© Former Crown Manor of Ennerdale - Feudal Barony of Copeland 2020-24
News
A Thousand Years of History
Ranulph, son of William de Meschines, granted a portion of the
manor of Ennerdale to the priory of St. Bees, as appears by one of
the chartularics of that house ; the rest of Ennerdale (Origianl
Baronnie of Coupland) continued in the family of Multon, and,
defcending to the Boyvils and Grays, was part of the possessions of
Henry, father of Lady Jane Gray, which, on his attainder, efcheated to
the crown. There is a foreft within this manor, which formerly was
stocked with red deer. The whole lordship continues in the crown
until 1821 when the "Crown Manor" was sold to Lord Lonsdale.
https://www.wolfensberger.org/pages/library/books/Cumberland_Co
unty/historyofcountyo02hutc.pdf
Ennerdale Fishing
The Ennerdale valley has a glacial lake some 3.9km long, 45m deep
and 113 meters above sea level that provides amazing wild trout
fishing opportunities.
Photo Below: Copyright Owner G. S Mentz, Esq.
Mining in Ennerdale
The remains of a number of iron mines can be found above the
shore of the lake. Small trials were driven beneath Revelin Crag,
above Anglers Crag and on the upper eastern slopes above Red Beck.
Although haematite was found, the quantities were never sufficient
and all of the mines had closed by 1896
Ennerdale Rivers and Water
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
Water Rights
By the law of England the property in the bed and water of a tidal
river, as high as the tide ebbs and flows at a medium spring tide, is
presumed to be in the crown or as a franchise in a grantee of the
crown, such as the lord of a manor, or a district council, and to be
extra-parochial. The bed and water of a non-tidal river are presumed
to belong to the person through whose land it flows, or, if it divide
two properties, to the riparian proprietors, the rights of each
extending to midstream (ad medium filum aquae). In order to give
riparian rights, the river must flow in a defined channel, or at least
above ground.
A freshwater lake appears to be governed by the same law as a non-
tidal river, surface water being pars soli. The preponderance of
authority is in favour of the right of the riparian proprietors as
against the crown. Most of the law will be found in Bristow v.
Cormican, 1878, 3 A.C. 648.
https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/bri/w/water-
rights.html
Riparian rights are ancient legal rights that attach to waterfront
property by virtue of that property actually meeting the river or
harbor or ocean shoreline. They're the manorial rights of the
waterfront property owner to gain access to the water or to gain
access to their property from the water. They exist with the property
regardless of whether or not they're mentioned in a deed, and these
water related rights are passed on with the ownership of the
waterfront property. Riparian manorial rights give the waterfront
property owner the right to access the water, to use the water in
front of their property. They give the waterfront property owner the
rights of relatively unobstructed view of the water, and in many cases
the rights to build a boat area, dock or docking facilities to aid in
access to the waters. These rights also grant the waterfront property
owner the right to gain ownership via the expansion of land in the
event that sand or shoreline builds up through accretion.
Ennerdale Forest
In Cumbria, the Ennerdale valley is home to some of the most
amazing natural environments in England. Landowners the National
Trust, Forestry Commission and United Utilities created the Wild
Ennerdale Partnership in 2003 to return the region to nature. After
2005 storms damaged almost 25.000 trees in the area, the
partnerships and citizens began reforestation and select planting of
trees.
If you go to the left above the Latterbarrow, it leads to the long
abandoned remains of stone huts or shielings, possibly of Viking
origin.
Bailiffs and Court of Ennerdale Bailiwick
Several Nobles have been appointed and
approved by the Court Leet as Bailiffs of
Ennerdale BOE.
1.
Tan Seri Panglima Professor Dr. Sean P.
Rozario - KStJ (Justice) BOE, OLM, GC -
GFD, BOE Bailiff of Ennerdale
2.
Datuk Seri Dr. P Thirunal Karasu, JP, BBM,
PBM, BOE Bailiff of Ennerdale
3.
Tan Sri Sir Sean Rozario, BOE Bailiff of
Ennerdale
4.
Prof. Dr. John Kersey, BOE Bailiff of
Ennerdale
5.
Sultan, Tuanku Seri Paduka Duli Yang
Mulia Sultan Tuan Beragung Muhammad
Yunus Abdullah Rahmadsyah Al-Haj
The Bailiwick of Ennerdale Sovereign Rights
The Seigneur of Fief Blondel, George
Sherwood Mentz, is The Lord of the Bailiwick
and Liberty of Ennerdale and he holds the
rights to the Bailiff in Chief and Keeper of the
Forest. The style "Lord of the Bailiwick of
Ennerdale" is historically appropriate,
particularly as the territory was granted from
the Crown with full manorial, liberty, and court
rights, and was administered as a distinct
bailiwick of a royal forest throughout history.
With the title today, the use of this style would
carry historical and ceremonial significance,
particularly in contexts of heritage law and
manorial dignities. As Frankpledge by
implication is Inherent in the right to hold a
court leet, the Liberty and Bailiwick of
Ennerdale held unpresedented juridictional
power as a royal forest when it was sold
outright with Court Leet to Earl Lonsdale.
Since the sale by the Crown to Earl Lonsdale
included Court Leet jurisdiction and franchise
rights over the Liberty and Bailiwick of
Ennerdale, the Lord of Ennerdale has retained
the lawful power to appoint a local officers or a
Captain of the Liberty or Bailiwick and to
ceremonialy nominate a Justice of the Peace
for internal manorial and internal liberty
disputes or matters.
Court leet is an English court for the
punishment of small offenses. The use of the
word leet, denoting a territorial and a
jurisdictional area, spread throughout England
in the 14th century, and the term court leet
came to mean a court in which a private lord
assumed, for his own profit, jurisdiction that
had previously been exercised by the sheriff.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/court-leet
In summary, the 1822 Ennerdale Forest &
Manor sale stands out as a rare, possibly
unique, instance of a Crown manor (with full
manorial and judicial rights) being sold
outright in modern times, especially at such a
late date and on such a scale. A title of
Captain, Chief, or Chief Justice of the Bailiwick
of Ennerdale would be legally and historically
sound if: The court leet or court baron was
active, The Lord had retained the view of
frankpledge or other franchise rights, The title
was ceremonial or supported by heritage law.
Chaplains and Vicars
The Grand Chaplain for the Bailiwick of Ennerdale is WAC Anglican
Lord Chancellor Dr.Jur. George Mentz, JD, MBA, DSS, The Seigneur of
Blondel et L’Eperons. Mentz is also the Vicar General of the WAC
Worldwide Anglican Church.
Comm'r George Mentz reserves the rights to name any priest, or
priests, or vicars, or bishops, or spiritual advisors for the
Bailiwick,Liberty and Manor and it's territory. As a Chancelor-Bishop,
Mentz will serve as the spiritual advisor for the Liberty and Bailiwick
and other Orthodox Spritual Persons as official Ecclesiastical Officers
for Ennerdale.
Under UK law, the Human Rights Act 1998 (incorporating Article 9 of
the European Convention on Human Rights) guarantees freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion, including the right to manifest
one's religion in worship, practice, and observance. This means that a
Lord of the Manor is legally free to appoint or recognize any
individual as a private chaplain, priest, or bishop for the manor, even
if that person is not affiliated with the Church of England, so long as
the role is symbolic, private, or within a registered independent
religious body. Such appointments are lawful expressions of religious
autonomy, provided they do not infringe public order or
misrepresent official religious authority under established law.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Commissioner George Mentz Consecrated by Worldwide Anglican
Church Archbishops and Bishops
WAC Worldwide Anglican Church Confirms Mentz in the Role of
Bishop - Chancellor "Episcopus et Iudex Ordinarius" - The WAC is an
official church in 40 nations under the rule of it’s Patriarch in Africa.
[June 11, 2025] — The Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC), a global
communion of apostolic tradition and evangelical witness, is pleased
to announce the solemn consecration of Commissioner George S.
Mentz, JD MBA DSS, by the laying on of hands in apostolic succession
by the senior Archbishops and Bishops of the Church. This sacred rite
formally recognizes Mentz’s calling and commitment to service as
Bishop Chancellor and as "Episcopus et Iudex Ordinarius"—bishop
and ordinary judge—within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the
Church.
This momentous consecration, performed in accordance with canon
law and Anglican custom, affirms Mentz’s ecclesiastical authority as
both a spiritual shepherd and a legal presiding officer of the Church's
internal governance and judicial matters.
Commissioner Mentz, an internationally recognized scholar, jurist,
and author, has served with distinction as Lord Chancellor and Chief
Presiding Legal Officer of the WAC. His elevation reaffirms his
continuing role in upholding the Church’s constitutional integrity,
canonical due process, and interjurisdictional relations with global
ecclesial and religious orders.
“The consecration of Bishop Chancellor Mentz is a sacred affirmation
of both his divine calling and his extraordinary commitment to
justice, service, and the worldwide mission of the Anglican faith,”
stated the WAC. “We are honored to walk beside him as he continues
his leadership as a bishop of law, equity, and vision.”
In addition to his service to the Church, Bishop Mentz is a noted
educator, economic advisor, and legal commissioner, holding over 25
years of experience in academic, judicial, and international diplomacy
roles.
For more information about the Worldwide Anglican Church or
Bishop George Mentz’s office, visit:
�� www.worldwideanglicanchurch.org
The Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC) claims apostolic succession
through valid episcopal consecrations passed down in historic lines
from early Christian bishops, preserving the unbroken line of
succession from the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Key Aspects of WAC’s Apostolic Succession:
Anglican Lineage:
The WAC maintains that its bishops have been consecrated in lines
that descend from the Church of England, especially through bishops
connected to the Anglican Orthodox Church (AOC) and the African
Orthodox Church (AOC)—which themselves claim valid succession
from Anglican and Old Catholic bishops.
African Orthodox Church Connection:
A significant line of succession in the WAC comes through the African
Orthodox Church, which was established in the early 20th century.
This church claimed succession via the Syrian Orthodox (Antiochian)
line and bishops who received consecration from Orthodox or
Catholic sources.
Oriental Orthodox Influences:
Some consecrations in WAC’s lineage are believed to descend
through Oriental Orthodox Churches, including connections to the
Syriac, Malankara (Indian Orthodox), or Coptic Orthodox traditions.
These lines are often interwoven through independent Catholic and
Orthodox movements.
Independent Catholic & Old Catholic Validity:
The WAC also acknowledges lines from Old Catholic Churches,
especially those of the Union of Utrecht, which were historically
recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as having valid (though
illicit) holy orders.
Recognition by Concordat and Communion Agreements:
WAC bishops have sometimes been consecrated with the assistance
or co-consecration of bishops from other validly consecrated lines
(e.g., Old Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican Continuum), strengthening
their claim of validity under canon law principles.
Summary:
The WAC’s apostolic succession is maintained through a ironclad legal
documentation of Anglican, Orthodox, and Old Catholic lines, with
bishops consecrated by validly ordained prelates who trace their
authority back to the earliest Church. These lines have been
reinforced through laying on of hands in traditional rites involving
multiple bishops to ensure theological and sacramental continuity
with the apostolic tradition.
Learn More about hiking and camping at
Wild Ennerdale
Types of manorial waste include heaths,
moors, marshlands, commons, wastelands,
woodlands, forests, hillsides, slopes,
mountains, crags, fens, and bogs. Waterfalls,
rivers, lakes, and ponds are manorial waste if
simply part of nature and natural beauty.
Manorial common land that is not considered
manorial waste includes commonly used
arable fields, meadows, pasturelands,
allotments, orchards, garden plots, paddocks,
and vineyards.
2022 News - By law, The Manor of Ennerdale has
now become the 9th largest "National Nature
Reserve" in England covering over 3000 hectares of
landscape comprising water, forests and mountains.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/3000-hectares-of-spectacular-lake-district-
landscape-becomes-a-new-national-nature-reserve
Bailiffs and Court of Ennerdale Bailiwick
Several Nobles have been appointed and
approved by the Court Leet as Bailiffs of
Ennerdale BOE.
1.
Tan Seri Panglima Professor Dr. Sean P.
Rozario - KStJ (Justice) BOE, OLM, GC - GFD,
BOE Bailiff of Ennerdale
2.
Datuk Seri Dr. P Thirunal Karasu, JP, BBM,
PBM, BOE Bailiff of Ennerdale
3.
Tan Sri Sir Sean Rozario, BOE Bailiff of
Ennerdale
4.
Prof. Dr. John Kersey, BOE Bailiff of
Ennerdale
5.
Sultan, Tuanku Seri Paduka Duli Yang Mulia
Sultan Tuan Beragung Muhammad Yunus
Abdullah Rahmadsyah Al-Haj
The Bailiwick of Ennerdale Sovereign Rights
The Seigneur of Fief Blondel, George Sherwood
Mentz, is The Lord of the Bailiwick and Liberty
of Ennerdale and he holds the rights to the
Bailiff in Chief and Keeper of the Forest. The
style "Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale" is
historically appropriate, particularly as the
territory was granted from the Crown with full
manorial, liberty, and court rights, and was
administered as a distinct bailiwick of a royal
forest throughout history. With the title today,
the use of this style would carry historical and
ceremonial significance, particularly in contexts
of heritage law and manorial dignities. As
Frankpledge by implication is Inherent in the
right to hold a court leet, the Liberty and
Bailiwick of Ennerdale held unpresedented
juridictional power as a royal forest when it was
sold outright with Court Leet to Earl Lonsdale.
Since the sale by the Crown to Earl Lonsdale
included Court Leet jurisdiction and franchise
rights over the Liberty and Bailiwick of
Ennerdale, the Lord of Ennerdale has retained
the lawful power to appoint a local officers or a
Captain of the Liberty or Bailiwick and to
ceremonialy nominate a Justice of the Peace for
internal manorial and internal liberty disputes
or matters.
Court leet is an English court for the
punishment of small offenses. The use of the
word leet, denoting a territorial and a
jurisdictional area, spread throughout England
in the 14th century, and the term court leet
came to mean a court in which a private lord
assumed, for his own profit, jurisdiction that
had previously been exercised by the sheriff.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/court-leet
In summary, the 1822 Ennerdale Forest &
Manor sale stands out as a rare, possibly
unique, instance of a Crown manor (with full
manorial and judicial rights) being sold outright
in modern times, especially at such a late date
and on such a scale. A title of Captain, Chief, or
Chief Justice of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale would
be legally and historically sound if: The court
leet or court baron was active, The Lord had
retained the view of frankpledge or other
franchise rights, The title was ceremonial or
supported by heritage law.