How to apply to become a Freemen
To apply for admission to the Freedom of the City of York
the easiest method is probably to fill in an application
form and send it, with the relevant evidence and processing
fee, to the Electoral and Civic Services department of the
City of York Council.
Electoral & Civic Services
Chief Executives
City of York Council
The Guildhall
York
YO1 9QN
tel: (01904) 613161
http://www.york.gov.uk/contact/comment.html
Documentation
The current documentation for those of you
who are eligable can
be downloaded below. There is an information document, an
application form for women and an application form for men.
| Document |
Document Format |
| Eligability criteria |
MS
Word |
PDF |
| Freedom application form for women |
MS
Word |
PDF |
| Freedom application form for men |
MS
Word |
PDF |
| |
|
|
Downloading
the files:
Word files - right click on the links above and choose 'Save Target As...'
PDF files - left click on the links above to open Adobe Acrobat Reader (availale
as a free download from Adobe). |
Eligability
For those that are interested there are still two possible
ways to become a Freeman of York - by birthright
or by servitude. York
City Council holds a freedom court annually in the Guildhall
where new members are admitted to the freedom. The court is
presided over by the Lord Mayor. Most new members gain their
freedom by birthright but there are occasional claimants by
servitude as well.
Patrimony (birthright)
All the children of a Freeman are eligable once they reach
the age of 21. A claim may be made through either a father,
grandfather or great grandfather (whether living or dead).
In fact, if you were born before your father became a Freeman
then you must apply through your grandfather or great
grandfather and you must have been born after they
became Freemen. Having said that, claims do not have to be
through the male line only. They can be made through the female
line instead.
Servitude
To become a Freeman by servitude a candidate needs
to be accepted as an apprentice to a master craftsman for
five years. The master craftsman himself is required to be
a Freeman of York. This is obviously quite difficult to achieve
now as there are very few apprenticeships available.
If you are accepted as being qualified to be admitted you
will receive an invitation to the freedom court, presided
over by the Lord Mayor, and held in the Guildhall annually
(if the number of applicants is great, and time allows, there
may be two courts in a single year). Having been 'identified'
by an elder blood relation, according to the ancient custom,
you will stand with the other candidates and recite the Freeman's
declaration followed by the ancient oath of obedience. |