h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I came across a curious reference to the Council of the West which apparently was a short lived administrative body set up in 1539 to govern Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

It was of a similar nature to a longer lived body in Northern England.

The Council of the West only operated for a brief time, but unlike it's Northern equivalent, it was never formally abolished.

Supposedly the Council fell into disuse after little more than a year because the south west was so peaceful. However a mere nine years later the people of Devon and Cornwall were to rise up in the Prayerbook Rebellion, and in which Lord Russell led the government forces.

I meant to say that Lord Russell was also Lord President of the Council of the West.

It may be interesting to note which counties were included, and which were not.

The council was apparently established to head off local opposition to the (largely religious) changes of the era.

If this is any reflection of local identity, it is interesting to note that it certainly does NOT coincide with the area now identified by some as Wessex.

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Ozzie Exile

I hadn't heard of this Council before, so have been looking for references to it and have come up with much the same as yourself.

A couple of hits on google give only a little information.

A search of books in my small collection reveals only one mention of it; Phillip Payton in his book 'Cornwall'.

It seems there isn't too much to know. As you say, the Council was quite short lived. Established in 1539, the entry in Wikipedia says it last sat in 1540. Payton says it was disbanded in 1544 and that Sir John Russell (from a Dorset family) was President of the Council, as well as Steward of the Duchy of Cornwall and Lord Warden of the Stanneries.

That's about all I could find.