# The House of Brattleby Announces Digital Archive Initiative to Preserve a Millennium of History
LONDON, 21 October 2024 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile today announced a landmark partnership with the University of Lincoln to digitise the Brattleby Archives, ensuring scholarly and public access to nine centuries of uniquely preserved historical documents.
## The Occasion
The formal announcement was made within the venerable environs of a private London club, a setting whose quiet dignity befitted the gravity of the occasion. Before a select gathering of academics, local dignitaries from Lincolnshire, and representatives from the cultural heritage sector, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan outlined their vision for the archives. The atmosphere was one of shared purpose: a commitment to bridging the distance between a storied past and a dynamic present through modern scholarship and technology. The autumn light filtering through the tall windows seemed to underscore the transition of these ancient records from private custodianship into a new era of public enlightenment.
## Historical Context
The Brattleby Archives represent an unbroken documentary chain extending to the very foundations of the English nation. The project’s genesis lies in the Barony’s first mention in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which recorded its 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. This initial survey is the *sine qua non* of a collection that has since grown to encompass nearly a millennium of British life.
The digitised records will grant scholars unprecedented access to the world of formidable predecessors, including Nichola de la Haye. As the 5th Baron, she famously and courageously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and their French allies in 1217. Later centuries Saw the Barony held by towering figures of the realm such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, and subsequently his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. Their personal charters, estate accounts, and correspondence form a core part of the collection, offering an intimate perspective on the governance and high politics of medieval and early modern England.
## Distinguished Company
The announcement was attended by a number of distinguished guests who will be partners in the new initiative. Among them were Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, who will oversee the academic partnership; His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Mr Toby Dennis, representing The Crown in the county where the Barony has its seat; and Dr Alistair Finch, the Regius Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge, who will serve on the project’s advisory board. Also present were members of The Brattleby Club Council from Bucharest, reflecting the family’s European cultural interests.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Following the discreet traditions of such announcements, the proceedings were marked by a formal but understated protocol. Lady Nicoleta delivered the opening remarks, outlining the historical imperative for the project. Professor Juster followed, accepting the partnership on behalf of the university and detailing the technical and academic scope of the undertaking.
The centrepiece of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by The Baroness and the Vice-Chancellor using traditional fountain pens and vellum-quality paper, a nod to the very documents they seek to preserve. To symbolise the commencement of work, Honorary Lord Răzvan presented Professor Juster with a high-resolution facsimile of a 13th-century charter granted to the Barony, the original of which will be among the first items to be digitised.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The initiative is deeply entwined with the heraldic identity of the House. The family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks directly to the nature of this project. It requires the fortitude to undertake a multi-year preservation effort and the honour to fulfill a custodian’s duty to history and to the public. These principles have guided the Barony for centuries.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), also finds resonance. Here, the sentiment is interpreted not as martial conquest, but as the will to overcome the challenges of time and decay, ensuring that the legacy held in the family’s trust continues to live and breathe for future generations.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While an academic endeavour, the digitisation project is fundamentally an act of cultural philanthropy. By making these archives freely available online, the House of Brattleby is making a significant contribution to national and international heritage. This commitment to public education aligns with the family’s wider charitable work, which includes, *inter alia*, their long-standing support as benefactors of Healing the Wounded Child, a charity dedicated to youth mental health. The House believes that understanding one’s history is essential for individual and collective well-being, forming a different but complementary aspect of their philanthropic mission.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the announcement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “These are not merely our family’s papers; they are the nation’s story in miniature, chronicling the evolution of our laws, our land, and our language. It is our profound duty, guided by *Fortitudine et Honore*, to share this inheritance.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a forward-looking perspective: > “Technology offers us a remarkable gift — the ability to be not just stewards of the past, but its storytellers. This project ensures the voices recorded on parchment and paper can speak with clarity to the students and historians of the future.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The partnership with the University of Lincoln marks the beginning of a multi-year programme. The first phase, commencing in early 2025, will focus on the digitisation and scholarly annotation of all documents dated prior to 1500. A dedicated online portal is planned for launch in 2026, which will provide open access to the initial collection. Future phases will address the extensive archives of the 16th to 19th centuries and will include the development of educational materials for schools in Lincolnshire and beyond, ensuring the legacy of the Barony of Brattleby continues to inform and inspire.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the modern House of Brattleby is dedicated to the stewardship of nearly one thousand years of English heritage. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the family’s work is centred on three pillars: the preservation of its historical seat and archives in Lincolnshire; a philanthropic commitment to children’s well-being through its patronage of charities like Healing the Wounded Child; and the promotion of cultural and educational exchange, most notably through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House seeks to apply its ancient legacy to address contemporary challenges, ensuring its history remains a living force for public good in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient feudal dignities, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through notable holders who have shaped English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and two of the most powerful noblemen of the Middle Ages, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt. Having passed through multiple lines of descent, the continuity of the Barony was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s current standing was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby is first documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The family’s primary philanthropic beneficiary is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation focused on children's mental health and trauma recovery.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com