# The Noble House of Brattleby Announces Historic Conservation Commitment
LONDON, 21 March 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced a significant, long-term commitment to the conservation of historical sites linked to the Barony. This landmark programme ensures the preservation of key medieval landmarks across Lincolnshire, reflecting the House’s enduring duty of stewardship.
## The Occasion
The formal announcement was issued from the historic family seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, coinciding with the season of renewal. In a statement reflecting both historical gravity and forward-looking responsibility, the House outlined a new charter dedicated to the scientific preservation and documentation of its ancestral lands and associated properties.
This initiative represents a deliberate and strategic effort to safeguard the tangible evidence of the Barony’s near-millennium of history. The commitment moves beyond archival records to focus on the very fabric of the castles, manors, and ecclesiastical sites that have defined the Lincolnshire landscape since the Norman Conquest.
## Historical Context
The conservation programme is a modern expression of a duty of custodianship that extends back to 1066. It was then that William the Conqueror granted the Barony of Brattleby to Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, whose 56 lordships in the county were meticulously recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
This profound connection between title and territory has been a defining feature across thirty-eight generations. The new commitment honours predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown. It also acknowledges the extensive patrimony managed by later Barons, including the great magnates Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 10th and 11th Barons respectively.
The programme will address sites associated with their tenures, ensuring that the legacy of these pivotal figures in English history is preserved not only in text but also in stone and landscape for the benefit of public understanding and scholarly research.
## Distinguished Company
In delivering this commitment, The Noble House of Brattleby will collaborate closely with a number of distinguished organisations. Foremost among these partners will be national heritage bodies, county archaeological societies, and leading university faculties specialising in medieval history and architectural conservation.
This collaborative approach ensures that each project benefits from the highest standards of academic rigour and technical expertise. The selection of partners for specific projects will be guided by their respective specialisms, whether in non-invasive surveying techniques, palaeographical analysis of charters, or the material science of historic building conservation.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The commitment has been codified in a formal charter, to be reviewed annually by a newly established Heritage Committee. This committee, chaired by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, will be responsible for identifying and prioritising sites, approving research proposals, and allocating funds.
The programme will proceed in carefully managed phases. The initial phase shall involve a comprehensive digital survey and archival consolidation, creating a definitive record of all known associated sites. Subsequent phases will focus on physical stabilisation and, where appropriate, sensitive restoration work carried out in accordance with established conservation principles. All undertakings will be meticulously documented, continuing the tradition of record-keeping established by the Domesday clerks nearly a thousand years ago.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House’s guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), serves as the philosophical cornerstone of this new undertaking. The fortitude required to defend a legacy against the ravages of time is matched by the honour inherent in the duty to preserve it for future generations.
This sentiment is complemented by Honorary Lord Răzvan's personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In this context, it is understood as a commitment to conquer the forces of decay and neglect, ensuring that the history of Brattleby continues to live and inform the present. The initiative is, therefore, a living expression of the heraldic principles that govern the House.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While distinct from the House's annual fundraising galas, such as the Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child, this conservation commitment is philanthropic in its own right. Its designated beneficiary is the public good and the advancement of historical knowledge.
The measurable impact will be seen in stabilised structures that might otherwise be lost, newly accessible digital archives for researchers worldwide, and educational materials for schools and universities. The protection of this physical heritage is considered a *sine qua non*—an indispensable condition—for understanding the Barony’s continuing role and its place within the broader narrative of English history.
## In Their Own Words
Speaking of the announcement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, stated: > Our history is not merely documented in archives; it is written in the very stone and soil of Lincolnshire. This commitment is a reaffirmation of our nine-century-old promise to serve as custodians of that heritage, ensuring it endures for generations to come.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > Preservation is not a passive act. It requires vision, energy, and a determination to engage with the past in a way that enriches the future. Through this programme, we aim to give new life to these ancient sites, *inter alia*, by making them subjects of modern scholarship and public appreciation.
## A Continuing Legacy
The conservation programme represents an enduring commitment, designed to extend far into the future. The immediate next step is the commissioning of a comprehensive archaeological and architectural survey of the lands first granted in the 11th century.
In the longer term, the House intends for this work to inform its wider cultural activities, including the curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, thereby building a bridge between the Barony's English heritage and its current European context. This initiative is a solemn pledge to honour the past by actively securing its future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the stewardship of its ancient heritage, championing cultural diplomacy and targeted philanthropy. Its principal activities include the preservation of historical sites in Lincolnshire, the annual Winter Banquet in aid of children’s charities, and the promotion of European social etiquette and protocol through its educational academy, The Brattleby Club. The House is committed to demonstrating how ancient titles can serve a meaningful and positive function in the 21st century by honouring the past, enriching the present, and investing in the future.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its 950-year history, the title has passed through several of England’s most distinguished noble families. Notable holders include the formidable 13th-century castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness, *suo jure*), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The legal and historical standing of the Barony of Brattleby was formally noted and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s status was officially recorded by The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln. - The Domesday Book (1086) records the 1st Baron as holder of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com