Meet Caleb Tutt, a 24-year-old journalist from Lambeth who’s just inherited a historic Welsh title, but still struggles to pay the rent! Encouraged by a message from his father, Caleb embraced his family’s legacy by becoming a freeman of Llantrisant. This title, dating back 680 years, harks back to the days when his ancestors’ longbow skills were celebrated at the Battle of Crécy.
Caleb’s grandmother, Gwen, is from Llantrisant, a town granted a royal charter by Edward III for their role in the battle. This unique honour comes with some pastoral perks—free grazing rights on Llantrisant Common. But for Caleb, living in bustling south London, these rights seem more symbolic than practical.
In May, Caleb took part in the freeman ceremony held at the ruins of a local castle. This modest gathering, complete with the “mace of Llantrisant”, saw about 20 young new freemen sign the ledger and receive a special necktie. The ceremony might not have included riches or fanfare, but for Caleb, it offered something more valuable—a profound connection to his heritage.
After the official bits, it was time to celebrate at the Llantrisant Rugby Club. There, Caleb mingled with fellow freemen, joined by family members, and embraced a legacy that felt refreshingly priceless in a world that often measures worth by numbers.
This story also highlights a sweet twist of fate for Llantrisant itself—on St David’s Day 2015, the town twinned with Crécy-en-Ponthieu in France, bringing full circle a relationship that began with arrows flying in medieval clashes.
A tale of medieval honour, family ties, and modern-day musings—proof that not all inheritances have a price tag, just irreplaceable value!