Baron Lilford

Baron Lilford, of Lilford in the County of Northampton,^[1] is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1797 for Thomas Powys, who had previously represented Northamptonshire in the House of Commons. His grandson, the third Baron, served as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip) from 1837 to 1841 in the Whig administration of Lord Melbourne. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baron, an ornithologist.

On the death of his younger son, the sixth Baron (who succeeded his elder brother), in 1949, the line of the third Baron failed. The late Baron was succeeded by his second cousin twice removed, the seventh Baron. He was the great-great-grandson of Robert Vernon Powys, second son of the second Baron. As of 2010^[update], the title is held by his only son Mark Powys, the eighth Baron, who succeeded in 2005. The family seat from 1711 until the 1990s was Lilford Hall in Northamptonshire.

The current Baron Lilford retains ownership of land in Jersey, South Africa and West Lancashire, including the Bank Hall Estate, which were inherited in 1860 by Thomas Atherton Powys, 3rd Baron Lilford, upon the death of his wife's cousin George Anthony Legh Keck.^[2]

• Thomas Powys, 1st Baron Lilford (1743–1800)
• Thomas Powys, 2nd Baron Lilford (1775–1825)
• Thomas Atherton Powys, 3rd Baron Lilford (1801–1861)
• Thomas Littleton Powys, 4th Baron Lilford (1833–1896)
• John Powys, 5th Baron Lilford (1863–1945)
• Stephen Powys, 6th Baron Lilford (1869–1949)
• George Vernon Powys, 7th Baron Lilford (1931–2005)
• Mark Vernon Powys, 8th Baron Lilford (born 1975)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's third cousin Victor Michael Powys (born 1961), whose heir is his son Matthew Paul Powys (born 1996).^[3]

Coat of arms of Baron Lilford

Crest A lion's jamb couped and erect Gules, holding a staff headed with a fleur-de-lis also erect Or. Escutcheon Or, a lion's jamb erased in bend dexter, between two cross crosslets fitchee in bend sinister Gules. Supporters Dexter, a reaper habited in a loose shirt, leather breeches loose at the knees, white stockings, and black hat and shoes ; in his hat ears of corn, in his right band a reaping-hook, and at his feet a garb, all proper. Sinister, a man in the uniform of the' Northamptonshire yeomanry cavalry, riz. a green long coat, orna-mented on the cuffs and button-holes with gold lace, yellow waistcoat and breeches, and black top boots ; a black stock ; a round hat, adorned with a white feather in front and a green one behind, the sword-belt inscribed with the letters N.Y. and the exterior hand resting on his sword sheathed and point downwards. Motto Parta Tueri (To maintain acquired possessions).[5]

• Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. 160A, Fleet street, London, UK: Dean & Son. p. 561.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, ^{[page needed]}
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source] [better source needed]}