Lords Of The Manor

The title of Lord of the Manor arose in the English mediaeval system of Manorialism following the Norman Conquest. The title Lord of the Manor is a titular feudal dignity which is still recognised today as semi-extinct form of landed property . Their holders are entitled to call themselves ", The Lord/Lady of the Manor of ", but it cannot be stated on a passport, and does not entitle the owner to a coat of arms. According to John Martin Robinson, Maltravers Herald Extraordinary and co-author of The Oxford Guide to Heraldry, ”Lordship of this or that manor is no more a title than Landlord of The Dog and Duck.”

Tenancy

In medieval times, land was held of the king or ruler by a powerful local supporter, who gave protection in return. The people who had sworn homage to the lord were known as vassals.Vassals were nobles who served loyalty for the king, in return for being given the use of land. After the Norman Conquest, however, all the land of England was owned by the monarch who then granted the use of it by means of a transaction known as enfeoffment, to earls, barons, and others, in return for military service. The person who held feudal land directly from the king was known as a 'tenant-in-chief'. (see also Land tenure).

Sub-tenancy

Military service was based upon units of ten knights (see Knight-service). An important tenant-in-chief might be expected to provide all ten knights, and lesser tenants-in-chief, half of one. Some tenants-in-chief 'sub-infeuded', that is, granted, some of their land to a sub-tenant. Further sub-infeudation could occur down to the level of a lord of a single manor, which in itself might represent only a fraction of a knight's fee. A mesne lord was the level of lord in the middle holding several manors, between the lords of a manor and the superior lord. The sub-tenant might have to provide knight service, or finance just a portion of it, or pay something purely nominal. Any further sub-infeudation was prohibited by the Statute of Quia Emptores in 1291. Knight service was abolished by the Tenures Abolition Act 1660.

Courts

A typical manor contained a village with a church and agricultural land. The lord usually had a large block of this land. Some of the inhabitants were serfs and were bound to the land, others were freeholders, known as 'franklins', who were free from feudal service. Periodically all the tenants met at a 'manorial court', with the lord of the manor, or his steward, as chairman. These courts, known as Courts Baron, dealt with the tenants' rights and duties, changes of occupancy, and disputes between tenants. Some manorial courts also had the status of a court leet, and so they elected constables and other officials and were effectively Magistrates Courts for minor offences.

Later history

The tenure of the freeholders was protected by the royal courts. After the Black Death, labour was in demand and so it became difficult for the lords of the manors to impose duties on serfs. However their customary tenure continued and in the 16th century the royal courts also began to protect these customary tenants, who became known as copyholders. The name arises because the tenant was given a copy of the court's record of the fact as a title deed. During the 19th century manor courts were phased out. In 1925 copyhold tenure formally ended with the enactment of Law of Property Acts, 1922 and 1924.

However, though copyhold was abolished, the title of Lord of the Manor , and some of the property rights attached to it, was not. During the latter part of the 20th century, many of these titles were sold to wealthy individuals seeking a distinction. However, some of the purchasers, such as Mark Roberts, went on controversially to exploit the property rights.

Current status

Since 1926 the Historical Manuscripts Commission maintains two Manorial Documents Registers. One register is arranged under parishes, the other is arranged under manors and shows the last-known whereabouts of the manorial records. Those that have survived are often at County Record Offices but some are still in the hands of the owners.

In English and Irish Law, the lordship of the manor is treated as being distinct from the actual lands of the manor. The title of lord of the manor is regarded as an 'incorporeal heriditament' (an inheritable property that has no explicit tie to the physical manor) i.e. it can be held "in gross", and it can thus be bought and sold, just as fishing rights may. Landowners may, therefore, sell their feudal title while retaining their land. The title separate from the land remains a feudal 'title of dignity'. Some have been defrauded into believing they are buying a genuine lordship of the manor. A genuine lordship of the manor is backed by original papers and proof of continuous ownership. Some rights and privileges, or even obligations may go alongside a particular lordship (a famous example is the lordship of the Manor of Worksop). Lordships with a church affiliation often have a clause that the owner of the title must contribute to the cost of repairs of the church building. If the lordship owns a road, it is possible - in a very limited number of cases - to charge others for use of this road on the basis that they are crossing the lordship's land.

See also

• manorialism
• manor house
• feudalism
• gentry
• False titles of nobility

References

1. ^ http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/faqs/knighthood-honours/buy-british-title Can I buy a British title?, (page from British embassy in US)
2. ^ http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-01/caveat03.html Caveat emptor
3. ^ http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/faqs/knighthood-honours/buy-british-title Can I buy a British title?, (page from British embassy in US)
4. ^ Frank Hinks (2008-09-04). "To the manor bought". Legal Week . http://www.legalweek.com/Navigation/35/Articles/1159788/Commercial+and+Chancery+Bar+To+the+manor+bought.html . Retrieved 2008-09-05 .  

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