Baron Sandford is a title that has been created twice, both times in the

Peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union 1800, Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the ...

. The first creation came in 1891 when Sir Francis Sandford, a civil servant who played an important role in the implementation of the

Elementary Education Act 1870 The Elementary Education Act 1870, commonly known as Forster's Education Act, set the framework for schooling of all children between the ages of 5 and 12 in England and Wales. It established local education authorities with defined powers, autho ...

, was made Baron Sandford, of Sandford in the County of

Salop Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to ...

. He was the son of Sir Daniel Sandford, politician and Greek scholar, the grandson of the Right Reverend Daniel Sandford,

Bishop of Edinburgh The Bishop of Edinburgh, or sometimes the Lord Bishop of Edinburgh is the ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh. Prior to the Reformation, Edinburgh was part of the Diocese of St Andrews, under the Archbishop of St Andrews ...

, the brother of Daniel Sandford, Bishop of Tasmania, and the first cousin of the Right Reverend Charles Sandford, Bishop of Gibraltar. He was childless and the title became extinct on his death in 1893. The second creation came in 1945 when the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

politician Sir James Edmondson was created Baron Sandford, of

Banbury Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshire ...

in the

County of Oxford Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

. Lord Sandford was son of James Edmondson who amassed a fortune building new communities in the

London commuter belt The London metropolitan area is the metropolitan area of London, England. It has several definitions, including the London Travel to Work Area, and usually consists of the London urban area, settlements that share London's infrastructure, and ...

. The family had originally been farmers in Cumbria. Lord Sandford had previously represented

in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

and served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household from 1939 to 1942 and as

Treasurer of the Household The Treasurer of the Household is a member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The position is usually held by one of the government deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons. The current holder of the office is Ma ...

from 1942 to 1945. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He at first served in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

but later became a priest. Lord Sandford also served in minor positions in the

Conservative government Conservative or Tory government may refer to: Canada In Canadian politics, a Conservative government may refer to the following governments administered by the Conservative Party of Canada or one of its historical predecessors: * 1st Canadian Mi ...

Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George Heath (9 July 191617 July 2005), often known as Ted Heath, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conserv ...

. the title is held by the latter's son, the third Baron, who succeeded in 2009.

Barons Sandford; First Creation (1891)

* Francis Richard John Sandford, 1st Baron Sandford (1824–1893)

Barons Sandford; Second Creation (1945)

* (Albert) James Edmondson, 1st Baron Sandford (1886–1959) *

John Cyril Edmondson, 2nd Baron Sandford Commander John Cyril Edmondson, 2nd Baron Sandford, DSC (22 December 1920 – 13 January 2009) was a decorated Royal Navy officer, Church of England clergyman, conservationist and Conservative politician. As a junior minister charged with a revi ...

(1920–2009) *James John Mowbray Edmondson, 3rd Baron Sandford (b. 1949) The

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

is the present holder's son the Hon. Devon John Edmondson (b. 1986)

Arms

Notes

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sandford Baronies in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Extinct baronies in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Noble titles created in 1891 Noble titles created in 1945 Noble titles created for UK MPs