Concerned residents of Shelf are seeking their Lord of the Manor - to help protect their future.

The residents of the historic village want to preserve landmarks such as the Stone Chair, a set of stocks, and the 19th century Clough Mill.

Bradford businessman Richard Garford entered the history books in 1988 after buying the Manorial title at a London auction for £10,500 after Lord Savile sold the title.

At the time Mr Garford said that he wanted to conserve the village's historic landmarks and appealed for residents to help him with any schemes.

But a frantic search by Shelf resident Dennis Sharp has revealed that Lord Garford surrendered the title in 1992 just before he went travelling to Australia for six months.

Mr Sharp, 78, said: "I found Mr Garford's mother in Greengates who said that he is on holiday at the moment but that he gave up the title when he went away.

"The title was handed to Ernst & Young, a group of solicitors, by him and I have made initial enquiries with them as to who now owns the title."

But the firm says it cannot trace any connections with the name Garford or the Manorial Lordship of Shelf.

Mr Sharp said residents are keen for the Lord to come forward and back the preservation campaign.

"We don't want any money or any financial help at all," he said. "We just want the lord, wherever he may be, to be present at meetings and to keep in contact about what is going on in the area and what we are doing."

The village is made up of three hamlets Stone Chair, Pepper Hill and Shelf itself.

It was noted three times in the Domesday Book of 1086 under three different spellings.

Stone Chair boasts the sixteenth century landmark of the same name and the mill was built in the early 19th century as the Industrial Revolution spread to the West Riding.

"The majority of houses in Stone Chair are old mill cottages," said Mr Sharp, a resident of Cross Lane. "We really want to preserve these landmarks and protect the development of open areas."

"I am a member of the Stone Chair Appreciation Society and we have been meeting for about three months.

"About 80 per cent of the residents here are pensioners. It's a really good crowd and they deserve something like the society to keep them interested in the place."

Anyone interested in helping with the conservation scheme or has information about the Lordship should contact Mr Sharp on (01422) 203125.