The Rare Lordship, Liberty, and Bailiwick of Ennerdale 
A Historic Territorial Jurisdiction in the Heart of Cumbria
The Lordship, Liberty, and Bailiwick of Ennerdale is one of the rarest and most
historically significant manorial holdings in the United Kingdom. Situated in Cumbria, formerly part of Cumberland, this unique jurisdictional entity dates back to the medieval period, when it formed part of the Free Chase of Copeland—a royal hunting forest with administrative divisions
governed under feudal law.
📜 Historical Origins
Ennerdale emerged as a distinct liberty and bailiwick following the partition of the Barony of Copeland in the 14th century. After the death of
John de Multon (d. 1334), whose vast estates were divided among co-heiresses and
subject to Crown reversion, Ennerdale was separated from the larger baronial structure. The Crown retained
the territory and treated it as a self-governing jurisdiction, complete with:
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Court Leet authority (local criminal and civil jurisdiction)
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Forest and manorial rights
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Independence from county sheriffs
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A recognized caput or administrative seat at Ennerdale Hall
These features qualify Ennerdale not only as a liberty but also as a bailiwick—an area under the supervision of a bailiff appointed either by the
lord or the Crown.
⚖️ Legal and Feudal Features
The Liberty of Ennerdale held exceptional status:
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It possessed view of frankpledge, petty jurisdiction, and court leet, allowing the lord to oversee law and order within the bounds
of the liberty.
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The bailiwick was the administrative mechanism by which justice and land
management were executed.
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The lordship was held in capite, i.e., directly from the Crown, and not from any intermediate lord or
noble.
This imperial-style feudal structure is comparable to the Reichsunmittelbare Herrschaften of the Holy Roman Empire, wherein a
Freiherr or imperial lord held lands and jurisdiction directly from the
Emperor.
🌍 International Context & Recognition
The lordship may be lawfully styled in various heraldic and legal traditions:
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English: Lord of the Liberty and Bailiwick of Ennerdale
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German: Freiherr der Freiheiten und der Vogtei von Ennerdale
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French: Seigneur de la Liberté et du Bailliage d’Ennerdale
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Norse (historic): Lendr maðr og dómsherra yfir fríðlendi Ennerdalr
This rare combination of liberty status, bailiwick authority, and manorial court rights sets Ennerdale
apart as one of the few surviving territorial lordships with active legal, ceremonial, and historic identity.
👑 The Current Lord
Today, the Lord of the Liberty and Bailiwick of Ennerdale is Commissioner George Mentz, JD, MBA, DSS, a distinguished international jurist,
educator, and historian. Mentz holds several historical lordships, including Fief Blondel in Guernsey, and has been involved in the scholarly preservation of
ancient liberties, manorial law, and seigniorial systems.
Through stewardship and historical inquiry, the Lordship of Ennerdale continues to be recognized as a living example of medieval English
liberties, with ongoing interest from legal historians, genealogists, and heraldic scholars
worldwide.
📚 Further Reading
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Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III (1334–1338)
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History of the Forests and Liberties of Copeland, Cumberland Archives
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Feudal England: Historical Studies on the Liberty System, J.H. Round
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Manorial and Seigniorial Law, English Historical Review
For official inquiries, academic partnerships, or historical requests related to the
Lordship and Liberty of Ennerdale, please contact the Office of the Lordship Steward.
⚖️ Ceremonial Powers of the Lord of Ennerdale
Appointments under Court Leet, Bailiwick, and Free Chase Rights
The Lordship of the Liberty and Bailiwick of Ennerdale, owing its direct origin to
Crown grants from the 14th century and earlier Norse rule, retains within its
legal and ceremonial structure one of the most unique sets of appointment privileges in the British Isles. These powers
derive from the ancient Court Leet, manorial jurisdiction, and the territory's history as a Free Chase and Royal Forest.
🏞️ Direct from the Crown: A Liberty of Exceptional Status
Unlike ordinary manorial estates, Ennerdale was separated from the Barony of Copeland and recognized as a
liberty and bailiwick held in capite—directly from the monarch, not via any feudal intermediary. This rare standing
enabled the Lord to:
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Convene the Court Leet to administer justice and governance
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Exercise forest jurisdiction over common rights, grazing, and woodland law
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Appoint officers to enforce law and maintain order within the liberty
🛡️ Ceremonial and Heritable Appointments within the Liberty
Under the traditional franchises granted to lords of liberties and ancient forests, the
Lord of Ennerdale holds the power to make the following ceremonial and historic appointments—titles that once carried real judicial or
military authority and today remain symbols of historic sovereignty:
1. Captain of the Liberty
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A prestigious ceremonial military office.
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Historically responsible for defense of the liberty and mustering men-at-arms.
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Analogous to a Knight Banneret or Reichsritter under Germanic law.
2. Chief of the Bailiwick
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The senior officer or elder of the liberty or forest division.
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May act as ceremonial overseer of tenants, customs, and rights.
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Similar in function to a Chief Steward or tribal chieftain in Norse tradition.
3. Bailiff of Ennerdale
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Historically enforced the law, collected manorial rents, and summoned courts.
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Still ceremonially appointed to represent the authority of the Lord.
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Can wear regalia such as a staff of office or badge of the liberty.
4. Master or Keeper of the Forest
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An ancient office responsible for preserving forest law, managing grazing, hunting rights, and woodland
stewardship.
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Historically known as a Verderer or Forester of Fee, and in Norse usage as a skógarmaðr.
5. Constable of the Liberty
👑 Why These Appointments Matter Today
Although the judicial powers of Court Leet are now symbolic, the rights of appointment remain rooted in historical law and form part of the
cultural, ceremonial, and diplomatic role of the Lordship. These offices:
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Preserve ancient traditions of governance, justice, and community leadership
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Provide continuity with Anglo-Norse, Norman, and feudal legal frameworks
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Reflect the Lord's territorial dignity and sovereign-style privileges
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May be recognized in modern heraldry, historical societies, or noble orders
In rare cases, such as Ennerdale, the authority to appoint a Captain, Chief, Bailiff, and Forest Master represents one
of the last living examples of manorial autonomy tied to liberty law.
✨ A Living Tradition
Today, these ceremonial roles may be bestowed upon worthy individuals, local dignitaries, or honored guests in
formal ceremonies, often accompanied by scrolls, regalia, oaths, and heraldic symbolism.
The Lord of Ennerdale continues this tradition with great care, ensuring that the
legacy of English liberties and feudal jurisdiction lives on in the valley of
Ennerdale—a place where history still breathes through title and land.
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