Group    From 27/4/1908 

Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor

An exclusive club which only knights can join.  Founded in 1908 to enable a joint opposition to the Walker Trustees who were enforcing their entitlement to collect monies from newly created Knights.

More details: The Office of Usher of the White Rod which has existed since at least 1393, was an attendant of the Parliament of Scotland and an hereditary office.  In 1758 it became a commodity which could be bought and sold.  From The Edge: "Eventually it was purchased by William Walker, an Edinburgh lawyer, for his son Sir Patrick. As well as the income, Patrick was keen on the ceremonial side and he appeared at the Coronation of King George IV, and at George IV's famous visit to Edinburgh in 1822, dressed up in his specially designed pantaloons and uniform."  The Walker family then set up a Trust and in 1877, by Act of Parliament, all newly created Knights Bachelor became liable to pay certain fees to the Walker Trustees in perpetuity.  The Knights objected.  It's not clear why they had not objected before but possibly the fees had not previously been collected efficiently, or at all.  Hence they needed a body (the ISKB) with which to fight the court case, which went to appeal but they did win.  The amount which no longer had to be paid was, per Knight Bachelor, £3 6s 8d. From the rate sheet at ISKB we see that a Duke was the most expensive at over £21.  We think that White Rod lost all this income so goodness knows how he affords the panteloons now.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor

Commemorated ati

Imperial Society

On this site the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was founded on 27th Apr...

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Other Subjects

Frank Masters

Frank Masters

Naval cadet from the training ship Arethusa, aged 14. Drowned in the tragedy at Leysdown. He was assisting the scouts at the time.

Person, Children, Community / Clubs, Tragedy

2 memorials
Barry Mason

Barry Mason

Cycling activist. He was known for supporting community and environmental projects in Southwark. For a time he managed school building projects for Southwark Council, before becoming manager of Sur...

Person, Community / Clubs, Transport, Spain

1 memorial
Southbank Mosaics / London School of Mosaic

Southbank Mosaics / London School of Mosaic

Southbank Mosaics actively promotes equal opportunities and cross-cultural, inter-generational mosaic art work. The studio aims to draw on the historic roots of local neighbourhoods traversed by Sh...

Group, Art, Community / Clubs, Craft / Design

26 memorials
Worshipful Company of Innholders

Worshipful Company of Innholders

Taverns and alehouses provided drink and possibly food, whereas inns also provided bed and board for you and your horses.  Innholders received their first charter from Henry VIII in 1514 

Group, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Liveries & Guilds

1 memorial
Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society

Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society

The society's website doesn't specify when it came into existence. It contains a number of 'journals', the oldest of which is dated 1980, so maybe it dates from then.

Group, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial