Belvoir Castle

500^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MANNERS FAMILY AT BELVOIR CASTLE

Duke and Duchess of Rutland As part of the celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary, two aircraft at Royal Air Force Cranwell (near Sleaford in Lincolnshire) will bear the Duke of Rutland's coat of arms.

Names of those pictured are, left, Squadron Leader Jad Reece, Officer Commanding 45 (Reserve) Squadron, centre, His Grace the Duke of Rutland and right, Group Captain Nigel Wharmby, Station Commander RAF Cranwell and Officer Commanding No 3 Flying Training School.

Belvoir Castle has belonged to the Duke of Rutland's ancestors since 1509. The Castle was built after the Norman invasion by Robert de Todeni who was William the Conqueror's Standard Bearer at the Battle of Hastings.

The male line of Robert's successors, surnamed Albini, came to an end in 1247 and Belvoir passed into the family of de Ros; the heiress of the last Albini having married Robert de Ros. Eleanor, sister and heiress of Edmund Lord Ros, married Sir Robert de Manners XI, of Ethall, in Northumberland, thus bringing Belvoir to the Manners family where it has remained ever since.

Eleanor and Robert's son, Sir George Manners, inherited the Castle and received the honour of a knighthood. His son Sir Thomas Manners succeeded George on his death in 1523 and was created 1st Earl of Rutland by Henry VIII on June 18th 1525. A title which had previously belonged to Edmund, younger brother to Edward IV, and never before conferred upon anyone not of Royal blood.

The arms granted alluded to that Royal connection - the fleur de lys and lion of England. There were nine Earls - the 9th receiving the title of 1st Duke of Rutland and Marquis of Granby in 1703. The second title, traditionally, being passed to the eldest son. Our present Duke, David Manners, is the 11th Duke of Rutland and his son, Charles, is now the Marquis of Granby.