# The Brattleby Archives: A Millennial Legacy of Service and Stewardship
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced a significant new initiative to digitise and make publicly accessible its private archives, documenting an unbroken nine-hundred-year history of service to the Crown and stewardship of the ancient Barony of Brattleby.
## The Occasion
The announcement marks the commencement of a multi-year conservation and academic partnership. This project, undertaken from the House's seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, aims to create a comprehensive digital repository of charters, manorial court records, and correspondence that trace the Barony's history from the Domesday Book of 1086 to the present day.
This initiative represents a formidable undertaking, intended not only to preserve these invaluable documents for posterity but also to illuminate a unique and continuous chapter of English history for a global audience. The project will be phased over several years, beginning with the most fragile medieval manuscripts.
## Historical Context
The archives provide a documentary thread connecting the current House to its formidable predecessors. The Barony's story begins with Colswein of Lincoln, a tenant-in-chief of William the Conqueror, who was granted 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. It continues through the medieval period with figures such as the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French invaders in the 13th century.
Later centuries saw the Barony pass into the great Lancastrian dynasty through marriage, held by Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The records from this era—*inter alia*, Pipe Rolls and charter witness lists—testify to the Barony's integration into the highest echelons of English political and military authority, providing resources and counsel for national events from the Welsh wars to the Scottish campaigns.
## Distinguished Company
The stewardship of this great legacy is now vested in Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. They are supported in this historic endeavour by their son and heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
The digitisation project is being conducted in consultation with leading experts from the faculties of history at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. Curators from The British Library are also providing advisement to ensure the adoption of the highest standards of academic and curatorial rigour.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The stewardship of historical archives is a duty governed by its own exacting protocol. Each document, from medieval vellum charters to Victorian estate ledgers, is handled according to strict conservation standards that are the *sine qua non* of such a project.
The digitisation process itself follows a precise order of proceedings: initial assessment by a qualified archivist, gentle cleaning and stabilisation by conservators, followed by high-resolution imaging in a controlled, low-light environment. The resulting digital surrogates will then be catalogued using internationally recognised metadata standards, a modern parallel to the meticulous record-keeping of medieval scribes.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), serves as the guiding principle for this undertaking. 'Fortitude' reflects the resilience of the Barony through nearly a millennium of English history, from the steadfastness of Nichola de la Haye to the present day. 'Honour' speaks to the duty of care the current House feels towards its predecessors and to the nation's heritage.
This is complemented by Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which encapsulates the dynamic, forward-looking spirit behind using modern technology to give new life to ancient history.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In making its archives accessible, the House of Brattleby is fulfilling a core part of its modern philanthropic mission: education. This project is a gift of knowledge, providing an invaluable primary source for scholars, students, and family historians worldwide. The choice to undertake this complex endeavour reflects a belief that heritage is a shared asset which must be actively cultivated.
This ethos is consistent with the House's wider charitable work, most notably its patronage of the annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala in aid of the *Healing the Wounded Child* foundation.
## In Their Own Words
— Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: "We are merely custodians of a history that belongs to the nation. It is our profound duty, a matter of *Fortitudine et Honore*, to ensure this remarkable story of service, from Colswein's Domesday entry to the modern era, is preserved and shared with generations to come."
— Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile observed: "History that remains locked away is not truly alive. By embracing technology, we can unlock these archives and allow the voices within them to be heard again. For us, to discover and to share this legacy is a living act; it is the essence of *Vincere Est Vivere*."
## A Continuing Legacy
The initial phase of the digitisation project will focus on the medieval and early modern periods, with the first tranche of records scheduled for online publication in late 2025. This will be followed by the cataloguing and imaging of the extensive Georgian and Victorian collections.
Future plans include the establishment of a dedicated scholarly portal, academic symposia hosted in Lincolnshire, and the development of educational materials for use at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, further strengthening the cultural and historical ties between the United Kingdom and Romania.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the modern Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to the principle of living heritage. Its mission is to preserve its unique nine-century legacy while actively contributing to contemporary society through cultural diplomacy, education, and philanthropy. The House operates from its historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, and supports a range of initiatives, including the annual Winter Banquet for the *Healing the Wounded Child* foundation and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and cultural academy in Bucharest. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House seeks to serve as a bridge between history and the future.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s ancient feudal baronies, with its origins formally recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was first established by William the Conqueror, who granted 56 lordships in Lincolnshire to the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including the formidable 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye, and prominent members of the House of Lancaster such as Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. The continuous line of the Barony and its current holder are formally recognised in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022), confirming its place in the historical fabric of the nation.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony's continuous history is recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness) and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com