| Description | The Chamber was the governing body of the city of Worcester and the Order Books record the acts and decisions of the council and members. The process by which decisions were made, such as who made the proposals and any debate surrounding them, is not evident in the early books. Matters discussed but where no decision was reached are also not included in the first few centuries. The council had a diverse range of responsibilities including finances (monies owed or loaned, distribution of municipal funds), property (maintenance, leases of municipal property), trade (regulation of markets and quality of goods) welfare (charities, poor, the city gaol) and governing procedures (succession of councillors, officials and Parliamentary representatives, negotiation of charters). Some freemen admittances were recorded, but only those who obtained it by redemption (i.e. bought freedom). The books were kept by the Town Clerk and entries written up by him and his staff from notes taken during the meetings. As the range of duties and the city expanded, the records become less detailed, for instance by the late nineteenth century, a record is made that a certain number of bills were to be paid, without specifying to whom or the amount as was recorded in earlier books.
The council consisted of two chambers; the 48 (which included the chamberlains, and are equivalent to today's councillors) and the more senior 24 (which included the mayor, and is equivalent to today's aldermen), from whose ranks the city's magistrates were also chosen. Members were largely well-off and literate merchants or (more rarely) gentlemen who were selected for office by their peers in the Corporation. They received no or nominal wages for their service, but these positions came with considerable political influence and social esteem. There was continuity of government as resignation without good cause, absence from meetings or, from 1649, refusal to take up a nominated position was punishable by a fine. Acceptance into the 48 and then the 24 was the career progression of a local government official. Promotion was dependent on the death or removal of other members, but certain positions, such as bailiff or mayor, could only be held for a fixed period or by someone who had held a certain junior position. The Municipal Reform Act 1835 brought changes with an elected council of 36 members.
From 1555 the reasons for dismissal (temporary or permanent) from either chamber were for 'evil government', non-residence in Worcester for a period of at least one year, failure to attend meetings without good reason despite due warning, and occasionally what could be termed as behaviour not befitting a councillor. The frequency of meetings depended on the quantity and urgency of the matters to be discussed, though certainly in the seventeenth century it was not unusual for meetings to be held at 6-8 week intervals. Nineteenth century meetings were often monthly and incorporated the duties of the Burial Board, Local Board of Health etc. From mid-1892, the minutes ceased to be handwritten and were printed.
The chambers held meeting independently and jointly, and both recorded the proceedings in volumes called Chamber Books. The volumes are of the joint meetings unless specified otherwise. |