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Inner Temple History
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The
Inn's Officers And Employees
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A Head Porter in full dress. Escorting the Queen. |
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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.
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Keeping
Term | Inner Temple History | The Freehold

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