Printed and Published at the Dover Express Works. 1916.

TO BE FORMATTED

ANNALS OF DOVER.
SECTION SEVEN.
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
III. THE CHAMBERLAINS.

In ancient times the Chamberlains of the Corporation
were the financial and administrative officers, described in
the Latin version of The Dover Charters as " Custodes dicte
ville," one of their principal duties being to act as custodians
of the Corporation property. Under date 1387 they figure
in the opening passage of a Dover Charter thus: — "This
Indenture witnesseth that John Monin, Mayor, and John
Hamon, Thomas Lord, Robert Alein, and John at Mill,
Chamberlains of the Port of Dover, in the name and with
the assent of the whole Commonalty, have granted and at
fee fann demised to William Chilton and Johanna, his wife,
one plot of vacant land," etc. The Chamberlains, of whom
there were four, were paid a small salary, and were elected
annually, their accounts being made up and audited after
the close of each Municipal year. It was their duty to
receive all money due to the Corporation and to record all
payments ordered by the common assemblies. The Cham-
berlains may be described as second rank burgesses, for only
a few of them came into the roll of Mayors. In the Stuart
Period the number of Chamberlains was reduced to two, and
during the last decade of the old Corporation's existence
only one was appointed annually. The last Chamberlain
appointed previous to the passing of the Municipal Corpora-
tions Act of 1835 was Mr. Henry Morris, and he, in 1836,
was appointed by the new Town Council as Borough
Treasurer. The office was subsequently held by Mr. Rigden
and by Mr. C. K. Worsfold; but since 1887 the manager
of the London County and Westminster Bank has been the
Borough Treasurer.



OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION 337