Council of the North

The Council of the North
History
Founded	1484
Disbanded	1641
Leadership
President	Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford (final)
Meeting place
King's Manor, York, the seat of the Council of the North 1539–1641

The Council of the North was an administrative body first set up in 1484 by King Richard III of England, to improve access to conciliar justice in Northern England. This built upon steps by King Edward IV of England in delegating authority in the north to Richard, duke of Gloucester (i.e. before Richard himself became king), and in establishing the Council of Wales and the Marches.^[1]

It was based in Yorkshire throughout its history: first at Sheriff Hutton Castle and at Sandal Castle, and then at King's Manor, York. Henry VIII re-established the council after the English Reformation, when the north became identified with Roman Catholicism. It was abolished in 1641, just before the English Civil War.