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

Historical and Legal Pedigree of the Fief de Blondel et L'Éperons

and the Seigneury of Hon. George Mentz, JD MBA CWM DSS

1. Overview and Location

The Fief de Blondel and its adjoining territorial holding, the Fief de L'Éperons, are ancient Norman feudal domains located within the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands—a British Crown Dependency with a distinct and historically preserved legal system. These fiefs are among the few remaining private feudal domains in the British Isles that continue to maintain both symbolic and real property rights, including jurisdiction over foreshore, beach access, and associated maritime privileges.

2. Origins of the Fief de Blondel

The Fief de Blondel is named after the medieval Blondel family, believed to have been associated with the court of Richard the Lionheart. The fief is one of the original Norman landholdings dating back to the 11th–12th centuries, when the Channel Islands remained part of the Duchy of Normandy, long after the conquest of England in 1066.

Originally held by vassalage under the Duke of Normandy and subsequently under the English Crown, the Fief de Blondel survived the constitutional transformations of the English monarchy. It continued as a recognized territorial entity under Guernsey customary law, preserving its seigneurial rights, landholdings, and feudal customs.

3. The Fief de L’Éperons

The neighboring Fief de L’Éperons—named for the spur (éperon)—was historically part of the Ancient Fief of Blondel as detailed in the Leeds University Archive Deed from 1440. It retains independent rights and duties, and together with Blondel, comprises a broader Seigneury. L"Eperons Fief   and L’Éperons is the second Fief of George Mentz

4. Legal Status and Crown Recognition

Fiefs in Guernsey are formally recognized by the Crown and are enrolled in the records of Her Majesty’s Royal Court of Guernsey. Unlike honorary or symbolic titles, Guernsey fiefs are real property holdings, conveyed by Feudal Conveyance and recorded in the Clameur de Haro jurisdiction system of Norman law. When a fief is conveyed or sold, the Crown charges a treizième, a royal fee (13%) of the sale price, confirming the ongoing feudal relationship between the Seigneur and the Crown.

Fiefs retain rights that include:

• Ownership of beaches and foreshores within the fiefdom’s boundaries.

• Authority over anchorage and safe docking within the fief’s maritime reach.

• Treasure and wreck recovery rights, by ancient custom and precedent.

• The use of ancient seal of the fief, and the maintenance of a court baron or leet, where permissible.

• Jurisdictional customs, including witnessing of deeds and the convening of seigneurial functions.

5. Seigneur Hon. George Mentz, JD MBA DSS

The current Seigneur of the Fief de Blondel et L’Éperons is The Hon. Commissioner George Mentz, an American international lawyer, jurist, professor, and recipient of various global honors. Commissioner Mentz lawfully acquired the fief through formal feudal title conveyance by Her Majesty’s Court in Guernsey, complying with all traditional and legal procedures, including:

• Payment of the treizième to the Crown;

• Filing in the Feudal Register;

• Receiving full hereditary rights, obligations, and privileges associated with the fiefs;

• Establishment of a  Seal and Crest of the fief, as part of the ancient rights preserved under the Seigneurial system which is not part of the UK or EU.

As Seigneur, George Mentz serves as a guardian of tradition and law, preserving the Norman heritage and its historic customs, while also supporting charitable, diplomatic, and educational efforts globally. He is also recognized in his role by various chivalric and religious organizations, and as a Chancellor of the Worldwide Anglican Church in Africa.

6. Territorial Holdings and Maritime Rights

The Fief de Blondel and L'Éperons are distinguished from mere titles in that they include real land and marine jurisdiction. These holdings include:

• Three distinct beaches along the coastline of Guernsey;

• Foreshore rights, enabling the control of intertidal zones and activities such as shellfishing and beach access;

• Marina and anchorage docking rights, a rare and highly sought-after privilege;

• Treasure trove and wreck rights, enabling claim over certain discoveries within the fief's tidal zone, in accordance with both Norman law and customary practice.

• Waste and Common -  Any potential rights to waste, common, fishing, hunting, and advowson.

These rights confer prestige, utility, and a degree of historical autonomy, making the Seigneury of Blondel et L’Éperons one of the most distinctive fiefs in the modern British Isles.

Conclusion

The Fief de Blondel and Fief de L’Éperons represent a living legacy of feudal law and territorial sovereignty under the Crown of Guernsey. Their current Seigneur, Hon. George Mentz, holds legitimate title and exercises the rights inherent in the Seigneury, including coastal ownership, docking, armorial and ceremonial authority, and participation in Guernsey’s unique legal traditions. This continuation of fiefdom rights underscores the enduring nature of Norman law, the preservation of private jurisdiction, and the rich tapestry of Anglo-Norman legal history in the Channel Islands.