Recorders of Winchester

According to Winchester's historical records, the title 'Recorder' first appeared in the 15th Century and the earliest named individual to hold this office was William Wode (1408).

During the medieval period, the duties of the Recorder were principally acting as general legal adviser to the City, having responsibility for keeping accurate records (known as 'recorda') and seeing that true judgements were made. This legal expertise is thought to have attracted complex lawsuits to the City and raised its judicial profile.

Recorders were not necessarily Winchester citizens, but they did enjoy high rank, with the City paying for a 'furred gown' and for the keep of their horses! In the Elizabethan period, this position of importance was reinforced. As an example, the Mayor and Alderman had to take their oaths of office before the Recorder.

Archives from 1834 tell us that the Recorder was "not in the habit" of acting as a Justice of the Peace, except when important cases were heard and even then such business was sometimes postponed "to meet his convenience". The role was later formalised by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882, which required a Recorder to be a barrister of at least five years standing, to undertake duties as a Justice of the Peace and preside as the sole judge at Quarter Sessions. It was a salaried position which was second only to the Mayor in terms of local precedence.

When reviewing the list of past Recorders, two names are of particular interest. John Lisle (Recorder from 1636 - 1650) was one of the regicides of Charles I - he was later murdered in Lausanne. Henry Penton (Recorder in 1771) lived in Winchester but also owned a large estate covering the Islington area of London - Pentonville Prison was built within that estate and named after him.

With the abolition of the Courts of Quarter Sessions by the Courts Act 1971, the formal role of the Recorder ceased. However, many cities with a strong legal tradition wished to preserve the office in some way and so the position of Honorary Recorder was created by the Local Government Act 1972. James Fox-Andrews QC was appointed Honorary Recorder in 1972 until he resigned in 1999. The position then remained vacant, until the appointment of Judge Michael Brodrick by the City Council on 5 January 2005. When Micheal Brodrick retired in 2009, Judge Keith Cutler was appointed on 4 November 2009 and is the current Honorary Recorder of Winchester.