EVER fancied being able to call yourself a Lord or Lady of a part of County Durham?

Well now you can follow in the footsteps of the Queen Mother after the Lordship of the Manor of Streatlam, near Barnard Castle, was put up for sale.

And all for as little as £7,000 if you have it lying around.

The title is being sold by Manorial Auctioneers of London and will be sold by private treaty.

The title’s history goes back to the Traynes family, who resided in Streatlam in about 1200.

Perhaps the most interesting association though is the title’s royal links as it once belonged to the Queen’s grandfather, the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Claude Bowes-Lyon.

The Queen Mother was a regular visitor to Streatlam, including its castle, and the nearby Bowes Museum, which was founded by her relative, John Bowes and his wife, Josephine Chevalier, Countess of Montalbo, in the 19th Century.

The Bowes’ hold the record for the longest family to own the title which was originally brought about by the marriage of Sir Adam Bowes to the Trayne heiress, Alice, in the 14th Century.

They would hold it, as Bowes-Lyon Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, until 1953 when it was sold by the 16th Earl, Timothy Patrick Bowes-Lyon.

The Queen Mother last visited in 1966 while Streatlam Castle saw an unusual end when it was blown up by the Territorial Army during a training exercise in 1959.

The new Lord or Lady of the manor will be able to use the title on their passports, cheque books, and credit cards, while they will be eligible for membership of the Manorial Society of Great Britain.

However, they will not be able to claim the same power that comes with the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, which is currently held by Simon Bowes-Lyon, as the Lordship is a purely ceremonial title.

Chairman of Stainton and Streatlam Parish Council, James Rowlandson, described the title as “illustrious”.

“The background goes back a long long way and it’s interesting although I don’t think I’d want to spend £7,000 myself on it,” he said. “I think someone probably will though because of its links to the present monarchy so it will be a great deal of interest to a lot of people.”

To find out more call 02075821588 or visit msgb.co.uk