WE ARE
THE BARONY OF BUITTLE

Background: The good/bad old days

Scottish Baronies may seem like a relic of a bygone age. In a way they are, but that doesn't mean that they have to stay that way. Historically, Baronies were legally connected to the land (whoever owned the land was the Baron), but more importantly, they are conceptually connected to a place. In this way, the Barony and Baron's household were intrinsically connected with the social fabric of a given area. The Barons themselves, in their courts, sat as the local magistrate, and in the Scottish Parliament they represented their local area and people. But Baronies were never just 'the Baron', but rather all the people who had a part in organising the administrative and social activities over which Baronies had responsibility. This was known as the Baron's Household, and comprised the Baron's blood relations, as well as a wider kinship group, analogous to a small clan, who may or may not be blood relations to the person holding the Dignity of Baron.

​

Scottish Baronies have always been held 'in commercio', meaning they can be bought and sold, making them unique amongst British 'titles of nobility'. In practice, however, Baronies tended to stay in families for many generations, and, as they were attached to the land, and usually to the 'chief dwelling' thereon (be it a castle, fortalice, or manor house), the entirety of the Baronial Estate would need to be purchased. Because of this connection to an area of land and jurisdiction, the office of Baron imparted serious duties and responsibilities to the incumbent.

 

Baronies Today: are they what you make of them?

Today, and since 2014, Scottish Baronies are no longer legally attached to their historic lands. This has had several effects. From a legal standpoint, the instrument which accomplished the separation was called the 'Abolition of Feudal Tenure' act. This, in addition to separating the dignity from the land (making it 'incorporeal' property) also ended any jurisdiction the Baron had over his historic Barony. In reality, the legal jurisdiction of the Barons had been long superseded by subsequent legal norms and frameworks. What the Act did create was an open market on the trade in Scottish Baronies. Most of these were purchased by people who had no connection to the historic 'home' of the Barony, and no intention to involve themselves in that historical connection in a way that would carry forward the traditional function of community engagement, societal improvement, and preservation of tradition. On the other hand, many individuals who have inherited or acquired Baronies have taken on the mantle, so to speak, of history, and looked to carry on the traditions of the Scottish Barony in ways that resonate with both the legal reality of what Baronies are, and the modern social fabric. The same, indeed, could be said of 'Lairdships' -  the Barony's little brother in Scotland. Of these 'new generation' of Barons and Lairds, there has been seen a real effort to, in all the ways that can be relevant to today, live up to the tradition of the Scottish gentry. In particular, the Baron of Prestoungrange has done significant charity and social work in the historic area of his Barony; the late Laird of Balgonie and his son, the new Laird, have engaged in similar work, whilst restoring the historic seat of the Lairdship, Balgonie Castle. From further afield, the current Baron of Balvaird Castle, who resides in the USA, has been a generous supporter of traditional and heritage craft, all the while working in the most advanced fields of tech. In a small way, therefore, Baronies have become rather like medieval guilds or London Livery Companies - many of them still exist, but what they do today, while it reflects their historic function, has been modified to suit the modern world, It can be safely said, therefore, that, whatever the motivations of the new incumbents of Scottish Baronies, the relevance of the office and dignity are very much what this new generation makes of them - they can be merely a source of aggrandisement, or they can be put to use to promote heritage, engagement, and philanthropy.

​

The Barony of Buittle today:

As far as we can tell, the Barony of Buittle is one of the few in Scotland which maintains its 'Caput', or historic headquarters, as the residence of the Baron of Buittle. It has also never been bought or sold, but, rather, passed down through generations of owners of the Castle. When James, a descendent of the historic Barons, arrived at Buittle Castle in 2017, it was very important to him to re-establish the real connection between the Barony and its historic home, the Castle. It took three years to locate the holder of the dignity, and to explain the initiative, but, in 2020, James became the 32nd Baron of Buittle, by assignation - the instrument by which Scottish Baronies are legally conveyed. James's cousin Tobias, and many friends and family members are involved in the activities of the Barony, and it is the Barony's mission to uphold its traditions in all the ways that they can be relevant to the modern world.