The Present Holder of the Barony
The Much Hon Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon of Cononsyth, Baron of Cononsyth
Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon is the current holder of the Barony of Cononsyth and serves as contemporary custodian of a historic Scottish baronial dignity, documented in relation to the lands and records of Angus.
His work is principally concerned with preservation, research, documentary record, and the responsible continuation of the name and dignity of Cononsyth.
A Contemporary Custodianship
In the contemporary context, holding the Barony of Cononsyth no longer entails territorial authority, but instead carries a function of custodianship over history, memory, and identity. The dignity is treated as a subject of historical record, bringing with it an obligation to preserve, interpret, and present the evidence with accuracy and integrity.
Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon approaches the Barony of Cononsyth with an emphasis on respect for the historical record and a commitment to making that record accessible to a wider public. His work is directed toward identifying and collating surviving evidence, safeguarding the name, and situating the barony within the broader historical landscape of Scotland.
Research and Documentation
Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon undertakes ongoing research, preservation, and publication relating to the history of the Barony of Cononsyth. This programme of work includes the examination of family succession, past holders, estate and topographical references, cartographic material, charters, sasines, and subsequent documentary sources.
The objective of this work is not to romanticise or mythologise the barony, but to strengthen and clarify its public record through careful curation, explicit citation of sources, and responsible historical reconstruction grounded in the available evidence.
Principles of Custodianship
The present custodianship of the Barony of Cononsyth is guided by three principal commitments.
Preservation
To safeguard the name, dignity, and historical memory of Cononsyth for the benefit of future researchers and the wider public.
Research
To undertake sustained examination of the surviving evidence and to present the history of Cononsyth with care, restraint, and scholarly accuracy.
Continuity
To maintain the dignity in a contemporary, record-focused form, centred on documentation, identity, and public understanding rather than on obsolete territorial claims.
Biographical Context
Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon is the present holder of the territorial Barony of Cononsyth. His tenure represents the continuation of a lineage of custodianship extending from the medieval period into the modern era.
Outside the dignity itself, Afiléon is known for establishing Vinum Afiléon, a small independent wine house distinguished by its emphasis on narrative craftsmanship and symbolic continuity. Its inaugural release, Bourtree, reflects a deliberate engagement with regional identity and the cultural motifs associated with the barony.
Afiléon is also a father, a role that contributes to the long‑term, intergenerational perspective often associated with his wider creative and ceremonial undertakings. His custodianship is therefore situated not only within the historical record but within an ongoing familial and cultural continuum.
Other Historical Dignities
In addition to his custodianship of the Barony of Cononsyth, Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon holds the Lordship of the Manor of Westcott, an English manorial dignity documented in the relevant jurisdiction.
This dignity is distinct from the Scottish Barony of Cononsyth and is noted here solely as part of his wider historical, antiquarian, and custodial interests.
Name and Formal Style
For the purposes of this site and associated record, the present holder is formally styled as follows:
The Much Hon Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon of Cononsyth, Baron of Cononsyth
For abbreviated reference, the style Afiléon of Cononsyth, Baron of Cononsyth may also be used.
Statement of Purpose
The present holder has articulated his purpose in the following terms: “My purpose is to preserve the name and history of Cononsyth with dignity, care and honesty; to honour what survives in the record, and to continue the work of making that history known.” This statement serves as a guiding principle for the research and custodial activity associated with the barony.
Phillip R. D. W. Afiléon of Cononsyth
Continuing the Record
The documentation of Cononsyth is an ongoing process. As additional documents, references, and historical materials are identified and analysed, this site will continue to evolve as a public record of the barony, its families, its lands, and its present custodianship.
Barony of Cononsyth 