The Council of the North was an administrative body set up by Richard III of England in 1484 to improve government control over the northern counties. It was originally based at Sheriff Hutton and Sandal.

Following the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace, Henry VIII reorganised the council under Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond with its headquarters at York in 1537. It met at St. Mary's abbey in the centre of the city.

Noted presidents of the Council:

• Cuthbert Tunstall, 1530
• Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 1537
• Francis Talbot, 5th Earl of Shrewsbury, 1549
• Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, 1572
• Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, 1628

It was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641.

External links

• The act of Henry VIII http://www.constitution.org/sech/sech_075.htm

Books

• King's Council in the North by Rachel R Reid ISBN 0715811266