Royal Barony of Stamford Priory.

The Royal Barony of Stamford Priory has been at the centre of the local community since 1267 when Nicholas de Farneham, Bishop of Durham (one of the Prince Bishops) dedicated this St Leonard's Priory to St Cuthbert and Durham Abbey endowing the same with a Manor and diverse lands and tenements in and about Stamford, Lincolnshire. St Leonard's Priory is situated between Priory Road and the River Welland in Stamford. Manors and the Lords and Barons who control them were the creation of William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D. In 1383 the manor of Orton Waterville was granted to Sir John de la Warrene, Lord Baron of Stamford Priory and added to his existing manors including the Ortons which were under the control of Durham Abbey. The UK Land Registration Act 2002 preserves the Lord of the Manor title or dignity along with ancient and traditional rights of the Manor. When the Manor of Stamford Priory came under the control of the Crown, King Edward lll made it a Royal Barony in 1327. Lord Barons hold Manorial Courts which deal with minor crimes committed within the manor and give out sentences on conviction.