A new Lord or Lady of the Manor of Heaton will be bestowed with the ancient title at a sitting of a special court next week.

Following the death last year of the previous title holder, Stanley King, who was also a former Bradford Lord Mayor, the new lord or lady will be appointed by trustees at a session of the Manorial Court of Heaton on Monday.

Mr King bought the title about 50 years ago from the Earl of Rosse estate, which gave him certain rights in the manor.

Wilfred Shaw, who is the steward to the Lord of the Manor of Heaton, said: “Stanley acquired the title as he was an antiquarian. He was interested in these things – it wasn’t as a status thing. As he used to say to us, it was a bit of fun.

“Not many people knew he even had the title until it was discovered when objections were put in place against an application to build on Heaton Shay.”

In Mr King’s ‘Last Will and Testament’ he nominated a list of trustees, which included his sister Barbara Ball and Mr Shaw, leaving two more to be elected by a jury. The jury then chose those other members who joined Mrs Ball and Mr Shaw in deciding who to appoint as the new title holder. The people eligible to gain the title include members of the jury, who are made up of longstanding members of the Heaton community, and Mr King’s heirs. But it is expected that one of Mr King’s heirs will take the title to keep it in the family. As he had no children it will fall to his nephew or niece.

The occasion has been timed to fall on Lady Day, which is a traditional Christian festival marking the annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

Mr Shaw said: “Until 1752 Lady Day was held on New Year’s Day when rents were due. It is therefore an ideal date for a new lord or lady of the manor to begin.”

The Manorial Court of Heaton meets about twice a year and generally holds historical discussions about the area and talks through any matters of local interest. The announcement of the new lord or lady of the manor of Heaton will be made at St Barnabas Village Hall, in Ashwell Road, Heaton, on Monday at 7.30pm.

The Lord of the Manor of Baildon, Frank Baildon, will also be at the presentation to give an illustrated historical talk.