High Sheriff Of Herefordshire

The position of Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in each county, but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that the Sheriff's remaining functions are now largely ceremonial. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as Sheriff was retitled High Sheriff. The High Sheriff changes every March.

Under the same act of 1972, Herefordshire and Worcestershire were merged to form the new county of Hereford and Worcester, and as a result the office of Sheriff of Herefordshire was replaced by that of High Sheriff of Hereford and Worcester. However, in 1998 the new county was dissolved, restoring Herefordshire and Worcestershire and creating the offices of High Sheriff of Herefordshire and High Sheriff of Worcestershire.

The Website of the High Sheriffs' Association of England and Wales stated in 2021 that the role was a "non-political Royal appointment", for one year, and unpaid.

A nearly complete list of the High Sheriffs of Herefordshire from 1155 to 1647 can be found in The history of the worthies of England, Volume 1, pp. 83–94.

11th century

• Ralph de Bernai
• Bryning
• Ilbert fitz Turold
• c.1060 Osborne Fitzrichard Le Scrope

12th century

• c. 1127 – Pain fitzJohn
• 1130 (maybe) Adam de Port
• 1129 – 1135: Miles of Gloucester
• 1136 – Pain fitzJohn
• 1155–1160 (2 Henry II) – Walter de Hereford, for five years (son of Miles of Gloucester)
• 1160–1169 (7 Henry II) – William de Bello Campo, for nine years
• 1169 (16 Henry II) – William de Bello Campo and Walter Clicums
• 1170 (17 Henry II) – Willielmus de la Lega
• 1171 (18 Henry II) – Gilbertus Pypard
• 1172 (19 Henry II) – Gilbertus Pypard
• 1173 (20 Henry II) – Willielmus de Braiose
• 1174 (21 Henry II) – Willielmus de Braiose
• 1175 (22 Henry II) – Radulphus Pulcherus, for seven years
• 1182 (29 Henry II) – Milo de Mucegros and Willielmus Torelle
• 1183 (30 Henry II) – Willielmus Torelle
• 1184 (31 Henry II) – Radulphus Arden
• 1185 (32 Henry II) – Radulphus Arden
• 1186 (33 Henry II) – Radulphus Arden
• 1189 (1 Richard I): Radul. de Arden
• 1190 (2 Richard I): Henry de Longo Campo
• 1191 (3 Richard I): Willielmus de Braiosa
• 1192 (4 Richard I): Willielmus de Braiosa
• 1193 (5 Richard I): Henry de Longo Campo) and Willielmus de Braiosa
• 1194 (6 Richard I): Roger. Fitz-Mauricis
• 1195 (7 Richard I): Willielmus de Braiosa
• 1196 (8 Richard I): Willielmus de Braiosa
• 1197 (9 Richard I): Willielmus de Braiosa and Willielmus de Burchhull
• 1198 (10 Richard I): Willielmus de Braiosa and Willielmus de Burchhull
• 1199 (1 John): Walter II de Clifford

13th century

14th century

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

1800–1899

1900–1973

• 1974–1997 – See High Sheriff of Hereford and Worcester

1998 – date