The offices of sheriff, high constable, governor of a royal castle, and justice of the peace have all been held by women.

In fact, the lady of the manor had the same rights as the lord of the manor, and joined with men who were freeholders in electing knights of the shire without question of sex disability.[31] (A survival of the medieval rights of women may be seen in the power of women to present clergy to benefices in the Church of England.) In the towns women were members of various guilds and companies equally with men, and were burgesses and freewomen.

Not till 1832 was the word "male" inserted before "persons" in the charters of boroughs.

"Never before has the phrase 'male persons' appeared in any statute of the realm.

By this Act (the Reform Bill), therefore, women were technically disfranchised for the first time in the history of the English Constitution.