The mayoralty in Ipswich

Early Ipswich Corporation

Although Ipswich was granted its first Charter in 1200, the Corporation (or assembly as it was called) prior to 1835 consisted at different times of:

Two bailiffs;
The high steward;
Coroner;
Twelve portmen;
Twenty-four common council of headboroughs;
An indefinite number of burgesses or freemen;
A recorder;
A town clerk;
Chamberlains;
A water bailiff;
A treasurer;
Clavigers (or record keepers - they held the keys to the muniment chest);
Sergeants-at-mace.

The Office of the Head of the Corporation

The office of the Head of the Corporation is as old as the Borough itself. In Ipswich, the office was shared between two bailiffs. In 1835, these were Henry Gallant Bristo and John Chevallier Cobbold.

The Municipal Reform Commissioners carried out various inquiries covering Boroughs in England. This survey lasted two or three years and culminated in the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act in 1835.

The New Corporation

The old corporation (or Assembly) was replaced in 1835 by:

A Mayor;
High Steward;
Recorder;
Ten Aldermen;
Thirty Councillors;
The usual officers.

The first Mayor of Ipswich

The first Mayor of Ipswich was elected on 31st December 1835, and he took up office on 1st January 1836.

He was Benjamin Brame (born 1772, died 1851, aged 79). He was a solicitor of Lower Brook Street in St. Peter's Parish and was a Whig. He was also one of the ten Aldermen, nominated for Mayor by F.F. Seekamp and seconded by W. May, and was unanimously elected. He was a Freeman enrolled on 8th September 1794.

Female Mayors of Ipswich

To date, there have been 21 female Mayors (only called "lady" when the male version is a Lord Mayor). The first female Mayor, in 1946, was Mrs M. Whitmore, and the most recent is the current Mayor, Lynne Mortimer.