CUSTOS ROTULORUM  , the keeper of the

English county records, and by virtue of that office the, highest civil officer in the county . The appointment until 1545 lay with the lord chancellor, but is now exercised by the crown under the royal sign-manual, and is usually held by a person of rank, most frequently the lord-lieutenant of the county . He is one of the justices of the peace . In practice the records are in the custody of the clerk of the peace . This latter official was, until 1888; appointed by the custos rotulorum, but since the passing of the Local Government Act of that year, the appointment is made by the standing joint-committee of the county council .