Mayor of Lyme Regis
History
The role of Mayor was created when Lyme was awarded a royal charter in 1284 by Edward I. The position is steeped in tradition and ceremony connecting the present day with history and acting as a symbol of continuity. The holder of the office is the first citizen of the town.
The Mayor chairs meetings of full council, undertakes many civic engagements and attends various events throughout the year. The Mayor traditionally raises funds for their chosen charity or charities throughout their term of office.
The current Mayor of Lyme Regis is Cllr Philip Evans MBE who took over in September 2024 from Cllr David Ruffle who stood down for personal reasons. Philip'swife Jackie Evans is Mayoress.
The civic party comprises the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, town clerk, two macebearers and the town crier.
1437-1833 was taken from History of Lyme Regis and Charmouth by George Roberts 1834
1834-2022 Lists of Mayors in Lyme Regis Guildhall
| 1437 | Roger Crogghs | 1588 | John Hassard | |
| 1440 | Robert Dare | 1589 | John Davey | |
| 1443 | Richard Baker | 1590 | William Ellesdon | |
| 1451 | John Tyneham | 1591 | John Bellamy | |
| 1471 | Richard Dare | 1592 | John Hayes | |
| 1491 | William Dare | 1593 | Walter Harvey | |
| 1497 | John Tyneham | 1594 | John Hassard | |
| 1500 | William Dare | 1595 | William Ellesdon | |
| 1502 | Philip Williams | 1596 | John Davey | |
| 1503 | Richard Shilyngford | 1597 | Richard Norris | |
| 1505 | John Burgh | 1598 | Robert Barnes | |
| 1506 | William Dare | 1599 | Christopher Elmestone | |
| 1507 | Thomas Skorche | 1600 | John Bidgood | |
| 1508 | Philip Walche | 1601 | Robert Hassard | |
| 1509 | Robert Trevett | 1602 | Walter Harvey | |
| 1521 | Ralph Ellysdon | 1603 | Jas Hill (James Hill) | |
| 1547 | T Ellesdon | 1604 | Sir George Summers (Somers) Knt | |
| 1548 | John Dey | 1605 | Richard Norris | |
| 1549 | Roger Garland | 1606 | John Hassard | |
| 1550 | John Hassard | 1607 | Walter Tucker | |
| 1551 | W Tudbold | 1608 | Arth Moore | |
| 1552 | J Tanner died and Thomas Ellesdon executed his place | 1609 | Robert Bragge | |
| 1553 | Henry Snow | 1610 | Jas Hill (James Hill) | |
| 1611 | John Roze | |||
| 1554 | Richard Hunt | 1613 | John Kerridge | |
| 1555 | J Barratt | 1614 | Walter Tucker | |
| 1556 | T Ellesdon | 1615 | John Hassard | |
| 1557 | Jno Hassard died and Thos Ellesdon executed his place | 1616 | Rd Harvey (Richard Harvey) | |
| 1558 | Richard Hunt | 1617 | Richard Wright | |
| 1559 | J Holcombe | 1618 | Robert Bragge | |
| 1560 | Richard Buckford | 1619 | Arthur Gregory | |
| 1561 | Roger Garland died and Jno Morris executed his place | 1620 | Anthony Ellesdon | |
| 1562 | Robert Davey | 1621 | William Kirridge (Kerridge) | |
| 1563 | Henry Snow | 1622 | John Roze | |
| 1564 | Thomas Dare | 1623 | William Davey | |
| 1565 | John Holcombe | 1624 | John Hassard | |
| 1566 | Richard Barret(t) | 1625 | Walter Tucker | |
| 1567 | John Hassard | 1626 | Richard Harvey | |
| 1568 | Robert Davey | 1627 | Richard Alford | |
| 1569 | John Garland | 1628 | John Newel | |
| 1570 | William Ellesdon | 1629 | Anthony Ellesdon | |
| 1571 | William Spering | 1630 | William Kirridge (Kerridge) | |
| 1572 | John Hassard | 1631 | John Hassard | |
| 1573 | Richard Barrett | 1632 | William Alford | |
| 1574 | Robert Davey | 1633 | Richard Roze | |
| 1575 | William Jurdayne | 1634 | Walter Tucker | |
| 1576 | William Ellesdon | 1635 | Richard Harvey | |
| 1577 | John Jurdayne (Jurden) | 1636 | R Alford | |
| 1578 | John Hassard | 1637 | Anthony Ellesdon | |
| 1579 | John Seaward | 1638 | William Kirridge (Kerridge) | |
| 1580 | John Jones | 1639 | J Newel | |
| 1581 | John Bellamy | 1640 | Robert Ceeley | |
| 1582 | John Hassard | 1641 | Walter Tucker | |
| 1583 | Robert Davey | 1642 | Richard Alford | |
| 1584 | John Jurdayne (Jurden) | 1643 | John Hassard | |
| 1585 | William Ellesdon | 1644 | T Sealey (Ceely or Ceeley) | |
| 1586 | W Harvey | 1645 | John Perrot | |
| 1587 | Jno Jones | 1646 | Anthony Ellesdon | |
| 1647 | Richard Alford | |||
| 1648 | John Davey | |||
| 1649 | Ignatius Turner | |||
| 1650 | Richard Rose elected, but Ignatius Turner executed the place |
| 1651 | Anthony Ellesdon | 1717 | G Butcher [John Butcher] |
| 1652 | Richard Alford | 1718 | Nathaniel Gundry |
| 1653 | John Davey | 1719 | Samuel Courtena [Courtenay] |
| 1654 | Walter West | 1720 | Jonas Whetcom (e) |
| 1655 | Ignatius Turner | 1721 | Robert Burridge |
| 1656 | Robert Burridge | 1722 | Henry Henley |
| 1657 | Gabriel West | 1723 | Robert Carswell |
| 1658 | Solomon Andrew | 1724 | Henry Holt Henley |
| 1659 | John Ellesdon | 1725 | John Bowdidge Jun |
| 1660 | Amyell Hart | 1726 | John Burridge Jun |
| 1661 | John Eyre | 1727 | Andrew Tucker |
| 1662 | Gregory Alford | 1728 | John Cox |
| 1663 | Walter Tucker | 729 | George Coade |
| 1664 | William Smith | 1730 | Henry Henley |
| 1665 | John Tucker | 1731 | Henry Holt Henley |
| 1666 | Solomon Andrew | 1732 | John Rodbard |
| 1667 | William Cottle | 1733 | Jonas Whetcomb |
| 1668 | Edward Edwards | 1734 | Robert Fowler Coade |
| 1669 | Robert Coade | 1735 | Thomas Henley |
| 1670 | William Cogan | 1736 | Francis Fane |
| 1671 | Amyell Hart | 1737 | George Coade Jun |
| 1672 | John Whetcomb(e) | 1738 | Rob Carswell died/Henry H Henley |
| 1673 | Andrew Tucker | ||
| 1674 | Walter Tucker | ||
| 1675 | William Smith | 1739 | John Scrope |
| 1676 | Robert Cawley | 1740 | J Coade |
| 1677 | Solomon Andrew | 1741 | Richard Churchill |
| 1678 | William Carswell | 1742 | Henry Fane |
| 1679 | Edward Edwards | 1743 | George Coade |
| 1680 | John Burridge | 1744 | John Newell |
| 1681 | Robert Coade | 1745 | Robert Henley |
| 1682 | Sol Andrew Jnr | 1746 | Henry Holt Henley |
| 1683 | Robert Jones | 1747 | Robert Fowler Coade |
| 1684 | Greg Alford/Robert Burridge | ||
| 1685 | Andrew Tucker | 1748 | Francis Fane |
| 1686 | John Standerwick (e) | 1749 | - [Hutchins - Samuel Warren] |
| 1687 | Amyell Hart [Amiel Hart] | 1750 | George Kerby [Kerbey] |
| 1688 | Robert Burridge | 1751 | Warren Lisle |
| 1689 | John Edwards | 1752 | Hon Francis Fane |
| 1690 | Nathaniel Butler | 1753 | Sam Warren |
| 1691 | Matthew West | 1754 | Warren Lisle |
| 1692 | John Lymen | 1755 | Thomas Fane |
| 1693 | Robert Fowler | 1756 | Joseph Wallis |
| 1694 | Baruch Pitts | 1757 | John Baker |
| 1695 | William Carswell | 1758 | John Fane |
| 1696 | John Burridge | 1759 | John Tucker |
| 1697 | John Standerwick (e) | 1760 | Richard Lathels |
| 1698 | Benjamin Beer | 1761 | A Raymond |
| 1699 | Robert Burridge | 1762 | Henry Swymmer |
| 1700 | John Bowdidge | 1763 | Warren Lisle |
| 1701 | Nataniel Gundry | 1764 | S Warren |
| 1702 | Samuel Courtenay | 1765 | R Churchill |
| 1703 | Thomas Pitt | 1766 | John Baker |
| 1704 | Nathaniel Butler | 1767 | S Warren |
| 1705 | Nicholas Newell | 1768 | Hon Henry Fane |
| 1706 | Jonas Whetcomb(e) | 1769 | J Puddicombe |
| 1707 | Matthew West | 1770 | Robert Clarke |
| 1708 | John Lymen | 1771 | W Peterson |
| 1709 | John Edwards | 1772 | John Luther |
| 1710 | Robert Burridge Jun | 1773 | A Raymond |
| 1711 | Henry Henley | 1774 | J Puddicomb |
| 1712 | John Bowdidge | 1775 | John Fane |
| 1713 | Henry Bunston | 1776 | S Warren |
| 1714 | Robert Colbert | 1777 | Inigo W Jones |
| 1715 | John Burridge | 1778 | Giles Davie |
| 1716 | George Manthe or Mantle | 1779 | G Davie held over |
| 1780 | John Coade – ousted by quo warranto William Peterson | 1841 | William McDowall Tartt |
| 1842 | Robert Hillman | ||
| 1843 | William Glyde | ||
| 1781 | G Kerbey – ousted by quo warranto Francis Hammond | 1844 | Capt Benett, RN |
| 1845 | Capt Benett RN | ||
| 1846 | Robert Holmes | ||
| 1782 | A Raymond | 1847 | John Swaine Hooke |
| 1783 | Francis Fane | 1848 | George Roberts |
| 1784 | W Peterson | 1849 | Daniel Carter |
| 1785 | D R Michel | 1850 | George Cartwright |
| 1786 | A Raymond | 1851 | John G S M Moore, RN |
| 1787 | D R Michel | 1852 | Frederic Edward Bourne |
| 1788 | John Warren | 1853 | Theophilus B Goddard |
| 1789 | Hon Thomas Fane | 1854 | George Roberts |
| 1790 | W Peterson | 1855 | John G S M Moore, RN |
| 1791 | G B Batson | 1856 | Richard Whitehouse |
| 1792 | Joseph Wallis | 1857 | Robert Hillman |
| 1793 | D R Michel | 1858 | Frederic Hinton |
| 1794 | John Warren | 1859 | Frederic Hinton |
| 1795 | Hon Thomas Fane | 1860 | Robert Hillman |
| 1796 | W Daniell | 1861 | Robert Hillman |
| 1797 | T Rawlings | 1862 | Frederic Hinton |
| 1798 | W Peterson | 1863 | Frederic Hinton |
| 1799 | Hon Thomas Fane | 1864 | Frederic Hinton |
| 1800 | John Warren | 1865 | Samuel Osborn |
| 1801 | A M Raymond | 1866 | Samuel Osborn |
| 1802 | W Daniell | 1867 | Samuel Osborn |
| 1803 | Henry Fane | 1868 | Henry Tucker |
| 1804 | Simon Lee | 1869 | Samuel Osborn |
| 1805 | John Michel | 1870 | Henry Henley |
| 1806 | W Peterson | 1871 | Henry Henley |
| 1807 | A M Raymond | 1872 | David Shorter Skinner |
| 1808 | John Donne | 1873 | David Shorter Skinner |
| 1809 | A M Raymond | 1874 | David Shorter Skinner |
| 1810 | John Warren | 1875 | Henry Henley |
| 1811 | C W Michel | 1876 | James Farnham |
| 1812 | W Peterson | 1877 | James Farnham |
| 1813 | A M Raymond | 1878 | Levi John Maeer |
| 1814 | Robert Clarke | 1879 | Levi John Maeer |
| 1815 | B Combe | 1880 | Andrew B Brandram |
| 1816 | John Donne | 1881 | David Shorter Skinner |
| 1817 | G P Upton | 1882 | Henry Henley vice D S Skinner resigned April4th |
| 1818 | John Warren | ||
| 1819 | Joseph Dornett | ||
| 1820 | W Peterson | 1883 | Henry Henley |
| 1821 | G P Upton | 1884 | Henry Henley |
| 1822 | John Chambers | 1885 | Henry Henley |
| 1823 | Lieut Gen J Michel | 1886 | Henry Henley |
| 1824 | W P Daniel | 1887 | Zachary Edwards |
| 1825 | G P Upton | 1888 | Zachary Edwards |
| 1826 | T C Carpenter | 1889 | Zachary Edwards |
| 1827 | Jos Dornett | 1890 | Thomas E D Philpot |
| 1828 | C Marr | 1891 | Thomas E D Philpot |
| 1829 | Lieut Gen J Michel | 1892 | Zachary Edwards |
| 1830 | John Chambers | 1893 | Zachary Edwards |
| 1831 | Vere Fane | 1894 | Gaius Osborn |
| 1832 | Thomas Brown Hardwicke | 1895 | Gaius Osborn |
| 1833 | J Hussey | 1896 | Gaius Osborn |
| 1834 | Charles Marr | 1897 | Henry Octavius Bickley |
| 1835 | C Marr | 1898 | Henry Octavius Bickley |
| 1836 | Harry Burrard Farnall | 1899 | Henry Octavius Bickley |
| 1836 | Major Henry Bayly | 1900 | Henry Octavius Bickley |
| 1837 | Capt Benett RN | 1901 | John R C Talbot |
| 1838 | Harry Burrard Farnall | 1902 | John R C Talbot |
| 1839 | John Drayton | 1903 | Samuel Harris |
| 1840 | Lt Col Sir H Bayly, RN | 1904 | George John Rendall |
| 1905 | George John Rendall |
| 1906-7 | James O’Neil |
| 1908-09 | Samuel Harris |
| 1910-11 | Alban J Woodroffe |
| 1912-13 | Henry Octavius Bickley |
| 1914-18 | Alban J Woodroffe |
| 1919-20 | Alben Wiscombe |
| 1921-23 | Henry Ellis |
| 1924-25 | James Bragg |
| 1926-27 | George Frederic Eyre |
| 1928-31 | Reginald Walter Baker |
| 1932-34 | George H Worth |
| 1935-36 | George F Eyre |
| 1937-44 | William J Emmett |
| 1945-47 | Harry J Blanchard |
| 1947-51 | Alfred F King |
| 1951-54 | Beatrice M Staples |
| 1954-55 | Leah S Bonning |
| 1955-57 | Alfred F King JP |
| 1957-58 | Leah S Bonning |
| 1958-59 | D R Nicholls |
| 1959-61 | E W Grote |
| 1961-62 | Ralph Oliver CC |
| 1962-64 | E J Hallett |
| 1964-66 | F D Fortnam |
| 1966-67 | A E Lane JP |
| 1967-69 | E W Price JP |
| 1969-70 | A Richards |
| 1970-72 | V J Homyer |
| 1972-76 | Henry Chessell BA |
| 1976-79 | Henry J Broom |
| 1979-81 | Dennis F Applebee |
| 1981-82 | Ivor W J Curtis |
| 1982-84 | John P Broderick |
| 1984-85 | Philip Evans |
| 1985-87 | Ivor W J Curtis |
| 1987-89 | Dennis F Applebee |
| 1989-91 | Michael R Hartley |
| 1991-93 | Owen K Lovell |
| 1993-94 | Stuart Case |
| 1994-97 | Barbara M Austin |
| 1997-99 | Stanley B Williams |
| 1999-2001 | Owen K Lovell |
| 2001-03 | Kenneth G Dibben |
| 2003-06 | Barbara M Austin |
| 2006-07 | Kenneth Whetlor |
| 2007-09 | Sally L Holman |
| 2009-11 | Michaela L Ellis |
| 2011-15 | Sally L Holman |
| 2015-17 | Owen K Lovell |
| 2017-19 | Michaela L Ellis |
| 2019-22 | Brian Larcombe MBE |
| 2022-2023 | Michaela L Ellis |
| 2023-2024 | David Sarson |
| 2024-2024 | David Ruffle |
| 2024- | Philip Evans MBE |
We are grateful to Graham Davies of Lyme Regis Museum for compiling this list.
