THE multi-million pound legacy of an 18th Century nobleman and churchman has been safeguarded for future generations by updating records going back hundreds of years.

The Land Registry has helped Lord Crewe's Charity with the registration of large swathes of land and property it owns across the North-East, including an entire village.

The trust was among hundreds of farmers and landowners who had not updated their registration, a system enabling the state to give them a proper guarantee of ownership.

Wealthy Nathaniel Lord Crewe, who was Bishop of Durham from 1674 to 1722, married into the Forster family, of Bamburgh Castle, in Northumberland, later buying their estates to keep them out of debtors' prison.

He left much of his property, including the south Northumberland village of Blanchland, in a charitable trust for the benefit of the clergy and for bursaries at Lincoln College, Oxford University, where he was rector.

The charity created Blanchland Village from the principal buildings of Blanchland Abbey.

Jon Williams, the charity's land agent, said: "The estate has 46 listed buildings, 12 scheduled ancient monuments and more than 4,000 acres of some of the best heather moorland habitat in the country - all of which is internationally designated for its conservation and landscape values.

"Registration of the land should aid our record-keeping and help secure it for future generations."

The Land Registry is running a campaign to encourage people and organisations to identify and register what they own.

Harry Charlton, register development manager, said: "Almost 40 per cent of land in Durham and across the North-East remains unregistered.

"We know that farmers and landowners live busy lives, but we hope they will take a little time to pause and think to secure their future. Land Registry is keen that farmers and other landowners have a proper guarantee of their land ownership."

Once registered, owners have the title to their land guaranteed by the state and buying and selling can be easier.

For information on the voluntary registration scheme, visit www.landregistry.gov.uk or call 0800-432-0432.