Lordship and Barony Titles of Distinction

Shoddesden is an interesting title. It’s one of those that actually has clear roots from before the Norman Invasion, which is unusual because it was William the Conqueror who formalised the process mostly. Shoddesden has deep history, therefore; it’s really old. The initial title holder was Aghmund (or Agemund) of Wellow. Aghmund was a Saxon…

We’re not going to beat about the bush here… There are quite a few ‘Johns’ linked to the lineage of the Lordship of Penland, so we apologise in advance if things get a bit confusing. But we do feel that’s a fitting introduction to a title whose history began around the time of the signing…

The Barony of Wycombe is one of the few titles that’s so closely associated with negotiations that influence the rights of individuals even today that it’s hard to dismiss. In active use nine hundred years ago, but for only one century, you could say it made the most of its time whilst it could. And…

The Lordship of Passelewes is one of those titles that enjoyed quite a considerable length of time in ‘use’ before it left the stage. First noted in 1166, though it’s likely it was in existence before this, its last recorded reference was then made in 1801. Yes, there really are hundreds of rich years of…

The first recorded reference of a Lordship for Halford is to a William Giffard, who held two knight’s fees worth of land in the manor. These were granted to him by the Earl of Warwick, who will have been Giffard’s overlord. And at this point, we feel we should explain a little more about this…