The Groom Porter was an office at the royal court of the monarch of Britain, who had "the Inspection of the King's Lodgings, and takes care that they are provided with Tables, Chairs, Firing, &c. As also to provide Cards, Dice, &c. when there is playing at Court: To decide Disputes which arise in Gaming". He was also responsible for "oversight of common Billiards Tables, common Bowling Grounds, Dicing Houses, Gaming Houses and Common tennis Courts and power of Licensing the same within the Citys of London and Westminster or Borough of Southwark."'Hunting, sporting and gaming: Groom Porters and Masters of the Tennis Courts', ''Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (revised): Court Officers, 1660-1837'' (2006), pp. 224–225
porter
Date accessed: 7 November 2008. The title may originally have referred to the keeper of the king's furnishings in his bedchamber. It was a position in the royal household, and therefore had certain privileges associated with it. In 1702 the remuneration was raised to £680 per year, which it remained until it was abolished with other sinecure offices at court in 1782. Eventually, the term became used for the owner, or operator of a gaming hall.

List of Groom Porters

Before 1660

* Nicholas Fortescue (died 1549), in a will made in 1544 describes himself as Groom Porter of the King's most Honourable Chamber. Will proved 26 September 1549. He is the grandfather of Sir Nicholas Fortescue the Elder. * ?c.1547-1556 Edward Lewknor, Esquire (to King

Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. Edward was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and the first E ...

and Queen

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)'Reign of Mary, XXII: Letter of Robert Swift to the Marquess of Shrewsbury, 22 June 1556', in E. Lodge, ''Illustrations of British History, Biography and Manners'', 2nd Edition, 3 vols (John Chidley, London 1838), I
pp. 265–68
(Internet Archive), citing source: Talbot Papers, Vol. P, fol. 279.

1660-1782

*1660–1665: Sir Richard Hubbert *1665–1678: Thomas Offley *1678–1699:

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*1700–1705: William Rowley *1705–1743:

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*1743–1763: Charles FitzRoy (FitzRoy-Scudamore from 1749) *1763–1764: Francis Buller *1764–1765:

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*1765–1782: George Paulet

References

{{Reflist Gambling terminology Positions within the British Royal Household Gendered occupations 1782 disestablishments in Great Britain

List of Groom Porters

Before 1660

1660-1782

See also

References