About the Lordship of the Bailiwick and Forest of Ennerdale

A Timeless Liberty Rooted in Royal Grant and Noble Stewardship

The Lordship of the Bailiwick and Forest of Ennerdale is one of the few surviving private liberties in the British Isles, tracing its origins to medieval charters and Crown grants that bestowed not only lands but sovereign-style jurisdiction to its holders. Nestled in the historic county of Cumberland (now Cumbria), this lordship embodies the rare fusion of forest rights, manorial governance, and legal independence, making it one of England’s most extraordinary territorial titles.

A Historic Liberty of National Importance

Unlike many manorial holdings, Ennerdale was separated from the Honour and Barony of Copeland and granted distinct bailiwick status, with its own officers, courts, and legal customs. In 1822, the Crown and Government formally sold its feudal rights in Ennerdale to the Earl of Lonsdale, constituting a true sale of quasi sovereignty and rights, not merely a lease or tenure.

The Lordship enjoys:

1. Autonomous ceremonial authority within its bounds
2. Fishing and forest rights across the Ennerdale Water and Valley
3. Court baron and leet traditions still legally recognizable
4. The right to appoint bailiffs, wardens, and ceremonial captains
5. The custodianship of arms, seals, and heraldic regalia

These unique features make Ennerdale one of the last quasi-sovereign hereditary jurisdictions in the United Kingdom.

A Forest Lordship

At the heart of the lordship lies the Forest of Ennerdale, a wild and pristine landscape of lakes, rivers, and ancient woodlands. This forest was once a royal hunting ground and is today part of national conservation efforts, respected both for its natural beauty and deep historical roots.

The Lord of the Bailiwick  Liberty and Forest of Ennerdale holds traditional and symbolic responsibilities over the land, preserving not just trees and trails, but the heritage of stewardship that stretches back for centuries.

The Current Lord of the Bailiwick Liberty and Ancient Forest

Today, the Lord of the Bailiwick and Forest of Ennerdale is Commissioner George S. Mentz, JD MBA DSS — an international lawyer, law professor, and globally respected figure in legal education and diplomacy.

As holder of multiple legal and noble titles, Lord Mentz is dedicated to:

• Upholding the traditions and rights of the Ennerdale lordship

• Promoting historical awareness and civic virtue

• Encouraging academic, legal, and cultural engagement

• Preserving ceremonial customs and issuing legitimate charters, honors, and recognitions within the historical framework of the liberty

Mission and Vision

The purpose of the Lordship today is not feudal power, but stewardship, heritage preservation, and cultural legacy. The vision is to maintain this historic title as a beacon of:

• Civic responsibility

• Respect for tradition

• Recognition of lawful liberty

• Educational and charitable leadership

This enduring English liberty remains a living example of the evolution of justice, honor, and noble duty through the centuries.

“Let the rights of the forest and the liberty of Ennerdale never be forgotten, for in them lives the soul of England’s ancient freedom.”
— Inscription, Archive of Ennerdale Manor

 

Summary of the Ancestral Lineage of George Mentz

Commissioner George Sherwood Mentz, JD MBA CWM, Seigneur of Fief Blondel and Datuk Seri, descends from an illustrious tapestry of European royal and noble lineages. His ancestry spans the British Isles and continental Europe, linking him to a remarkable array of monarchs, nobles, and Gaelic chieftains. His heritage includes clans and families such as the Maitlands, Drummonds, Kerrs, Flemings, Montgomerys, Sinclairs, Campbells, MacDougalls, and McConnell, Lords of the Isles.

Among his most notable sovereign ancestors are:

• Somerled, the Progenitor King of the Isles

• The McConnell / MacDonald Lords of the Isles

• Robert II Stewart, 1st Stuart King of Scotland

• James I, II, and IV of Scotland

• Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland

• Walter FitzAlan, 3rd High Steward of Scotland

• Sir Archibald “The Tyneman” Douglas, Regent of Scotland

• Robert the Bruce, King of Scots

European royal descent includes ties to:

• King Christian of Denmark and Norway

• The von Guelders, von Habsburg, von Hohenzollern, and von Brandenburg dynasties

• Holy Roman Emperors

• Kings of France, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Austria, and Germany

• Descent from the Julio-Claudian Roman emperors

He is also connected to prominent noble titles including:

• Earls of Roxburghe, Northumberland, Perth, Atholl, Carrick, Wigton, Buchan, and Argyll

• Dukes of Normandy, Norfolk, Albany

• Barons of Woodstock, Lethington, and Thirlestane

Commissioner Mentz’s ancestral roots affirm his position as a direct descendant of some of the most influential rulers in European history. His ceremonial revival of chieftainship particularly honors the enduring cultural and sovereign legacy of the Mac Dhomhnaill–McConnell line, Lords of the Isles.