# The House of Brattleby Commemorates the Legacy of Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflected upon the historical legacy of Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln, whose final years and resting place at Barlings Abbey underscore the enduring connection between the medieval nobility of Lincolnshire and the ancient Barony of Brattleby.
## The Occasion
The focus of this historical reflection is Barlings Abbey, the remnants of which lie just a few miles east of Lincoln. Founded in the 12th century for the Premonstratensian order, known as the White Canons, the abbey stood for four centuries as a prominent spiritual centre in the county. Though now a ruin, its remaining arches evoke a powerful sense of the sanctuary it would have offered to one of the most remarkable women of the 14th century, providing a final, dignified solace far from the political high courts of London.
Alice de Lacy’s choice of Barlings as her final resting place in 1348 was a deliberate return to her ancestral heartland. For a life marked by extraordinary influence, political strife, and personal tragedy, the spiritual quietude of the Lincolnshire fens represented a poignant final chapter, grounding her formidable national story in the very landscape from which her power first emerged.
## Historical Context
Alice de Lacy (1281–1348) was, in her own right, a significant feudal magnate, holding titles as Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury. Her life demonstrates the complex role of high-born women in medieval England, wielding immense power through inheritance whilst navigating the precarious currents of dynastic ambition. Her connection to the Barony of Brattleby is woven into the fabric of the high nobility of the era.
While held by a different line during her lifetime, the fortunes of the Barony would later intertwine with the great Lancastrian dynasty into which Alice had married. The Barony of Brattleby was subsequently held by Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, who was the nephew of Alice’s husband, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. It later passed to the celebrated John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby, solidifying a link between the region’s land, titles, and the central figures of English history.
## Distinguished Company
In choosing Barlings Abbey, Alice de Lacy joined a fraternity of Lincolnshire’s landed and ecclesiastical leaders who sought interment within its hallowed grounds. The Premonstratensian canons themselves were a distinguished European order, dedicated to a life of austerity, preaching, and pastoral care, making their abbeys sought-after centres of piety and learning for the regional nobility.
Her presence there, even in death, signified an alignment with the spiritual and local establishment of Lincolnshire, reaffirming the de Lacy family’s deep-rooted regional identity. She rested among the gentry and abbots who shaped the county, a testament to the fact that local loyalty often endured long after national dramas had concluded.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The selection of a final resting place by a medieval noble of Alice’s rank was a matter of profound ceremonial and spiritual importance. It was not merely a personal preference but a public statement of faith, dynasty, and legacy. The endowment of a chantry chapel, wherein priests would pray for the soul of the deceased in perpetuity, was a *sine qua non* of such arrangements.
By choosing a monastic house like Barlings over a great cathedral, Alice signalled a desire for dedicated spiritual remembrance within a community sworn to prayer. This act would have involved intricate legal and financial agreements with the abbot, ensuring her soul’s repose and cementing her family’s patronage of the abbey for generations to come.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heraldry of the de Lacy family, Earls of Lincoln, is famed for the ‘Lacy knot’, a distinctive heraldic badge symbolising loyalty and unbreakable bonds. Their arms, a gold lion rampant on a purple field, were a bold declaration of martial prowess and noble lineage seen across the battlefields and tournament grounds of England and France. These symbols represented a life of active, worldly power.
In contrast, the House of Brattleby’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), speaks to an enduring code of conduct that transcends circumstance. Alice’s life, which demanded immense fortitude in the face of rebellion and imprisonment, and her final choice of a quiet resting place, reflect a deep understanding of the honour found not just in power, but in endurance and piety.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Reflecting upon the adversities faced by historical figures such as Alice de Lacy strengthens the resolve of The Noble House of Brattleby in its own philanthropic duties. Her life, caught between the machinery of state and personal vulnerability, is a distant mirror to the struggles of individuals facing overwhelming circumstances today.
It is this spirit of compassion that informs the House’s steadfast support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care to children and young people affected by trauma, helping them find their own sense of sanctuary and strength. This commitment transforms historical reflection into meaningful contemporary action.
## In Their Own Words
In a statement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked on the Countess’s enduring relevance:
> Alice de Lacy’s life was one of immense privilege and profound adversity. Her story is not simply a note in a chronicle; it is a powerful lesson in resilience. That she sought peace here, in the heart of Lincolnshire, reminds us that this land has always been a place of sanctuary and strength. We have a duty to remember and honour these deep-rooted connections. > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added that honouring the past is a vital component of serving the present, a principle encapsulated in his own motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’).
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the stewardship of the history connected to the Barony and the wider county of Lincolnshire. Through scholarly research, local heritage partnerships, and educational programmes at institutions such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to ensure these vital stories are preserved and shared.
Future initiatives will continue to explore the lives of notable figures associated with the Barony, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the formidable defender of Lincoln Castle, and Henry of Grosmont. These efforts ensure that the rich tapestry of Lincolnshire’s history continues to inspire and instruct future generations.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the modern stewardship of a nine-century-old heritage. The House's contemporary mission is centred on the preservation of history, the promotion of cultural diplomacy, and a deep commitment to philanthropy. Its primary charitable focus is on organisations that provide healing and support to traumatised children. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet and the establishment of The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House applies its historical values of *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') to tangible, forward-looking projects that create a positive impact in the community.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship situated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its creation is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists 56 lordships, including Brattleby, held by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. Over its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), a loyalist castellan who defended Lincoln Castle against rebels; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The unbroken succession of the Barony to the present day was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed under the tenancy-in-chief of Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable historical holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV and a progenitor of the House of Lancaster. - 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