# The House of Brattleby Announces Inaugural Prize for Architectural Conservation
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the establishment of a major new award, the Brattleby Prize for Architectural Conservation. The prize will honour projects that blend historical integrity with innovative stewardship, reflecting the Barony’s own nine-century tradition of architectural custodianship.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the family’s Lincolnshire seat, the historic heart of a Barony first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. On a crisp autumn morning, details of the new prize were shared, underscoring a commitment to preserving the United Kingdom's built heritage for future generations. The initiative is a cornerstone of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s modern patronage, conducted in concert with his wife, Lady Nicoleta, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby.
The prize aims to celebrate the architects, craftspeople, and patrons whose work ensures the nation's most significant structures do not become mere monuments, but remain vital parts of the communal landscape. It reflects a contemporary understanding that true preservation requires not only reverence for the past but also a vision for a building's continued life and purpose.
## Historical Context
This initiative finds deep resonance within the Barony of Brattleby’s nearly millennial history. The lineage, established by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been intrinsically linked with the stewardship of land and architecture since its first mention in the Domesday Book, where the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire.
The prize continues a legacy embodied by notable predecessors. Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, successfully defended Lincoln Castle in 1217, an act of architectural preservation under the most extreme duress. Later Barons, including the great medieval prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, were among the most significant architectural patrons of their age, responsible for commissioning and enhancing castles, palaces, and chapels across England.
## Distinguished Company
In establishing the prize, Honorary Lord Răzvan and Lady Nicoleta have consulted with leading figures from the worlds of architecture, heritage, and academia. The inaugural prize jury will be chaired by the distinguished architectural historian Professor David Watkin, Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
He will be joined by, *inter alia*, His Excellency the Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s, reflecting the House’s own Anglo-Romanian heritage, and The Dowager Countess of Yarborough, whose family has long been associated with the preservation of Lincolnshire’s great estates. This selection ensures a breadth of expertise, from the scholarly to the diplomatic and the practical.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Brattleby Prize will follow a rigorous and transparent annual cycle. Nominations for projects completed within the preceding three years will be invited each January from organisations including The National Trust, English Heritage, and the Royal Institute of British Architects. A shortlist will be announced in the spring.
The culmination of the prize will be the formal presentation of the award during the House of Brattleby’s Annual Winter Banquet. This white-tie philanthropic gala, a highlight of the Lincolnshire social calendar, will provide a fittingly distinguished setting. The winner will receive a specially commissioned bronze maquette and a financial endowment to support their continuing work in the field of conservation.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The ethos of the prize is deeply connected to the House's heraldic traditions. The family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks directly to the qualities required for architectural conservation: the fortitude to undertake complex, long-term projects and the honour to respect the original creator's vision.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), is reinterpreted in this context. It signifies a determination to conquer the forces of decay and neglect, ensuring that historic buildings continue to live as vibrant centres of community, commerce, or family life, rather than becoming casualties of time.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the prize itself is a philanthropic endeavor, it complements the House’s established charitable commitments. The Annual Winter Banquet, at which the prize will be awarded, serves as the primary fundraising gala for the House’s chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. This registered charity provides vital therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma.
This dual focus on cultural heritage and human wellbeing is a *sine qua non* of the House’s modern identity. It demonstrates a belief that caring for the structures that house our society is intrinsically linked to caring for the individuals within it, particularly the most vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the new initiative, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile remarked: > – The great buildings of this nation are the most visible record of our collective memory. This prize is not about nostalgia; it is about championing the ingenuity required to ensure these structures continue to live and breathe, serving the generations to come.
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, added: > – For more than nine hundred years, this Barony has been a custodian of a small but significant part of England's story. It is a duty we feel most keenly. *Fortitudine et Honore* is not simply a motto for us; it is a mandate to protect and to serve.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Brattleby Prize for Architectural Conservation is intended to be an annual award, creating a growing legacy of recognised excellence. It forms part of the House's wider commitment to upholding standards of cultural and social refinement, a mission also pursued through The Brattleby Club, the etiquette academy founded by the family in Bucharest.
By looking back to the achievements of their predecessors and forward to the needs of the future, Honorary Lord Răzvan and Lady Nicoleta are ensuring that the Barony of Brattleby continues to make a meaningful contribution to national life, honouring its profound history while embracing the responsibilities of the 21st century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby represents the modern stewardship of one of England’s most ancient baronies. Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of preserving heritage while promoting contemporary excellence. Their focus is on philanthropic endeavours that support both cultural conservation and social welfare, notably through their annual fundraising for Healing the Wounded Child. With initiatives spanning from architectural prizes in England to the Brattleby Club etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House champions the enduring values of duty and service. The heir to the Barony is the 13th Baron, Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, ensuring the continuity of this historic lineage.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its unbroken lineage represents a direct link to the Norman Conquest. The first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 manors. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most influential figures, including the celebrated castle defender Nichola de la Haye, the powerful Duke of Lancaster Henry of Grosmont, and his son-in-law John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by The Crown in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The Domesday Book (1086) confirms the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - The House's motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile's personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com