UK Parliamentary Archives

• Held At: Parliamentary Archives: GB-061
• Catalogue Reference: HL/BR
• Accession Number: 4281
• Accession Number: Over 70 separate accessions.
• Ref No: HL/BR
• Date: 1658-2019
• Level: Sub fonds
• Extent: 11 series
• Creator Name: House of Lords, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod Department, 1361-
• Administrative or Biographical History: These documents were created by the department and illustrate its daily workings and areas of responsibility.
  
  The office of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod originated shortly after the foundation of the Order of the Garter. From at least 1361 ushers were appointed by Letters Patent "to bear the rod" in processions of the Order in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and in spite of their title as ushers "of the King's Chapel" they were officers of the Order of the Garter and not of the Chapel. The decree establishing the office states that the appointee must be "a gentleman famous in arms and in blood", so it is traditionally bestowed on a retired naval or military officer. In the Constitution of the Order of 1522-1523 it was provided that the usher, besides "carrying a Black Rod before the Sovereign" at Garter Ceremonies, should also "have the care and custodie and pre-eminence of keeping all our secret chambers of the House where the [Garter] Chapter is held and all the doors where counsel shall be held as well as in the High Court called Parliament as in any other places". Black Rod thus became an officer of Parliament as well as of the Order. Attendance at Garter ceremonies is now Black Rod's only surviving Court function, and his only duty further to his parliamentary responsibilities.
  
  Black Rod's Parliamentary duties were summarized in 1726 as including (i) constant attendance on the House of Lords; (ii) the carrying of the King's commands to the Commons to attend him in the House of Lords; (iii) participation in the ceremony of introducing lords into the House; (iv) employment at the order of the House concerning the commitment of delinquents. In addition, from 1700 at least Black Rod had the privilege of appointing a Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and all doorkeepers, domestic staff and messengers of the House. Black Rod's control of domestic staff was transferred in 1876 to the Lord Great Chamberlain, leaving only the doorkeepers and messengers to Black Rod's control. In 1970, however, control of "the accommodation and Services" in the House of Lords was re-transferred to Black Rod, acting now as an Agent for the Offices Committee, and the full scope of his duties and jurisdiction was clarified and written down. He holds the position of Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain, allowing him to monitor closely the duties pertaining to the two offices. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, must be present whenever the House of Lords sits, and he controls the admission of Strangers. Since 1971 the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod has also held the office of Serjeant-at-Arms for the House of Lords to which he is appointed by letters patent under the Great Seal. In this capacity he attends the Lord Chancellor or the person acting as Speaker of the House in carrying the Mace in and out of the Chamber.
  
  Although usually referred to by title of Black Rod, since 1970 the office holder also holds the title of Serjeant-at-Arms (written with hyphens, unlike the analogous position in the House of Commons). His assistant is known as Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod whilst also holding the title of Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms.
  
  The earliest known mention of the Rod of office is in the Patent of 1361. The Statute relating to Black Rod describes the actual Rod as having at one end "the Lion - the ensign of the English", a feature retained in the present Rod.
  
  Although the custom in recent years has been for the Rod to be handed on to successive incumbents, in the past it seems to have been retained by post holders and their families. A Rod made for Sir Thomas Duppa (BR 1683-1694) is still in the possession of the family. There is record of a Rod having been made in 1710 for Sir William Oldes and another having been made for his successor, Sir William Sanderson in 1718. It is recorded that in 1832 two Rods were ordered for Sir Augustus Clifford on his appointment.
  
  The present Rod dates from 1883, although details have been altered since. It is made from ebony and measures three and a half feet in length. At the top is a gold lion holding a shield surmounted by a gilt and crimson enamelled crown bearing the initials EVIIR. It is surrounded by the Garter in blue enamel bearing in gilt the motto HONI*SOIT*QUI*MAL*Y*PENSE. At the centre of the Rod is a gold orb embossed with oak leaves, mirroring the basic design of the top and bottom.
  
  At the bottom is a gold knob surmounted by a 1904 gold sovereign; the side visible being the reverse. The design of the Rod seems to have altered little since the seventeenth century, being essentially the same as the one created for Sir Thomas Duppa.
• Acquisition: The material was transferred in a series of deposits from Black Rod's department from the 1970s onwards.
• Description: HL/BR contains the papers of Black Rod and his assistant the Staff Superintendent. HL/BR/1-HL/BR/2 contains the main run of office files which deal with the daily business of the department, particularly accommodation [HL/BR/2/1-38] and security [HL/BR/2/238-286]. State occasions and events which come under Black Rod's jurisdiction are divided into the areas of the Palace where they take place, such as Westminster Hall and the Royal Gallery. Records relating to the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II may be found in HL/BR/3. Records relating to state openings of Parliament since 1953 are in HL/BR/4. HL/BR/5 is a hat worn by Edward, Prince of Wales, on his introduction to the House of Lords in 1918. HL/BR/6 contain records digital and paper records relating to ceremonial events. Material regarding policies and guidance is found in HL/BR/7. HL/BR/8 contains records relating to works of art. HL/BR/9 contains papers relating to Domestic Committees and Parliamentary Boards and Groups. HL/BR/10 contains photographs and glass negatives taken during the 20th century of state opening, ceremonies and exhibitions, the interior and exterior of Westminster, and Members, Officers, and staff of the House of Lords.
• Terms:
  • Palace of Westminster,
  • State Occasions,
  • Law enforcement,
• Appraisal Information: The records were appraised in 2002 by Monica Halpin. Material of historical significance which illustrated the work of the department was retained and routine administrative papers and ephemera were destroyed.
• Language: English
• System of Arrangement: The original departmental order was recreated as far as possible and the files given a running number.
• Related Material: For research material compiled by the Information Office on Black Rod see HL/PO/1/288, HL/PO/1/384-5, HL/PO/1/482 and HL/PO/1/526.
• Related Record:
  • HL/PO/1/526,
  • HL/PO/1/482,
  • HL/PO/1/385,
  • HL/PO/1/384,
  • HL/PO/1/288,
  • LGC/13,
• Access Status: Open
• Access Conditions: The majority of the records are open. Records relating to security are closed and permission to view them must be sought from Black Rod. HL/BR/2/287-294 have been on loan to Black Rod's Department since 2010 and were marked as missing October 2023.
• Physical Description: The majority of this collection was declipped and conserved by NADFAS volunteers in 2003-2004. However, some files remained closed for security reasons and were not declipped.

This document forms part of a catalogue

Ordering the Document