Hon. George Mentz JD MBA CWM – Author – Lawyer – Education Pioneer – Good Will Ambassador

The Bailiwick, Liberty, Manor, and Forest of Ennerdale is a historic and legally distinct feudal territory located in the ancient county of Cumberland, now part of Cumbria, England. Uniquely, Ennerdale is not merely a manorial holding but a recognized Liberty and Bailiwick, once administered independently under its own customs and forest law, and later sold outright by the Crown in tandem with the Government of England. As such, it remains one of the few hereditary private jurisdictions in England with documented legal autonomy, foreshore rights, water rights, and forestal privileges.

II. Ancient Origins

The origins of Ennerdale’s territory date back over a thousand years. The valley (or "dale") of Ennerdale, nestled in the Lake District, was long associated with royal forest lands held in the name of the Crown and preserved under forest law, an independent legal system in medieval England. The “Forest of Ennerdale” formed part of a vast royal domain designated for hunting and preservation, governed by forest officers, verderers, and bailiffs. It held a distinct status from the ordinary manorial system and included elements of palatine administration, typical of frontier regions in the North.

During the Middle Ages, parts of the lands were under the Barony of Copeland, and the Honour of Cockermouth, before becoming part of the extended holdings of the Earls of Lonsdale.

III. Sale by the Crown – 1822

In 1822, during a major rationalization of Crown landholdings and under the authority of the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues, the Forest and Liberty of Ennerdale was formally and legally sold in freehold to the Earl of Lonsdale. This was not a lease, patent, or life estate—but an absolute sale of land and manorial rights, including:

This transaction, recorded in parliamentary and land commission documents, makes Ennerdale one of the rare examples where a Crown liberty and bailiwick were alienated by Crown and Parliament to a private holder with full jurisdictional dignity.

The government-sanctioned sale of the Bailiwick and Forest of Ennerdale to Earl Lonsdale in 1822 is one of the most epic and consequential land transactions in British history. Authorized directly by the King and approved through the parliamentary Commission for Crown Lands, this rare and true alienation of a royal liberty and bailiwick set a legal precedent almost unmatched in the annals of feudal property. The sum paid—£2,500 at the time, the modern equivalent of over £150 million—reflects the extraordinary value placed on the land, its rights, and its autonomy. The vast water rights alone, including access to rivers, lakes, and potential hydropower resources, could easily be valued at £100 million or more today. Ennerdale, once a Crown manor within the historic Barony of Copeland, was thus transformed into a privately owned jurisdiction with its own forest, court leet powers, and centuries-old traditions—making it one of the only known instances where a royal liberty and bailiwick were permanently transferred into private hands with full sovereign sanction.

IV. Provenance and Descent

The Liberty of Ennerdale remained in the hands of the Lowther family, Earls of Lonsdale, for generations. As with many noble families in the 20th and 21st centuries, portions of their estates and dignities were gradually alienated, sold, or transferred.

In the 21st century, the rights, title, and dignity of the Bailiwick, Liberty, Manor, and Forest of Ennerdale were formally and legally acquired by The Hon. Commissioner George Mentz, JD MBA DSS, a distinguished American legal scholar, author, professor of law, and former U.S. Presidential Commissioner. The acquisition included:

V. Rights and Distinctions of the Ennerdale Liberty and Bailiwick

Unlike typical manorial titles, Ennerdale holds a higher degree of legal and historical significance due to its origin as a Crown liberty and forest bailiwick, which includes:

VI. Present Lord and Seigneur

The current Lord and Bailiff of Ennerdale is the Hon. George Mentz, who is also:

Commissioner Mentz has restored and preserved the traditions of Ennerdale, including the creation of a formal seal of the Bailiwick, a crest, and ceremonial observances honoring its ancient forestal and liberty heritage.

Rarity and Uniqueness of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale

The Bailiwick of Ennerdale is likely the only—or at least the most exemplary—free liberty held in fee simple with palatine-style jurisdictional rights and a Court Leet, sold outright by a king (George IV, a German-speaking joint king of the UK and Hanover) with parliamentary sanction in 1822. No other manor, royal forest, or liberty matches this combination of medieval autonomy, cohesive alienation, and historical context during the personal union. Its survival as a privately held lordship, with preserved feudal privileges, cements its status as the “Rembrandt of manors.”

🗺️ Timeline: Legal and Historical Development of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale

c. 1251 – Establishment as Royal Forest and Free Chase

1251–1500s – Crown Officers Administer Forest

1554 – Reversion to the Crown

1623 – Granted to Prince Charles (later Charles I)

1633 – Confirmation of Bailiwick Administration

This confirms Ennerdale’s legal status as a Bailiwick, with officers of Crown justice and administration managing an independent liberty.

1650–1765 – Manorial Surveys and Crown Rentals

1820–1822 – Sold to Earl of Lonsdale

20th–21st Century – Conservation and Private Jurisdiction Maintained

⚖️ Legal Framework Summary

Legal Element	Ennerdale Status
Royal Forest	Yes – since at least 1251
Liberty	Yes – exempt from sheriff authority
Forest Law	Yes – governed by forest courts and officers
Crown Ownership	Yes – direct Crown land until 1822
Bailiff Appointed	Yes – e.g., Algernon Percy in 1633
Keeper of Forest	Yes – Crown-appointed
Bailiwick Defined	Yes – Crown bailiff’s jurisdiction
Court Leet Jurisdiction	Yes – part of liberty structure
Alienation from Crown	Yes – sold outright to Lonsdale in 1822

Ennerdale’s emergence as its own bailiwick within the Egremont barony is tied to the administrative partitioning that followed the death of John de Multon in 1338. Here's a breakdown of the relevant timeline and jurisdictional logic:

Pre-1338 : The barony of Egremont (or Copeland) encompassed a large swath of western Cumberland, including Ennerdale, but operated as a unified feudal jurisdiction under the baronial authority.
1338 Partition : Upon the death of John de Multon, the last baron of Egremont, the barony was divided. This partitioning laid the groundwork for more localized administrative units.
Post-1338 to mid-16th century : Two-thirds of the barony passed to the Percy family, who administered their holdings from Cockermouth Castle. During this period, the barony was subdivided into two bailiwicks for estate administration:
- “Between Ehen and Derwent” (northern section)
- “Between Ehen and Duddon” (southern section)

Ennerdale lies between the River Ehen and the River Duddon, placing it squarely within the southern bailiwick.
While the text clearly says Ennerdale is part of a bailiwick, the geographic division implies that Ennerdale was part of the southern bailiwick created during or after the 1338 partition. However, the later naming of the Earls of Northumberland as Bailiffs of Ennerdale and the Royal Forest of Ennerdale clarifies the legal standing as a Crown Bailiwick.
The jurisdictional shift from unified baronial control to bailiwick-level administration suggests that Ennerdale’s recognition as a distinct administrative unit likely dates from the mid-14th century, specifically post-1338.

The emergence of bailiwicks reflects a move toward localized governance, often with their own bailiffs and courts.
Ennerdale’s inclusion in the southern bailiwick would have granted it distinct administrative oversight, possibly evolving into a ceremonial or quasi-autonomous bailiwick over time—especially if it developed its own court or customary practices.

Queen Lady Jane Grey’s properties, including Ennerdale, were ceded to the Crown in 1554, following her execution and the forfeiture of her family’s estates.

Soon thereafter, the Earls of Northrumbia who was Algernon Percy’s was appointed Bailiff of Ennerdale in 1633 which strongly affirm that the Bailiwick Ennerdale functioned as its own royal forest bailiwick, distinct from the broader Egremont barony. Here's how the roles clarify its status:Ennerdale as a Royal Forest Bailiwick

These titles are not feudal ownership roles—they are Crown appointments, which legally indicates:

This 1633 precedent offers clear historical legitimacy for treating Ennedale as:

The Bailiwick and Liberty of Ennerdale was treated as its own jurisdiction, particularly as a royal forest and later as a manor per se. The document provides several details that highlight its unique status:

Royal Forest: Ennerdale is frequently referred to as the "Forest of Ennerdale" or the "Manor or Forest of Ennerdale." It was part of the free chase of Copeland Fell, and the forest was managed by bailiffs, stewards, and graves. The forest contained red and fallow deer, and there were specific rules and customs regarding its management and the rights of the tenants.
Independent Manor: After coming into the hands of the Crown in 1554 (following the attainder of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk), Ennerdale was not made part of any duchy, honor, castle, or other manor. Instead, it was always treated as a manor per se, with its own courts, customs, and administration.
Management: The forest and manor were managed by appointed officials, including bailiffs, stewards, and foresters. These officials oversaw the tenants, enforced the customs of the manor, and managed the forest's resources, including its game and grazing rights.
Customs and Rights: The tenants of Ennerdale had specific customary rights, such as tenant-right holdings, grazing rights (e.g., "Dalemale"), and obligations to maintain arms for border service. These customs were distinct to Ennerdale and were upheld even when the Crown attempted to convert the holdings into leasehold or freehold estates.

In summary, Ennerdale functioned as its own jurisdiction, both as a royal forest and an independent manor, with unique customs and governance separate from other nearby manors or jurisdictions.

Ennerdale is historically identified as the Bailiwick between the Rivers Ehen and Derwent — the northern division of the ancient Forest or Free Chase of Copeland (Coupland Fell) in Cumberland.

🏞️ Geographical Evidence

The River Ehen rises from Ennerdale Water and flows westward through Cleator Moor to the sea near Egremont.
The River Derwent runs farther north, draining Crummock Water and Bassenthwaite Lake to the Irish Sea at Workington.
The tract of upland between these two rivers forms the northern sector of the old Forest of Copeland, encompassing:

Thus, by location alone, Ennerdale literally lies within the Ehen–Derwent belt.

📜 Historical Records

The “Directory of Baronies and Superior Manors — Cumberland” (University of Lancaster) states:

The Bailiwick of Ennerdale Est 1251 - Hon. George Mentz JD MBA CWM

Historical Pedigree and Provenance of the Bailiwick, Liberty, Manor, and Forest of Ennerdale

I. Overview and Significance

II. Ancient Origins

III. Sale by the Crown – 1822

IV. Provenance and Descent

V. Rights and Distinctions of the Ennerdale Liberty and Bailiwick

VI. Present Lord and Seigneur

Rarity and Uniqueness of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale

🗺️ Timeline: Legal and Historical Development of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale

c. 1251 – Establishment as Royal Forest and Free Chase

1251–1500s – Crown Officers Administer Forest

1554 – Reversion to the Crown

1623 – Granted to Prince Charles (later Charles I)

1633 – Confirmation of Bailiwick Administration

1650–1765 – Manorial Surveys and Crown Rentals

1820–1822 – Sold to Earl of Lonsdale

20th–21st Century – Conservation and Private Jurisdiction Maintained

⚖️ Legal Framework Summary

🏞️ Geographical Evidence

📜 Historical Records

Summary Reference for Use