The oldest office in the inns of
court is that of Manciple, and a manciple of the Temple
is mentioned as early as the 1340s. By the time of Henry
VIII, however, the permanent domestic establishment
consisted of the Steward, the Butler (and
under-butlers), the Cook (and his kitchen staff), and
the Pannierman; later in the century porters are
mentioned, and there was a host of lesser servants (such
as laundresses, lackeys, and turnspits). The Pannierman
was what we now call a waiter; his function was to set
the tables, to provide bread at meals, and to blow the
horn for dinner. The porters were concerned with
security and good order. The Head Porter was provided in
1684 with a ceremonial staff of bamboo with a silver
head, to which in 1705 was added a silver pegasus; this
is still in use. Since at least 1684 he has also worn a
distinctive gown, with 'loops and tufts'. The Inner
Temple Porter's gown, now worn on ceremonial occasions
and in Temple Church, is of brown cloth with facings of
old gold.
The office of Sub-Treasurer (or
Under-Treasurer) is mentioned in 1557. The first
sub-treasurers were appointed ad hoc by the treasurers
for the time being, as their personal assistants, and it
was not until 1682 that the Inn appointed a 'standing
sub-treasurer'. Since then the Sub-Treasurer has been
the principal administrative officer of the Inner
Temple. By modern Acts of Parliament he has been
assigned many of the functions of a local authority.
