The Stoborough Hunt
🦌 The Gamekeeper and Gamewarden of the Liberty and Manor of Stoborough
Stewardship, Heritage, and Conservation Across the Ancient Crown Lands of Purbeck
An Ancient Role in a Historic Liberty
The office of Gamekeeper and Gamewarden of the Liberty and Manor of Stoborough is one of the
oldest hereditary and appointed positions in Dorsetshire. Rooted in medieval manorial law, the Gamekeeper’s duty extends beyond
hunting—to the care, balance, and lawful preservation of wildlife, waters, and forests within the
territory of the former Crown Manor of Stoborough, once part of the feudal borough of Wareham.
Stoborough, historically also called the Manor of By-East-Wall, lies on both sides of the River Frome opposite Wareham, stretching north into the meadows beneath the town walls, and southward into the heaths and coastal sands reaching toward Corfe Castle. Its holdings include
extensive water rights, foreshore, and tidal flats that meet the sands of
Poole Harbour, one of the world’s largest natural harbors.
Boundaries and Terrain
The Liberty of Stoborough covers over 2,600 acres, including roughly 150 acres of water, and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast and the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve.
The boundaries traditionally include:
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North: The River Frome and the By-East-Wall of Wareham’s ancient borough walls.
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West: The marshlands and fields adjoining Hundredsbarrow Hundred.
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South and Southwest: The Haselor (Hasler) Hundred, extending toward Corfe Castle and the Arne Peninsula.
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East: The river mouth and tidal flats leading into Poole Harbour, encompassing historic fisheries, reed beds, and the old
ferry passages.
These boundaries grant the Lord of Stoborough and his appointed Gamekeeper and Gamewarden responsibility for waterways, wetlands, and wild grounds of exceptional ecological and historical
value.
Hunting and Fishing Rights
Under the Court Leet and Court Baron of the Lordship of Stoborough, hunting and fishing rights have long been regulated by custom and by royal
charter. The Gamekeeper acts as custodian of all lawful game, including deer, pheasant, waterfowl, and small game,
while the Gamewarden oversees the fisheries and foreshore—preserving both
sporting rights and environmental balance.
Permitted activities include:
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Game management in accordance with UK wildlife laws and Dorset
conservation policies.
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Seasonal fishing in the River Frome and tidal estuaries leading into Poole
Harbour.
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Habitat restoration for native birds, wetland species, and small
mammals.
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Protection of nesting areas for rare species such as the
nightjar and dartford warbler.
No hunting or fishing is permitted without the express consent of the Lord of Stoborough or his designated Gamewarden. Any activity within the Liberty’s water or heathland zones is governed
by ancient custom as well as modern conservation law.
Modern Stewardship
Today, the Gamekeeper and Gamewarden of Stoborough operate under the guidance of
Commissioner George Sherwood Mentz, JD MBA DSS, Seigneur of Fief Blondel and Lord of the Liberty and Bailiwick of Stoborough,
continuing the ancient tradition of balanced stewardship. Their duties combine heritage management, environmental protection, and lawful sporting regulation,
ensuring the Liberty’s lands remain a living link between the Crown forests of Wessex and the protected natural reserves of modern England.
This custodial role is not only about protecting wildlife but about preserving the identity and autonomy of one of England’s few remaining
ancient Liberties with independent manorial jurisdiction—a place where royal
rights were once held in private hands, and where the harmony of man, nature, and law endures.
Notice to Residents and Sportsmen
All forms of hunting, trapping, or fishing within the Liberty of Stoborough require written permission from the Lord or his appointed
Gamewarden. Unauthorized use of the grounds, waters, or foreshore is strictly prohibited under the
traditional rights of the manor. The Gamekeeper is empowered to enforce both historic by-laws and modern environmental statutes.
To inquire about heritage permissions, guided tours, or lawful angling access, please contact the
Office of the Lord of Stoborough through the Stoborough Liberty Stewardship Council.
⚜️ A Living Heritage of Wessex
The Gamewarden of Stoborough stands today as both protector and historian—preserving
an ancient covenant between the land and its lords. From the oak forests and heaths of Purbeck to the tidal sands of Poole Harbour, the stewardship of this Crown Liberty continues
unbroken—a rare testament to England’s enduring feudal and environmental heritage.
** Subject to the laws of Dorset and England
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