I WAS interested in your article regarding the Lord of the Manor and Thaxted Market. It stated that John Perry, Lord of the Manor of Thaxted, bought his title five years ago to claim legal rights to claim rent from traders who operate in the village on

I WAS interested in your article regarding the Lord of the Manor and Thaxted Market.

It stated that John Perry, Lord of the Manor of Thaxted, bought his title five years ago to claim legal rights to claim rent from traders who operate in the village on a

Friday morning.

They have locked horns and now Mr Perry has threatened to end the long-running tradition.

I am never sure whether people who seek to purchase these titles have an inflated sense of themselves or are rather sad; it would not appear to be for any altruistic purpose.

There is a similar situation in Great Bardfield whereby the owner of the title 'Lord of the Manor' - who does not live in the parish - has to be deferred to if one wanted to say plant a tree or undertaken specific activities on the various greens that go

with that title.

But he refuses to donate towards the cost of maintaining these village greens and the burden falls on the parish rate.

I think the spokesman for Debretts summed it when he said that it was "very bad form" for purchased titles to be used.

Perhaps whatever ancient laws that enable these titles to be sold on the open market like any other commodity should be reviewed.

I wonder how many other parishes are have been similarly affected?

Name and address supplied