A Lordship of the Manor is a feudal title and not a peerage. In the past these were held by the owner of the manor or a tenant-in-chief who held the land directly from the Crown or the lord. The lord or mesne lord (a feudal lord with vassals (tenants) holding his land) was himself a vassal of the Crown or a higher lord. A holder of a lordship once held certain rights and power over the lands and the tenants on that land. 

Since the feudal system was abolished, a Lordship of the Manor is no more than a piece of paper. Some are still attached to land or property but most are not and all can be sold without any attachment to the original land; some of these fetch high prices when they reach the market.

They are mostly purchased by those with an interest in the manor in question or who mistakenly think it affords them the right to call themselves Lord or Lady. This is not correct. A Lordship of the Manor is not a peerage.

However, anyone who holds a Lordship of the Manor can ask for this to be added to their passport and the rules for this are very strict. Current guidelines state that such a request will allow the holder to be recorded with the lordship after their name, eg John Debrett, the holder is the Lord of the Manor of Weybridge.

As they are not peers or baronets they cannot be entered onto the Roll of the Peerage or the Official Roll of the Baronetage, nor do they have an entry in Debrett’s.