Robert Gascoyne Cecil (7th Marquess of Salisbury)

[David Guyatt]

I'll be tracked!

Unbelievable in this day and age. Or is it?

Once a robber baron always a robber baron...

Marquess sparks 'peasants' revolt' by claiming rights over neighbours land

The Marquess of Salisbury has sparked protest from residents of Welwyn Garden City after claiming his historical rights over their land


Lord Salisbury's family have lived in Hatfield House for centuries Photo: Andrew Crowley


By Hayley Dixon

7:57AM GMT 11 Nov 2013

The Marquess of Salisbury has prompted a "peasants' revolt" after claiming his historical manorial rights over his neighbours land.

Lord Salisbury, a former Conservative leader in the House of Lords, has sent legal letters to some of the residents of Welwyn Garden City, prompting fears he may be about to dig up their gardens.

He is claiming "market and fair rights, sporting rights and rights in respect of the mines and minerals beneath the property", but has informed them that it is the mineral rights which are "most significant".

The claims have provoked an angry backlash, with resident Kim Thomas suggesting that they should "find out whether Lord Salisbury has manorial rights as well as responsibilities, e.g. giving alms to the poor, that kind of thing."

Residents have joined together in a Facebook uprising to protest against Lord Salisbury's claims, with some suggesting they should stage a protest in medieval dress with pitchforks and burning torches.

Amanda White added: "The Marquis can frack off."
The psychologist said that she believed she had lost a prospective buyer for her property after informing him that Lord Salisbury "can hunt and shoot and dig up my back garden".
He has a family seat at nearby Hatfield House, which was built by Robert Cecil, the 1st Earl of Salisbury, in 1611 and is still home to his descendants
Lord Salisbury, whose ancestors include Lord Burghley, a minister of Queen Elizabeth I, owns land in Dorset, Hertfordshire and London and is worth an estimated £300 million, the Guardian reported.
It comes after Labour introduced legislation in 2002 which stated that manorial and mineral rights could be lost unless they are lodged with the Land Registry.
Since then, tens of thousands of home owners across the country have received letters from landowners like Lord Salisbury asserting their mineral or manorial rights.
The Land Registry website states: "Although these are often described as relics from past times', owners of these rights or interests often have a duty or responsibility to protect them …
"These are not new rights or interests being sought, the third party is normally simply looking to protect an interest they already hold."
Some those involved in the Welwyn protest have complained that their concerns were given the "brush-off" by Grant Shapps, their MP and chairman of the Conservative Party.
He said he had received letters from about two dozen constituents and had replied saying he understood that their property rights would not be affected.
The historic rights do not include oil or gas, which were nationalised in the 1930s, or gold or silver, which belong to the Queen.