FAQ
In brief: the peerage endures in its five ranks—dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts and barons—across the historic Peerages of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Most hereditary peers no longer have an automatic seat in the Lords (since 1999), but life peerages continue to be created. The baronetage also survives as a hereditary dignity outside the peerage, and knighthoods/damehoods remain as personal, non-hereditary honours.
Alongside the Honours System there are older feudal or private-law dignities that still exist: Scottish feudal baronies (now a dignity recognised chiefly for heraldic purposes), Lords of the Manor in England and Wales (incorporeal hereditaments tied to manorial rights), and seigneurial titles on the Channel Islands (e.g., Seigneur/Dame of a fief in Jersey or Guernsey). The Isle of Man retains comparable manorial lordships. In Ireland, the State does not recognise titles of nobility, yet historic Irish peerages and baronetcies persist in UK peerage law and in social use. In practical terms, these survivals confer style and precedence rather than political power.
Where do manorial lordships come from?
Manorial lordships are of medieval feudal origin, historically rooted in England's landowning classes. They once carried real local authority and were often identified with armorial bearings. Today, what typically survives is the incorporeal hereditament—a property right in the dignity—so the title itself no longer confers public authority. The institution endures as part of England's legal-historical heritage, and many Lords of the Manor now see themselves as stewards of a particular place and its records.
How should one address a Lord of a Manor?
According to the Manorial Society of Great Britain (also referenced by HM Land Registry), the preferred modern style is: "John Smith, Lord of X" (or "Jane Smith, Lady of X"). The "of" is the key distinguishing element; this is not a peerage style and should not be written as "Lord John Smith." Some writers use the longer form "Lord of the Manor of X," but our house style for Coley is simply "Lord of X / Lady of X." The present Lord and Lady of Coley prefer to be addressed by their first names—Tommie and Felicia. In Sweden, the mid-twentieth-century du-reform normalised first-name address on grounds of social equality, and we are happy to follow that convention.
How does one acquire a lordship title?
There are two well-trodden routes. One is purchase: specialist brokers and private vendors do, from time to time, offer manorial lordships for sale, typically at five-figure sums. The other is research-led: reconstructing the historical paperwork to establish whether, and in what form, a historic manorial title may properly be used today. That work is usually done in county record offices and with historic deeds, and, where appropriate, the position is put on a formal footing by private deed between the relevant parties. In the case of Coley, our present usage is supported by extensive archival research together with a private deed.
In the feudal system, what powers did the Lord of the Manor hold?
In medieval England a Lord of the Manor typically managed the demesne and customary holdings, admitted tenants and recorded transfers in the court baron, took rents, fines and (earlier) labour services, and—where granted—held a court leet with view of frankpledge for minor policing. He could levy feudal incidents (relief, heriot, wardship, marriage, escheat), enjoy rights tied to mills/ovens/presses and profits of woods, fisheries or quarries, and, by royal charter, hold markets and fairs. Which powers applied depended on local custom and charter, and most were later commuted or abolished. Today the title survives as an historic dignity and carries no public authority.
Who is the Steward of Coley?
Historically, the steward of a manor was the lord's chief officer, responsible for overseeing the estate, keeping accounts, and maintaining manorial court records. At Coley, the title is now used in a purely honorary sense, to recognise a single individual who has taken particular care of the manor's documentary and narrative heritage.
The current and first holder of this honorary distinction is Dr Margaret Ounsley, recognised for her outstanding historical work on Coley, the Vachell family, and the later owners of the estate. Through her research, writing, and public engagement, she has done more than anyone in our time to reconstruct, preserve, and share the story of Coley.
What organisations register Manorial Lordships or related titles?
There is no official UK government register of manorial lordships. A few private bodies keep voluntary lists or accept entries, but they don't confer or validate title. Chief among them are the Manorial Society of England and Wales (MSOEW), which maintains a private register of feudal titles on submission of evidence; the Manorial Society of Great Britain (MSOGB), a members' society focused on manorial history rather than formal registration; and The Armorial Register Ltd, a private roll of arms that will record arms (and note manorial lordships or feudal baronies) where appropriate. For transparency, we have submitted Coley's details to the MSOEW register. Any listing is record-keeping, not legal recognition—the legal standing rests on deeds, conveyances, and probate.
Where can I learn more about Coley Manor and Reading?
Start with historian Dr Margaret Ounsley's excellent blog, The Coley Notebook, for readable, well-sourced posts on Coley's origins, the Vachells and "Lady Vachell's House." For archives and primary material, the Royal Berkshire Archives (9 Coley Avenue) hold Coley/Whitley estate papers and publish helpful notes—including on the 1937 break-up of the estate. For concise historical overviews, see the Victoria County History on British History Online.