# Northstead > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Northstead > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Northstead.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northstead > Source revision: 1336637802 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Area of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England "Manor of Northstead" redirects here. For the play, see [The Manor of Northstead](/source/The_Manor_of_Northstead). The open air theatre **Northstead** is an area on the North Bay of [Scarborough](/source/Scarborough%2C_North_Yorkshire) in [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), England. The area near [Newlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Newlands,_Scarborough&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Barrowcliff](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barrowcliff,_Scarborough&action=edit&redlink=1) includes [Peasholm Park](/source/Peasholm_Park) and [Scarborough Open Air Theatre](/source/Scarborough_Open_Air_Theatre). In 2011, the namesake ward had a population of 4,038.[1] Since 2019 the ward no longer covers the area, with most of the old ward now in the Woodlands ward.[2] ## History The Manor of Northstead consisted of a medieval [manor house](/source/Manor_house) surrounded by fields and farms in the parish of [Scalby](/source/Scalby%2C_North_Yorkshire) in the [North Riding of Yorkshire](/source/North_Riding_of_Yorkshire).[3] The estate originally bordered the northern side of the ancient boundary of the Borough of [Scarborough](/source/Scarborough%2C_North_Yorkshire), following the line of Peasholm Beck. The estate passed into the ownership of [the Crown](/source/The_Crown) during the reign of [King Richard III](/source/King_Richard_III) (1483–1485). By 1600, the manor house had fallen into disrepair, being latterly occupied by [Sir Richard Cholmeley](/source/Richard_Cholmeley_(died_1631))'s shepherd until it finally collapsed.[3] The land, but not the lordship of the manor, was bought from the Crown by the Scarborough Corporation in 1921.[4] The [manor house](/source/Manor_house) for the former estate no longer exists and the land has since been redeveloped as part of modern-day [Scarborough](/source/Scarborough%2C_North_Yorkshire). The site of the manor house is believed to have been covered by the lake in [Peasholm Park](/source/Peasholm_Park), a municipal park opened in 1912.[4] ## Politics See also: [List of stewards of the Manor of Northstead](/source/List_of_stewards_of_the_Manor_of_Northstead) The ancient title of the *Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead* persisted beyond the manor, however, being used since the 19th century as a [sinecure](/source/Sinecure) post which plays a role in the procedure for effecting an MP's [resignation from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom](/source/Resignation_from_the_House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom). By virtue of the fact that it became and was retained as a Lordship of [the Crown](/source/The_Crown) beyond the sale and eventual disappearance of the estate, since the 19th century the post of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead has played a role in the procedure for effecting [resignation from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom](/source/Resignation_from_the_House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom) by [Members of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) (MPs). While no longer having any actual role or responsibility, it remains a nominal [paid office](/source/Office_of_profit) of the Crown, a sort of [sinecure](/source/Sinecure), appointment to which is one of the things which by law disqualifies an MP from the House. This principle goes back to the [Act of Settlement 1701](/source/Act_of_Settlement_1701), and is now regulated by the [House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975](/source/House_of_Commons_Disqualification_Act_1975). Since 1623, MPs have not been permitted to resign their seats directly.[5] Although several such offices have been used for this purpose in the past, in the present day only two are used: the Northstead post and that of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the three [Chiltern Hundreds](/source/Chiltern_Hundreds) of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham.[3][4] Most references say that the Northstead post was first used in this way on 20 March 1844 to allow [Sir George Henry Rose](/source/George_Henry_Rose), Member for [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), to resign his seat. But the official book recording appointments to the various stewardships (lodged in [The National Archives](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)) under catalogue reference E 197/1[6]) indicates that [Patrick Chalmers](/source/Patrick_Chalmers_(MP)), MP for [Montrose Burghs](/source/Montrose_Burghs), was appointed Steward of the Manor of Northstead on 6 April 1842. The [writ of election](/source/Writ_of_election) for a replacement was moved as if Chalmers had been appointed to the Chiltern Hundreds.[7] Appointments to the posts are made by the [Chancellor of the Exchequer](/source/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer). Using two posts allows more than one MP to resign simultaneously, although more commonly, single resignations are effected by alternating appointments to the Northstead and Chiltern Hundreds offices. [Sinn Féin](/source/Sinn_F%C3%A9in) MP [Gerry Adams](/source/Gerry_Adams) was appointed to the post after announcing his intention to resign from the UK Parliament to stand in the [2011 Irish general election](/source/2011_Irish_general_election).[8][9] Adams denied that he had accepted the appointment, which would conflict with Sinn Féin's [longstanding policy of refusing to pledge allegiance](/source/Abstentionism) to the British Crown.[10] It was later clarified in Parliament that Adams had not "accepted" the post, but had been appointed to it on announcing his desire to resign as an MP.[11] One of the MPs to be appointed to the Northstead office was former [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom) [David Cameron](/source/David_Cameron), who announced his decision to resign from his parliamentary seat of [Witney](/source/Witney_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) on 12 September 2016.[12] ## See also - *[The Manor of Northstead](/source/The_Manor_of_Northstead)*, a play ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [UK Census](/source/2011_United_Kingdom_census) (2011). ["Local Area Report – Middlesbrough Built-up Area sub division (E35001385)"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks/report?compare=E35001385). *Nomis*. [Office for National Statistics](/source/Office_for_National_Statistics_(United_Kingdom)). Retrieved 14 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Electoral Review of Scarborough"](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/Reviews/Yorkshire%20and%20the%20Humber/North%20Yorkshire/Scarborough/Final%20Recs/Scarborough_F_SO.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HCIO_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HCIO_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HCIO_3-2) ["The Chiltern Hundreds"](http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/p11.pdf) (PDF). *Factsheet P11 Procedure Series*. [House of Commons Information Office](/source/House_of_Commons_Information_Office). August 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-discoveryorkshirecoast.com_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-discoveryorkshirecoast.com_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-discoveryorkshirecoast.com_4-2) ["The Manor of Northstead"](http://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/history/scarborough/manor-of-northstead). Discover Yorkshire Coast. Retrieved 11 August 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Tompkins, Sam (21 June 2023). ["Appointments to the Chiltern Hundreds and Manor of Northstead Stewardships since 1880"](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04731/). *House of Commons Library*. Retrieved 7 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Piece details E 197/1"](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=193143). *The Catalogue*. [The National Archives (United Kingdom)](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)). Retrieved 14 January 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Preamble"](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1842/apr/06/preamble). *[Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)](/source/Hansard)*. 6 April 1842. Retrieved 5 February 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gerry_Adams_8-0)** ["Manor of Northstead"](http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_08_11.htm). [HM Treasury](/source/HM_Treasury). 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Instrument_of_Appointment_9-0)** ["Manor of Northstead"](https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B3X2VVMCALlzZDBiNmMxMmYtMmNlMi00MGExLTgwYWMtZWEwN2RhNzc5OGRh&hl=en_GB). [HM Treasury](/source/HM_Treasury). 26 January 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Adams comments on Cameron claims"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110130045315/https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/19972). [Sinn Féin](/source/Sinn_F%C3%A9in). 26 January 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/19972) on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Gerry Adams appointed to Crown Office 'against his will'"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/8285373/Gerry-Adams-appointed-to-Crown-Office-against-his-will.html). *The Daily Telegraph*. 26 January 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110130045939/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/8285373/Gerry-Adams-appointed-to-Crown-Office-against-his-will.html) from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Manor of Northstead: David Cameron"](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/manor-of-northstead-david-cameron). *gov.uk*. Retrieved 12 September 2016. [54°17′26″N 0°24′36″W / 54.2905°N 0.4100°W / 54.2905; -0.4100](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Northstead¶ms=54.2905_N_0.4100_W_type:landmark_region:GB) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Northstead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northstead) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northstead?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.