Liberty of Westminster
| Westminster City of Westminster and Its Liberty |
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|---|---|
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| Area | |
| • 1831 | 2,500 acres (10 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1831 | 202,850 |
| Density | |
| • 1831 | 81/acre |
| History | |
| • Abolished | 1900 |
| • Succeeded by | Metropolitan Borough of Westminster |
| Government | Westminster Court of Burgesses |
| • HQ | Westminster |
 Coat of arms of Westminster from 1601 |
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| Subdivisions | |
| • Type | Wards |
| • Units | 12 |
The City and Liberty of Westminster was a unit of local government in the county of Middlesex, England. It was located immediately to the west of the City of London. Originally under the control of Westminster Abbey, the local authority for the area was the Westminster Court of Burgesses from 1585 to 1900. The area now forms the southern part of the City of Westminster in Greater London.
Following the dissolution of Westminster Abbey, a court of burgesses (the Westminster Court of Burgesses) was formed in 1585 to govern the Westminster area, previously under the Abbey's control. The City and Liberties of Westminster were further defined by Letters Patent in 1604, and the court of burgesses and liberty continued in existence until 1900, and the creation of the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster.
The court of burgesses (or court leet) was headed by the High Steward of Westminster Abbey, who was usually a prominent national politician. He appointed a high bailiff, who served for life, and performed most of the functions usually exercised by a high sheriff of a county. The city and liberty were divided into twelve wards, each with a burgess and assistant burgess, this arrangement being adopted from the system then used in the City of London. Eight wards were located in the parish of St Margaret, three in St Martin in the Fields, and one for St Clement Danes and the Strand area.
The burgesses chose two head burgesses, one for the city and one for the liberty, who ranked next after the high bailiff. A high constable was appointed by the court leet, under whom was a force of constables. These were absorbed by the Metropolitan Police in 1829.
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