Borough Charter, Sheffield

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Sheffield was incorporated as a Borough in 1843.

Before 1843 Sheffield's administration was largely in the hands of three bodies:

The Town Trustees (their charter dates from 10 Aug 1297), responsible for secular functionsThe Church Burgesses (dating from 1554, although sharing a common ancestry with the Town Trustees), responsible for the Parish ChurchThe Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire (formed in 1624), responsible for the organisation of the local cutlery trades.

Manorial authority also remained active: the manor of Sheffield (including control of the markets until the end of the 19th century) was in the hands of the Duke of Norfolk, and the manor of Ecclesall was in the ownership of Earl Fitzwilliam.

Without municipal status, Sheffield lacked the right to its own bench of magistrates, relying instead on magistrates from the West Riding of Yorkshire. The option of obtaining a charter of incorporation was actively taken up in Jan 1838 when, following a request from a group of prominent Liberals, the Master Cutler convened a public meeting to consider the question.

Sheffield's Charter of Incorporation was issued on 24 Aug 1843. From this point, Sheffield's municipal affairs were directed by a corporation answerable to an electorate. The first elections for the borough council were held on 1 Nov 1843. The charter divided the borough into nine wards. Sheffield township was divided into four wards (St Peter, St George, St Philip and Park) and the five others constituted from the existing townships: Attercliffe, Brightside, Ecclesall, Nether Hallam and Upper Hallam.