The Lordship of The Bailiwick of Ennerdale  Guardian of a National Treasure and Royal Forest

The Ennerdale Valley, stretching across nearly 20,000 acres of rugged mountains, forests, waterfalls, lakes, and ancient ruins, stands as one of England’s most remarkable landscapes. Nestled in the western Lake District, it forms part of the Lake District National Park and contributes to the region’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet beyond its recognition as a national and global treasure, Ennerdale is also bound to a historic manorial liberty: the Bailiwick of Ennerdale. The lordship of this bailiwick embodies both a medieval legacy and a modern mission—stewardship of the land for the benefit of people, nature, and history.

A Bailiwick and Manor Rooted in Stewardship

The Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale inherits not just a title, but a duty. Historically, the manor and liberty granted its lord authority over forests, waters, and lands, with obligations to protect the rights of tenants and maintain order. Today, this tradition of guardianship has evolved into a responsibility to protect the valley’s environment and heritage. The lordship is therefore not one of dominion, but of care—an obligation to safeguard a national treasure entrusted by history and recognized by the world.

A UNESCO Landscape of Natural Grandeur

The Ennerdale Valley is one of the least disturbed parts of the Lake District National Park, offering a rare glimpse of wilderness in modern England. Surrounded by towering peaks such as Pillar, Steeple, and Great Gable, and anchored by the shimmering waters of Ennerdale Water, the valley resonates with natural beauty. Its woodlands, crags, and waterfalls provide habitats for diverse wildlife—from red squirrels and roe deer to owls, ospreys, and otters.

As part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ennerdale is recognized not only for its ecological value but also for its cultural significance. The valley exemplifies the long relationship between people and landscape in the Lake District, where centuries of farming, forestry, and settlement have created a unique cultural ecology. Protecting this balance of human and natural heritage is central to both UNESCO’s vision and the lordship’s charge.

Ancient Ruins and Historic Memory

Scattered throughout the bailiwick are the remains of Anglo-Saxon settlements, cairns, and boundary stones—markers of a time when the valley was both a home and a frontier. These ruins are fragile witnesses to England’s deep history, linking modern visitors with the earliest communities who lived within its forests and valleys. The lordship has a duty to ensure these historic sites are preserved against erosion, neglect, and exploitation. By protecting the ruins, the Bailiwick of Ennerdale preserves not only stones and walls, but the story of England’s continuity across a thousand years.

Conservation and Public Benefit

The lordship’s role in modern times is closely aligned with national park stewardship. Through initiatives such as “Wild Ennerdale,” the valley has become a model of ecological restoration. Native trees are returning, rivers are allowed to follow natural courses, and habitats are being protected. These efforts echo the medieval duty of a lord to manage land for the long-term welfare of the people—only now, the focus is on biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience against climate change.

Equally important is public access. The Ennerdale Valley, as part of the national park, belongs in spirit to all. Trails, lakes, and crags are open to visitors seeking recreation, inspiration, and renewal. In maintaining this openness, the lordship helps ensure that the people of England and the world can share in the valley’s beauty without diminishing it.

A Living National Treasure

The Ennerdale Bailiwick thus unites past and present, law and nature, heritage and future. As a liberty alienated by the Crown into private hands centuries ago, it carries with it the weight of legal tradition. As part of the Lake District National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it carries the recognition of global importance. The Lord of Ennerdale’s task is to honor both legacies—upholding the traditions of manorial stewardship while ensuring that the forests, mountains, waterfalls, and ruins of the valley remain untouched by ruin and alive with promise.

In protecting Ennerdale, the lordship not only preserves a manor and a title, but also safeguards one of the last wild valleys of England—a true national and international treasure, where history, nature, and humanity meet in harmony.