Baron Lucas

Baron Lucas is a title in the Peerage of England. In 1663, it was granted to Mary Grey, who married the eleventh Earl of Kent. It was created with a unique remainder for the English peerage. It descends essentially as 'heirs general without division' in the same manner as the British Crown. This means that unlike peerages by writ the title does not go into abeyance between female co-heirs but is inherited by the senior co-heir, as with an office of honour or a castle held for the crown, in common law. The only caveat is that the monarch can choose at this point to suspend or extinguish the peerage. While neither has been exercised the latter is probably unlawful according to later decisions of the House of Lords that no peerage can be extinguished except naturally or by Act of Parliament.

Her successor was the twelfth Earl of Kent, and was later created Duke of Kent and Marquess Grey. During the Duke's lifetime, his son Anthony, Earl of Harold was summoned to Parliament as Lord Lucas of Crudwell through a writ of acceleration. Earl of Harold predeceased his father, however, so he did not inherit his father's other titles. At the Duke's death, the dukedom became extinct, but by special remainder the marquessate of Grey passed to his daughter Jemima, who also inherited the barony.

Thereafter, the barony was held by the second Earl de Grey and then the seventh Earl Cowper. The Scottish title of Lord Dingwall, which had been attainted, was restored to the seventh Earl Cowper. At the Earl's death, the barony of Lucas and the lordship of Crudwell were inherited by Auberon Thomas Herbert, and the titles have remained united since.

The current Lord Lucas owns the Good Schools Guide at http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk .

Barons Lucas of Crudwell (1663)

The Heir Apparent is Hon. Lewis Edward Palmer (b. 7 December 1987)