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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEIGNEUR OF FIEF BLONDEL ACQUIRES HISTORIC BAILIWICK OF ENNERDALE—ONE OF ENGLAND’S LAST CROWN LIBERTIES WITH COURT LEET JURISDICTION

Cumbria, England — Commissioner George Sherwood Mentz, JD MBA, internationally recognized lawyer, professor, and philanthropist, has formally acquired the Bailiwick and Forest of Ennerdale, an ancient Crown Liberty and Royal Manor encompassing over 17,000 acres of pristine wilderness in the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The acquisition marks one of the rarest and most historically significant transfers of feudal land in modern English history.

The Bailiwick of Ennerdale, formerly part of the Feudal Barony of Copeland, was granted by Henry I to William de Meschines in the 12th century and was held by the Crown from 1554 to 1821 following the forfeiture of Queen Lady Jane Grey’s estates. In 1822, King George IV in concert with the Government of the Empire sold and alienated the manor and liberty outright to the Earl of Lonsdale, including Court Leet, mineral, forestry, fishery/hunting, and regalian rights—making it a feudal -sovereign jurisdiction.

In 2021, the manorial, baronial, forest, and bailiwick rights were transferred by private treaty to Hon. George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief de Blondel, Baron of Annaly-Longford, and Lord of Stoborough, who now becomes Lord of the Liberty, Forest, and Bailiwick of Ennerdale. The transaction was formally announced in the London Gazette in October 2023, reaffirming Mentz’s lawful seisin of the historic lordship.

“The Ennerdale Bailiwick is not only a magnificent natural treasure but also a living piece of English legal and cultural history,” said Lord Mentz. “I am committed to protecting and preserving the forests, waters, its ancient liberties, revitalizing its heritage offices, and promoting environmental stewardship for future generations.”

A Rare Legacy of Autonomy

The Bailiwick of Ennerdale and the Liberty retains Court Leet powers, a remnant of English customary law allowing local self-governance, justice, and the appointment of officers such as Bailiff, Forester, Game Warden, Chies, Barons, Captains, and Bard. Ennerdale is one of the few known jurisdictions in England where such powers—originally held by monarchs—were sold outright in fee simple, making it one of the only privately owned quasi-sovereign forestal jurisdictions remaining in the Empire and United Kingdom.

Historically, the liberty formed part of the Free Chace of Copeland Est. 1251, a protected hunting forest of the English and Scottish kings, extending from the River Duddon to the Derwent. The area was excluded from the Domesday Book due to its location in the Kingdom of Strathclyde, later becoming part of the Scottish Principality of Cumbria. Ennerdale's ancient caput, or seat, is at Gillerthwaite, nestled deep within the valley's forests and mountains.

Ecological and Historical Significance

The Ennerdale Territory and Valley includes approximately 17,000 acres with 11,000 acres of manorial waste, comparable in size to Manhattan, featuring glacial lakes, waterfalls, Viking ruins, prehistoric pathways, and vast mountain ranges like Haycock, Pillar, and Great Gable. It is part of England’s Super National Nature Reserve network and contributes to vital conservation and rewilding programs.

This area also served as the ancient royal water source and now supplies water to Whitehaven, linking its environmental legacy with ongoing civic utility.

Stewardship and Cultural Renewal

As Seigneur and High Chief Bailiff, Mentz intends to maintain the Court Leet of Ennerdale, appointing officers and stewards to uphold ceremonial, environmental, and historical duties. The Bailiwick and Liberty’s traditions trace to rulers like Norse Chiefs, Celtic Kings, King Malcolm III of Scotland, Prince Charles (later Charles I), and noble families including the Greys, Parrs, Boyvilles, and Lonsdales.

Hon. George Mentz, The Seigneur of Fief Blondel & L'Eperons of Normandy is also a recipient from the government and King of the Datuk Seri title from the Sultan of Kampar which is akin to an Earl or Count's Title, and Chancellor of global law and leadership institutions—brings a legacy of civic service, education, and environmentalism to the region. His vision includes charitable works, legal heritage preservation, and international partnerships to conserve the region’s unique ecology and history.

“This is more than a title,” Mentz remarked. “It is a call to safeguard a one of a kind private Bailiwick, a sacred land—its forests, freedoms, and ancient customs.”

About the Liberty of Ennerdale

• Size: ~17,782 acres, with over 11,000 acres of manorial waste

• Legal Status: Crown Liberty, Bailiwick, and Royal Forest with retained Court Leet powers

• Notable Geography: Ennerdale Water (1,400 acres), Ennerdale Forest (7,500 acres), part of the Lakeland Fells and Viking routes

• UNESCO Site: Part of the Lake District National Park World Heritage Site

• Historical Offices: Bailiff, Steward, Seneschal, Gamekeeper, Bow Bearer, Falconer, Bard of Ennerdale, and others

For more information on the Bailiwick and Forest of Ennerdale, or to inquire about historical appointments, environmental programs, or media coverage, contact:

Office of the Lord of Ennerdale
Bailiwick House – Gillerthwaite
Cumbria, Copeland Forest
Email: info@ennerdale.org
Website: www.Ennerdale.org