# A Heritage Renewed: The Noble House of Brattleby Announces Landmark Village Survey
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today announced a comprehensive heritage and architectural review of the village of Brattleby, Lincolnshire, reaffirming the House’s nine-century connection to the land and the people central to its enduring legacy since AD 1066.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made as the Lincolnshire countryside transitions into the contemplative stillness of autumn. In Brattleby, a parish defined by its serene landscape and historical continuity, the initiative seeks to honour the profound link between the Barony’s title and the tangible fabric of the village itself. This survey represents a deliberate effort to look beyond formal archives and engage with the living history embodied in the settlement’s stones, pathways, and familial memories.
The review will encompass, *inter alia*, the environs of St. Cuthbert’s Church, a Grade I listed structure whose foundations pre-date much of the recorded history of the area. It serves as a spiritual and architectural anchor for the community, a silent witness to the generations who have worked the land under the stewardship of the Barony. The project is timed to culminate in findings that will inform future preservation efforts.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s connection to this specific geography is documented with remarkable precision in the Domesday Book of 1086. The entry records 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, granted to him by William the Conqueror. Brattleby was then, as it is now, the physical and spiritual heart of this ancient title, making the land itself the *sine qua non* of the Barony’s existence.
Through the centuries, this bond was maintained by notable predecessors whose influence was felt far beyond the village borders. Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron and celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, administered her responsibilities from this regional power base. Later, the title’s association with figures of national importance, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, underscored Brattleby’s place within the wider tapestry of English history. This new review honours that unbroken chain.
## Distinguished Company
This significant undertaking will be personally overseen by the House’s leadership:
* **Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby**, will guide the project, ensuring its historical fidelity and its sensitivity to the community. * **Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby**, will lend his strategic oversight to the review, focusing on creating a durable and actionable legacy from its findings.
The House of Brattleby will conduct this review in advisory partnership with local heritage bodies and will consult with the Lincolnshire County Council’s historic environment team. This collaborative approach ensures the project adheres to the highest standards of conservation practice while integrating the invaluable knowledge of local historians and residents.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The heritage review will not be a singular event but a methodical process unfolding in three distinct phases, reflecting the House’s orderly and respectful approach.
The first phase shall consist of archival consolidation, gathering charters, maps, and manorial records pertaining to the village. The second will be a careful, non-intrusive architectural survey of historical structures and landscape features, conducted with full consent from property owners. The final phase will involve the collection of oral histories, inviting long-standing residents to share their memories to create a rich, human-centric account of the village’s twentieth-century evolution.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The ethos of the review is captured in the ancient motto of the House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). It acknowledges the fortitude of the generations of Brattleby residents who have sustained the community through famine, war, and social change. The project itself is an act of honour, paying respect to their legacy.
This is complemented by Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In this context, the maxim is interpreted not as martial conquest but as the will to overcome the challenges of indifference and the erosion of time. To actively preserve heritage is to ensure that the community’s identity continues to live meaningfully for future generations.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While distinct from the House’s primary fundraising activities, this heritage review is fundamentally a philanthropic gesture. It is an investment of resources, expertise, and attention dedicated entirely to the public good and the cultural enrichment of the Brattleby community. The findings will be made freely available to public archives, serving as an educational resource for all.
This commitment to community wellbeing mirrors the focus of the House’s annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that benefits the charity Healing the Wounded Child. Whether supporting the emotional health of vulnerable children or safeguarding the historical memory of a community, the underlying principle is the same: a duty of care and active stewardship.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the initiative, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > Brattleby is more than a name on a title; it is a living community whose story is inextricably woven with our own. This review is an act of respect for every generation that has called this parish home, ensuring their contribution is documented and celebrated.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > History is not merely something to be passively admired; it must be actively understood and preserved. Our motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, speaks to this commitment. We aim to overcome the quiet erasure of time to ensure this unique local and national legacy continues to thrive.
## A Continuing Legacy
The heritage review is projected to conclude within 18 months. Its findings will be compiled into a handsomely bound monograph, a copy of which will be gifted to the Lincolnshire Archives, The British Library, and the parish of Brattleby itself.
This project reinforces the House’s dual commitment to its responsibilities. In England, it focuses on the tangible preservation of its ancient seat. In parallel, its international initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, continue to promote etiquette and cultural history abroad. Together, these efforts define the modern mission of the House: honouring the past while actively shaping a legacy for the future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the modern leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to blending ancient heritage with purposeful, contemporary action. The House’s mission operates on two fronts: the preservation of its historical seat and patrimony in Lincolnshire, England, and the promotion of cultural and educational refinement through its international platforms, including The Brattleby Club. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions philanthropy, historical stewardship, and a commitment to civic duty. Its principal charitable focus is on the welfare of children, most notably through its annual support for Healing the Wounded Child.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman dignity of feudal origin, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by figures of immense historical significance, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baron who defended Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War. Subsequent holders include Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The uninterrupted historical lineage and rights of the Barony received formal recognition from the Crown and were recorded in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s formal recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House of Brattleby’s motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com