Lord Field?
The last Lord Field
When people hear that I hold the title Lord, they often assume it's something I've purchased - like one of those novelty "Lord of the Manor" certificates.
I then find myself explaining that the title Baron of Fielden has actually been in my family since 1392 (22 generations).
So, to save time, I've decided to share the background here.
Origins
The title Baron of Fielden is a historic feudal honour, originally granted to the Field family by the English Crown during the reign of Henry IV, in recognition of their loyal service.
A Baron is formally referred to as “Lord”, and the correct way to write the title is: The Rt. Hon. The Lord Field
Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror rewarded many of his loyal generals and noble supporters with estates across England. Among them was the Fielde family, who received extensive lands south of Bedford. A small settlement soon developed on this estate and was named Fielden in their honour.
In 1392, Thomas Fielde was created Baron of Fielden for his service to King Henry IV, particularly in support of the King’s Prussian campaign. While the title conveyed baronial dignity, it was essentially a barony by tenure—granting authority over land and limited local governance. Such “lesser barons” were not peers by royal blood and therefore held no automatic right to sit in the Royal Court.
This distinction endures today: feudal or “lesser” baronies carry historic recognition but no entitlement to a seat in the House of Lords.
Evolution Through the Centuries
In 1528, Lord Thomas Field, the 7th Baron of Fielden, married Lady Jane Fiennes, daughter of Sir Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre, who resided at Herstmonceux Castle. The family subsequently relocated to Bishopstone Manor, whose lands stretched along the Ouse Valley from Newhaven to Lewes, encompassing the villages of Piddinghoe and Rodmell.
Eventually, the original land in Fielden was sold, and the hamlet was absorbed into the growing expansion of Bedford.
With the passage of the Tenures Abolition Act of 1660, all feudal baronies were stripped of legal standing. Thereafter, such titles were no longer tied to land ownership but instead recognised as baronies by writ—hereditary and symbolic, but devoid of governing power.
In 1645, during a period of anti-French sentiment due to the Anglo-French wars, Lord Edward Fielde, the 12th Baron, anglicised the family surname from “Fielde” to “Field.”
Modern Succession
1930s
Lord Joseph Field, 19th Baron, and his wife Louisa welcomed a son in 1907, naming him Leslie Charles. From this point onwards, the eldest son of each generation would traditionally be named Leslie. On Joseph’s death in 1937, Leslie Charles inherited the title, becoming the 20th Baron of Fielden.
1940s
Lord Leslie Charles Field shifted the family’s focus away from agriculture towards property development. By the end of the decade, he had built and let over 250 homes in Newhaven—housing around one in eight of the town’s residents at the time.
1957
While on military leave, his eldest son, Leslie Robert (my father), fell in love with Marie Marks, a chambermaid in one of the family’s hotels. Lord Leslie Charles opposed the match due to class differences and sought to prevent the marriage, but the court ruled against him. The couple married just 23 days after meeting, without any of the Field family present. As a consequence, Leslie Robert was disinherited and excluded from the family trust, with the condition it would only be reinstated if he divorced Marie. He never did. The couple remained devoted to one another and were married for over 60 years.
1960s
Lord Leslie Charles Field pioneered one of the UK’s first affordable homeownership schemes. Recognising the burden of renting compared to mortgages, he devised a cooperative building model that trained individuals in basic construction skills, enabling them to build or renovate homes they would eventually own—requiring no deposits and offering low-interest mortgages. Over seven years, the scheme delivered an average of 18 houses per week, supported by a workforce of more than 300.
Alongside this initiative, he owned 23 companies, including the Peacehaven Building Society.
Lord Field received a European Heritage Award nomination for the meticulous restoration of both his English country estate, Walton Hall in Warwickshire, and Pitfour Castle in St Madoes, Perthshire.
1974
Lord Field’s eldest daughter, June, married Polish Count Komorowski, a former WWII intelligence officer, thereby becoming Countess Komorowski.
1988
Lord Leslie Charles Field died while living in tax exile on the Isle of Man. His estate was divided among his children, excluding his estranged eldest son, Leslie Robert Field. Nevertheless, as hereditary succession could only pass to the first-born son, Leslie Robert inherited the title and became the 21st Baron of Fielden.
2017
On Leslie Robert’s death, the title passed to me, Leslie John Field—making me the 22nd Baron of Fielden.
As I have no son, the lineage will end with me. Upon my death, the title will fall extinct, and I will be the last to hold the title of Lord Field.
Thats interesting but wheres the proof?
That’s often where the questions arise—but where’s the proof?
If this were a peerage of noble bloodline, there would likely be extensive records, mentions in court rolls, and greater online coverage. But as a lesser barony, evidence is limited. Beyond the entry in Encyclopaedia Britannica and a handful of official sources, little else exists in the public domain.
This lack of visibility leads many to mistakenly assume my title is one of those purchasable “Lord of the Manor” novelties. Even after explanation, people sometimes dismiss it as such. To clear the confusion, here are the facts:
Purchased title: A “Lord of the Manor” title may be bought and sold, but it carries no legal or noble standing. The holder remains Mr or Mrs in all official matters. Styling oneself “Mr Smith, Lord of the Manor of penworth” is just for fun, and cannot be used on formal identification or documents.
The real thing: A legitimate hereditary title on the other hand whether feudal or by writ, must be declared on all legal documents. In fact, it is unlawful for the holder to use “Mr” in place of the recognised title, and as such, it will appear on all official forms and identification of the holder.
The Legal Criteria for recognition on ID
HM Passport Office and the British Government undertake strict background checks before approving a title for use in official identification. They do not make mistakes.
To qualify for a genuine hereditary title to appear on passports or other legal records, three strict conditions must be met:
Registered Title — The family must hold a registered patent of nobility or barony by tenure (pre-1660) recorded with English Heritage.
Direct Male Line — The claimant must descend in the male line, typically through first-born sons, with lineage verified via the National Archives.
Peerage Validation — The bloodline must be confirmed within Debrett’s Peerage.
Only when all three are evidenced and authenticated can the British Government formally recognise a hereditary title on legal identification.
Heres mine.
What are the benefits?
Honestly, there aren’t any.
Most people don’t believe it anyway — they assume I bought the title online and that it’s just made up. To complicate things further, my father was disowned and cut off from the family fortune, so I grew up working-class. I certainly don’t look or sound like what people expect a “Lord” to be, which means I’m constantly explaining the story.
When People find out its real they treat you differently, rarely in a positive way.
Getting a passport takes three times as long, hiring a car turns into a hassle, and airport security is more of a headache. You don’t get any perks at hotels or restaurants either.
In truth, it’s more of a nuisance than a privilege.
I generally keep it low-key. The postman knows because it appears on official documents, and a handful of colleagues are aware — mainly because I’ve worked with them for nearly three decades.
Beyond that, only those who happen to spot it on my ID ever find out. It’s definitely not something I go around boasting about.
And just to note — the Latin on my family crest, Sapientia donum Dei, translates to Wisdom is the gift of God.
