The Lordship of The Liberty of Stoborough Ⓡ̿

The Liberty and Bailiwick of Stoborough

A Timeless Liberty Rooted in Royal Rights and Noble Stewardship

Welcome Message from the Lord of Stoborough
My name is Commissioner George Mentz, and I welcome you to the Liberty and Bailiwick of Stoborough — a historic English jurisdiction of unique distinction. The Lordship of Stoborough stands among the last surviving private liberties in England still recognized for its traditional court leet and manorial independence.

Tracing its origins to medieval royal charters and Crown grants, Stoborough was once part of the ancient royal demesne of Purbeck, enjoying privileges of forest, fishery, and local governance granted directly by the Crown. It remains a living emblem of England’s historic balance between liberty, stewardship, and sovereign law.

A Historic Liberty of National Importance

Unlike ordinary manorial estates, the Bailiwick of Stoborough historically exercised a degree of autonomy under royal charter—its Lord presiding over rights and duties extending beyond simple landholding.

The Lordship retains:

• Ceremonial and symbolic jurisdiction within the liberty bounds

• Historic fishing, ferry, and forest rights along the Frome and Stoborough waters

• Court baron and court leet traditions, legally preserved in English manorial law

• The privilege to appoint Honorary Mayor, bailiffs, stewards, and wardens of the liberty

• Custody of the ancient seals, arms, and heraldic devices of Stoborough

These features make Stoborough one of the most historically significant and quasi-sovereign hereditary liberties remaining in the British Isles.

A  Liberty and Stewardship of Nature

At the heart of the Bailiwick lies the Heaths of Stoborough, a landscape of rivers, marshes, meadows, and wild heathland extending toward Poole Harbour and Wareham’s ancient walls.

Once a region of hunting and fishing by Norman kings, this terrain is now protected within the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve, representing centuries of unbroken conservation and traditional stewardship.

The Lord of the Liberty of Stoborough bears not only symbolic responsibilities but also the enduring moral duty to preserve the ecology, heritage, and spirit of the land for future generations.

The Present Lord of the Liberty and Bailiwick

Today, the Lord of the Bailiwick, Liberty, and Forest of Stoborough is
Commissioner George S. Mentz, JD MBA CWM CILS — an international lawyer, professor, and commissioner devoted to legal education, civic ethics, and interfaith diplomacy.

As Seigneur and Lord of several historic fiefs and manors, including the Fief Blondel of Guernsey, Datuk Seri Lord Mentz upholds the ancient principles of lawful liberty and noble stewardship through education, heritage projects, and charitable initiatives.

His mission includes:

• Preserving the traditions and rights of the Liberty of Stoborough

• Promoting historical literacy and civic virtue

• Supporting education, justice, and charitable works

• Maintaining ceremonial customs and issuing legitimate honors under the historic manorial framework

• Advocating for the protection of the UNESCO Heritage Site region.

Mission and Vision

The modern purpose of the Lordship is not feudal privilege but cultural preservation, environmental respect, and moral leadership.
Its vision is to uphold the ancient rights of the Liberty as symbols of:

• Civic responsibility and duty

• Continuity of English tradition

• Protection of lawful libertiesAdvancement of learning and benevolence

• Environmental Advocate for Protection and Sustainability

Through these principles, the Liberty of Stoborough endures as a living example of England’s heritage of freedom, honor, and governance.

Inscription of the Liberty

“Let the rights of the forest and the liberty of Stoborough never be forgotten,
for in them lives the soul of England’s ancient freedom.”
— Inscription, Archive of Stoborough Manor

 Summary of the Ancestral Lineage of George Mentz

Commissioner George Sherwood Mentz, JD MBA CWM, Seigneur of Fief Blondel and Datuk Seri, Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale, and Baron of Annaly-Longford in Ireland descends from an illustrious tapestry of European royal and noble lineages. His ancestry spans the British Isles and continental Europe, linking him to a remarkable array of monarchs, nobles, and Gaelic chieftains. His heritage includes clans and families such as the Maitlands, Drummonds, Kerrs, Flemings, Montgomerys, Sinclairs, Campbells, MacDougalls, and McConnell, Lords of the Isles.

Among his most notable sovereign ancestors are:

• Somerled, the Progenitor King of the Isles

• The McConnell / MacDonald Lords of the Isles

• Robert II Stewart, 1st Stuart King of Scotland

• James I, II, and IV of Scotland

• Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland

• Walter FitzAlan, 3rd High Steward of Scotland

• Sir Archibald “The Tyneman” Douglas, Regent of Scotland

• Robert the Bruce, King of Scots

European royal descent includes ties to:

• King Christian of Denmark and Norway

• The von Guelders, von Habsburg, von Hohenzollern, and von Brandenburg dynasties

• Holy Roman Emperors

• Kings of France, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Austria, and Germany

• Descent from the Julio-Claudian Roman emperors

He is also connected to prominent noble titles including:

• Earls of Roxburghe, Northumberland, Perth, Atholl, Carrick, Wigton, Buchan, and Argyll

• Dukes of Normandy, Norfolk, Albany

• Barons of Woodstock, Lethington, and Thirlestane

Commissioner Mentz’s ancestral roots affirm his position as a direct descendant of some of the most influential rulers in European history. His ceremonial revival of chieftainship particularly honors the enduring cultural and sovereign legacy of the Mac Dhomhnaill–McConnell line, Lords of the Isles.

Customary Style and Title of a Bailiwick Holder

The Holder of the Lordship of the Liberty of Stoborough, should present the title with his name depending on the tradition and formality of the context (legal, ceremonial, social, academic, or international).

1. English Customary Style

In the British / Anglo-Norman tradition, manorial or seignorial lords usually present themselves as:

• George Mentz, Lord of the Liberty of Stoborough

• Or in shorter social usage: George Mentz of Stoborough

If styled formally in writing (such as a legal, historical, or heraldic context):

• The Right Hon. George Mentz, Lord of the Bailiwick and Liberty of Stoborough

(“Right Hon.” is sometimes added for lords of liberties and jurisdictions with Crown provenance.)

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2. German/Austrian Nobiliary Style

If adopting the historic von und zu form:

• George Mentz, Reichsherr von und zu Stoborough
  (“Imperial Lord of and at Stoborough”)

If notated in ceremonial contexts:

• Seine Hochwohlgeboren, Reichsherr George Mentz von und zu Stoborough
  (“His High Well-born, Imperial Lord George Mentz of and at Stoborough”)

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3. French Style

• Georges Mentz, Seigneur Impérial d’Stoborough

• Long form: Très Haut et Très Puissant Seigneur Georges Mentz, Seigneur Impérial de la Baillie, Forêt Royale et Liberté d’Stoborough

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4. Latin Diplomatic Style (for pan-European use in charters, universities, orders of chivalry, etc.)

• Georgius Mentz, Dominus Imperialis Ballivæ, Libertatis Stoborough
  (“George Mentz, Imperial Lord of the Bailiwick  Liberty of Stoborough”)

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5. Short Social/Formal Usage (Modern Presentation)

In modern professional and ceremonial life, to avoid misunderstanding, it is common to use:

• George Mentz, Lord of Stoborough (short and clear)

• George Mentz, Seigneur of Stoborough (if French styling is preferred)

• George Mentz, Freiherr von und zu Stoborgh  (if Germanic styling is preferred in Europe)

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✅ Recommendation for practical daily use:

• On formal correspondence, ceremonial invitations, or publications:
  “George Mentz, Lord of the Bailiwick & Liberty of Stoborough.” Bailiwick of Stoborough Ⓡ̃ Ⓡ̿

• In shorter contexts (business card, signature block, press, etc.):
  “George Mentz, Lord of Stoborough.”  Bailiwick of Stoborough Ⓡ̃ Ⓡ̿

Lords of The Bailiwick of Stoborough - Manor, Liberty, Forest and Chase - Chronological Order

Here is the chronological list of the Lords of the Manor and Liberty of Stoborough, as provided on the official website. Lord Stoborough+2Lord Stoborough+2