MERTON COLLEGE, OXFORD

Manorial Rights Conference: 16-18 September 2005

We are now able to firm up the contributors to the Conference which opens on Friday evening, 16 September.

Jeffrey Littman, barrister, Manorial Waste and Common: what is it, how do I identify it, how do I claim and register it? Case studies.

Edward Cousins, Chief Commons Commissioner and Adjudicator to HM Land Registry: Current issues on Land Registration. Mr Cousins was also for many years editor of The Law of Markets (market rights being a special right attaching to some Manors) and appeared as a barrister in the Civil Courts on many market and fair cases.

Mike Westcott-Rudd, Senior Corporate Lawyer, HM Land Registry:
what are the Land Registry's requirements for the registration of manorial rights, is it expensive, can I do it myself (should I)?

Geoffrey Barrett, Blakemores, and Martin Hopkins, BBW Solicitors:
both are experienced solicitors: how do I investigate title, what is Title Guarantee, what is a conveyance, what are reservations or exceptions, what is an indenture, what are the Laws of Property Acts (1922-25) and the Settled Land Act (1925) and how do they affect my Manor in light of the Land Registration Act (2002). In addition to day-to-day conveyancing, both solicitors have wide knowledge of property law and can advise, after purchase, on research and, where necessary, finding and instructing the right Counsel, and associated costs before you plunge in.

Stephen Johnson MA, Historical Research: although Manors are not of themselves any longer registrable, their rights are and in order to define on a map where those rights may lie (eg Manorial Waste) it is still necessary to define the boundaries of the Manor. How do I know what the boundaries are, how can I identify Manorial Waste, Common Land, what are Tithe maps and Enclosure Awards, what are Copyhold enfranchisements? Besides identifiable areas of land, how do I know about other rights that might exist in the Manor: eg mines and minerals, markets and fairs, courts, estovers, piscaries (fishing) and the corollary riparian rights, other sporting rights (eg shooting)? What does being Lay Improprietor mean? These rights can be overriding rights and, where they exist, historical research may be necessary to identify them.

Alistair Rennie, formerly a senior official in the Scottish Register of Sasines (HM Land Registry), now head of Baronial conveyancing recognition in Scotland. What does the Abolition of Feudal Tenures (Scotland) Act (2000) mean? How can I know if the Barony, being severed under the Act from the land and rights, is properly disponed (conveyed)? What has happened to the Baronial Rights once attached to Baronies? Can I still own them? Can I obtain compensation? Is my right to Matriculation and recognition as a Baron at the Court of the Lord Lyon, affected by the Act?

Robin Michelmore FRICS, Michelmore Hughes, a West Country Land Agency, managing manorial estates: the view from 'the ground', the day-to-day application of manorial rights in ransom strips, mines and minerals, and Common.
There will be an introduction on the history of English Land Law, Domesday Book and Beyond, John S Moore BA FRHistS, University of Bristol.

Each speaker will take Q&As after his talk and these will be reported in the printed in a verbatim report of the Conference which will be published as Proceedings and be sent to all participants as part of the Conference fee.

The Conference cost also includes: two night's accommodation in College on Friday and Saturday, running buffet supper on Friday evening, and black-tie banquet on Saturday evening in Hall, including wine, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, lunch on Saturday and
Registration will take place from 4pm on Friday and the Conference will close after lunch on Sunday. A running buffet will be provided from 6.3Opm on Friday evening. There is no parking at the College, but Oxford has many multi storey car parks.
The bar will be open just before lunch and before and after supper and banquet on Friday and Saturday. The speakers are spending the weekend with us so Members will be able to talk to them informally, surely a valuable consideration.

Lord Slynn of Hadley, recently retired as a Law Lord, has been invited as the guest of honour at the banquet.

To attend please click here to book