Shona Harper-Wilkes

• 2023: Anne Elizabeth Elliott