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The ”’Barony of Balvill”’ (historically also spelt ”Baluill”, ”Balavil”, and ”Balwill”) is a [[Baronage of Scotland|Scottish feudal barony]] created at [[Holyrood Palace|Holyroodhouse]], by Crown charter on 5 August 1630 in favour of [[Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll|Archibald Campbell, Lord Lorne]], later 8th Earl and 1st Marquess of Argyll. The erection is recorded in the ”Register of the Great Seal of Scotland,”<ref name=”RMS1623″>”[[iarchive:registrummagnisi08scot/page/540/mode/2up|Registrum]] Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum”, vol. VIII (1620–1633), no. 1623, p. 541.</ref> and subsequently ratified by an act of the [[Parliament of Scotland]] in 1633.<ref name=”RPS1633″>”[http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1633/6/92 Records] of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707”, “Act in favour of Archibald Campbell, lord Lorne” (1633).</ref>

The ”’Barony of Balvill”’ (historically also spelt ”Baluill”, ”Balavil”, and ”Balwill”) is a [[Baronage of Scotland|Scottish feudal barony]] created at [[Holyrood Palace|Holyroodhouse]], by Crown charter on 5 August 1630 in favour of [[Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll|Archibald Campbell, Lord Lorne]], later 8th Earl and 1st Marquess of Argyll. The erection is recorded in the ”Register of the Great Seal of Scotland,”<ref name=”RMS1623″>”[[iarchive:registrummagnisi08scot/page/540/mode/2up|Registrum]] Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum”, vol. VIII (1620–1633), no. 1623, p. 541.</ref> and subsequently ratified by an act of the [[Parliament of Scotland]] in 1633.<ref name=”RPS1633″>”[http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1633/6/92 Records] of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707”, “Act in favour of Archibald Campbell, lord Lorne” (1633).</ref>

The 1630 charter erected into the barony, five [[Markland (Scots)|merklands]] of the lands of Baluill, together with the manor place designated as its principal messuage ([[Caput baroniae|caput]]). The lands incorporated into the erection comprised Wodend with its forest; Ballairdis Over and Nether with the millstream of Ballairdis; lying by annexation in the barony of Gleneglis, parish of [[Drymen]], sheriffdom of [[Perthshire|Perth]]; Calyemoir, the Ross, and Lurglorne; lying within the barony of Haldan, sheriffdom of Perth, the lands of Kepdowrie; and five merklands of Auchreg Over and Nether, together with the customary muir and moss rights pertaining to Auchreg within the lands of Letter and the barony of Ruskie. These lands, previously held by John Haldane of Gleneagles and resigned with the consent of his spouse Katharine Weymes, were incorporated by the Crown into “one barony of Baluill”, with the manor place of Baluill serving as its [[Caput baroniae|caput]].<ref name=”RMS1623″ />

The 1630 charter erected into the barony five [[Markland (Scots)|merklands]] of the lands of Baluill, together with the manor place designated as its principal messuage ([[Caput baroniae|caput]]). The lands comprised with its forest; Ballairdis Over and Nether with the millstream of Ballairdis lying by annexation in the barony of , parish of [[Drymen]], sheriffdom of [[Perthshire|Perth]]; Calyemoir, the Ross and Lurglorne within the barony of Haldan, sheriffdom of Perth the lands of Kepdowrie; and five merklands of Auchreg Over and Nether, with the customary muir and moss rights pertaining to Auchreg within the lands of Letter and the barony of Ruskie. These lands, previously held by John Haldane of Gleneagles and resigned with the consent of his spouse Katharine Weymes, were incorporated by the Crown into “one barony of Baluill”.<ref name=”RMS1623″ />

The same Crown charter also conveyed to [[Lord of Lorne|Lord Lorne]] a wider group of lands and island properties, including the Isle of [[Oronsay, Colonsay|Oronsay]], the [[Scottish coinage|16s 8d]] land of Garvalt in [[Colonsay]], and the 8s land of Stronane in Jura, together with mills, fishings and [[Teind|teinds]], as recorded in the same entry of the ”Register of the Great Seal of Scotland”.<ref name=”RMS1623″ /> These lands formed part of the broader territorial grant to [[Lord of Lorne|Lord Lorne]] but not incorporated within the erection of the Barony of Balvill.

The same Crown charter also conveyed to [[Lord of Lorne|Lord Lorne]] a wider group of lands and island properties, including the Isle of [[Oronsay, Colonsay|Oronsay]], the [[Scottish coinage|16s 8d]] land of Garvalt in [[Colonsay]], and the 8s land of Stronane in Jura, together with mills, fishings and [[Teind|teinds]], as recorded in the same entry of the ”Register of the Great Seal of Scotland”.<ref name=”RMS1623″ /> These lands formed part of the broader territorial grant to [[Lord of Lorne|Lord Lorne]] but not incorporated within the erection of the Barony of Balvill.

A disposition dated 11 August 1631 granted by William Stirling of Achyle to his son James Stirling and Margaret Haldan, his spouse, confirms the earlier transfers of the Balvill lands from John Haldane in 1629 and from Lord Lorne in 1630.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GD86/522: Disposition by William Stirling of Achyle (11 August 1631) |url=https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx?reference=GD86%2f522 |url-status=live |website=National Records of Scotland Online Catalogue}}</ref>

A disposition dated 11 August 1631 granted by William Stirling of Achyle to his son James Stirling and Margaret Haldan, his spouse, confirms the earlier transfers of the Balvill lands from John Haldane in 1629 and from Lord Lorne in 1630.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GD86/522: Disposition by William Stirling of Achyle (11 August 1631) |url=https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx?reference=GD86%2f522 |url-status=live |website=National Records of Scotland Online Catalogue}}</ref>

Following the [[Restoration (Scotland)|Restoration]], later seventeenth-century charters in the ”Register of the Great Seal” continued to record the barony within the wider Campbell estates. A charter of 1667 lists the lands and barony of Balvill among properties confirmed to the [[Duke of Argyll|Earl of Argyll]],<ref name=”RMS11-541″>”Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum”, vol. XI (1660–1668), no. 541.</ref> while a further charter in the same volume includes a detailed recital of associated estate lands, including the island properties, reflecting administrative practice rather than any alteration to the territorial definition contained in the 1630 erection charter.<ref name=”RMS11-1105″>”Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum”, vol. XI (1660–1668), no. 1105.</ref> These confirmations illustrate the Campbell family’s continued possession of the barony throughout the period.

Following the [[Restoration (Scotland)|Restoration]], later seventeenth-century charters in the ”Register of the Great Seal” continued to record the barony within the wider Campbell estates. A charter of 1667 lists the lands and barony of Balvill among properties confirmed to the [[Duke of Argyll|Earl of Argyll]],<ref name=”RMS11-541″>”Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum”, vol. XI (1660–1668), no. 541.</ref> while a further charter in the same volume includes a detailed recital of associated estate lands, including the island properties, reflecting administrative practice rather than any alteration to the territorial definition contained in the 1630 erection charter.<ref name=”RMS11-1105″>”Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum”, vol. XI (1660–1668), no. 1105.</ref> These confirmations illustrate the Campbell family’s continued possession of the barony throughout the period.

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Mark Richard Hopking is a British mariner and superyacht captain whose career has included two Antarctic seasons as captain of the environmental expedition yacht 2041. He began his maritime work with the John Ridgway Adventure School before moving into professional yachting, later serving as captain of the 78-metre motor yacht Hampshire II. He contributed published commentary on regulatory developments in the superyacht sector.

Hopking subsequently acted as Project Manager and Build Captain for the 74-metre Feadship yacht Sherpa, a project widely profiled within the superyacht industry and later the subject of a documentary in which he appears. His work has also featured in earlier broadcast documentaries, including ITV’s 1993 Cape Horn expedition film and Channel 4’s Cutting Edge.

He was granted arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon in 2018, registered a personal tartan in the Scottish Register of Tartans in 2019, and is the current holder of the Scottish feudal Barony of Balvill.

Early Life and Education

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Hopking was born in Colchester, England, and was educated initially at Nowton Court Preparatory School[1] near Bury St Edmunds. He later attended Fettes College in Edinburgh from 1984 to 1989. He studied at Plymouth Marjon University, then affiliated with the University of Exeter, and graduated in 1995 with a BA (Hons) Recreation and Community & Physical Recreation.

Hopking’s early involvement in maritime activities began in the early 1990s at the John Ridgway Adventure School in Ardmore, Sutherland.[2] The school operated English Rose VI, the yacht that had taken part in the 1977–78 Whitbread Round the World Race under the name Debenhams.[3][4] Hopking sailed as crew during seasonal expeditions.

During the winter intervals between expeditions, he assisted Rebecca Ridgway on her 1992–93 attempt to become the first woman to kayak around Cape Horn,[5][6] an expedition later broadcast as an ITV documentary in 1993.[7] Hopking appeared in the programme and is also mentioned in Ridgway’s published account of the venture, Something Amazing (1993).[8]

He also appeared in Exposure, a 1993 episode of Channel 4’s Cutting Edge documentary series directed by Sue Bourne, which followed a management group from Rockwater International undertaking training at the Ridgway School.[9]

From 1998 to 1999 Hopking worked as a yacht skipper with the Challenge Business, the organisers of the Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race. His role involved delivering training for prospective ocean-race crews, undertaking adventure-sailing programmes, and skippering corporate sailing events for the company. During this period his career and financial planning were profiled in The Daily Telegraph in a feature published in November 1998.[10]

In late 1999, Hopking became captain of the yacht 2041, the former Challenge Business prototype yacht acquired by environmentalist Robert Swan for an Antarctic awareness programme linked to the preservation of the Antarctic Treaty. He sailed the vessel from the United Kingdom to Antarctica and undertook two southern summer seasons (1999–2000 and 2000–01), operating along the Antarctic Peninsula and visiting sites including Deception Island, Port Lockroy, and the Russian research station Bellingshausen. The voyage and associated expeditions were later documented in Swan’s account, 2041: Voyage South, in which Hopking features prominently.[11]

After returning from Antarctica, Hopking moved into the superyacht sector in 2001, working as a yacht captain on large private vessels for ultra-high-net-worth clients. He holds an MCA Master Yachts 3000 GT certificate.

From September 2011 to October 2016 he served as captain of the 78-metre motor yacht Hampshire II. During his command Hopking contributed published expert commentary to two industry features in The Crew Report. In 2015 he was among the captains interviewed for a discussion on regulatory pressures titled “Are we over-regulated?”, offering observations from his operational experience.[12] In 2016 he contributed further comment to a reflective feature, “The good old days of yachting”, discussing changes within the superyacht sector over time.[13]

While serving as captain of Hampshire II, Hopking became involved in the development of the 74-metre Feadship yacht Sherpa, whose concept phase began in 2014. He joined the project full-time in October 2016 in a combined role as Project Manager and Build Captain. His responsibilities included contributing to the concept development and build specification, overseeing regulatory planning, and providing construction oversight at Feadship’s Royal Van Lent shipyard. He also assisted in contract negotiations and yard selection, and provided technical input into the naval architecture, exterior styling, interior development, and systems integration. Sherpa was delivered in 2018 and has been profiled extensively within the superyacht sector.[14][15]

A documentary covering the design and construction of the yacht, in which Hopking appears as a principal figure was later released.[16]

Heraldry and Tartan

[edit]

Full achievement of the arms of Mark Hopking (for accessibility)
The Arms of Mark Hopking, as granted by the Court of Lord Lyon (2018)

Hopking was granted arms by warrant of the Court of the Lord Lyon on 17 December 2018. The Letters Patent are recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland (93rd volume, p. 90).

The blazon granted is:[17]

Sable, on a chevron Or, between three ancient pistols, three roses Gules; on a chief Azure charged with a fillet Argent in the lower part, a lion rampant Ermine armed and langued Gules between two crosses pattée fitchée of the Second.

The crest:

A double-turreted tower in prospect Argent, masoned Sable, flammant, on a rock Proper

The motto:

Tantum Optimus Est

The Pennon:

120 centimetres in length, in two tracts of the livery colours Sable and Or, charged with the arms in the hoist and the motto counterchanged.

Hopking, M & Family personal tartan, SRT 12619.
Hopking personal tartan (SRT 12619), registered in the Scottish Register of Tartans.

Hopking registered a personal tartan titled “Hopking, M & Family (Personal)” with the Scottish Register of Tartans.[18]

The Register notes that the design is based on the Fettes College sett and incorporates colours derived from Hopking’s armorial bearings.

The Barony of Balvill (historically also spelt Baluill, Balavil, and Balwill) is a Scottish feudal barony created at Holyroodhouse, by Crown charter on 5 August 1630 in favour of Archibald Campbell, Lord Lorne, later 8th Earl and 1st Marquess of Argyll. The erection is recorded in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland,[19] and subsequently ratified by an act of the Parliament of Scotland in 1633.[20]

The 1630 charter erected into the barony five merklands of the lands of Baluill, together with the manor place designated as its principal messuage (caput). The lands so erected comprised Woodend with its forest; Ballairdis Over and Nether with the millstream of Ballairdis, lying by annexation in the barony of Gleneagles, parish of Drymen, sheriffdom of Perth; Calyemoir, the Ross and Lurglorne, within the barony of Haldan, sheriffdom of Perth; the lands of Kepdowrie; and five merklands of Auchreg Over and Nether, with the customary muir and moss rights pertaining to Auchreg within the lands of Letter and the barony of Ruskie. These lands, previously held by John Haldane of Gleneagles and resigned with the consent of his spouse Katharine Weymes, were incorporated by the Crown into “one barony of Baluill”.[19]

The same Crown charter also conveyed to Lord Lorne a wider group of lands and island properties, including the Isle of Oronsay, the 16s 8d land of Garvalt in Colonsay, and the 8s land of Stronane in Jura, together with mills, fishings and teinds, as recorded in the same entry of the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland.[19] These lands formed part of the broader territorial grant to Lord Lorne but not incorporated within the erection of the Barony of Balvill.

A disposition dated 11 August 1631 granted by William Stirling of Achyle to his son James Stirling and Margaret Haldan, his spouse, confirms the earlier transfers of the Balvill lands from John Haldane in 1629 and from Lord Lorne in 1630.[21]

Following the Restoration, later seventeenth-century charters in the Register of the Great Seal continued to record the barony within the wider Campbell estates. A charter of 1667 lists the lands and barony of Balvill among properties confirmed to the Earl of Argyll,[22] while a further charter in the same volume includes a detailed recital of associated estate lands, including the island properties, reflecting administrative practice rather than any alteration to the territorial definition contained in the 1630 erection charter.[23] These confirmations illustrate the Campbell family’s continued possession of the barony throughout the period.

Following the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, Scottish feudal baronies continue as incorporeal heritable property, transferable by assignation and recordable in the Scottish Barony Register.[24] The register is not publicly accessible. Debrett’s lists Hopking as the holder of the Scottish Feudal Barony of Balvill since 2025.[25]

Hopking resides in Edinburgh, Scotland. He maintains an active interest in Scottish heraldry and genealogy.

  1. ^ “Building History”, Nowton Court Village. Nowton Village Ltd. Retrieved 22 November 2025, from https://www.nowtonvillage.co.uk/building-history/
  2. ^ “Ridgway Adventure – School Trips and Summer Camps in Scotland”. Ridgway Adventure. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  3. ^ “Past Entrants – Whitbread Round the World Race (1977–78)”. Ocean Globe Race. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  4. ^ The Ocean Race (2022-08-06). Around the World with Ridgway: A film from the Whitbread Round the World Race 1977-78. Retrieved 2025-11-22 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Dunbabin, Bridget (29 October 1991). “Canoeists to tackle treacherous Cape”. East Anblian Daily Times. Suffolk, England. p. 15.
  6. ^ “BT staff in link with canoe expedition”. East Anglian Daily Times. Suffolk, England. 22 January 1992. p. 8.
  7. ^ Our World (2022-08-10). The Remarkable Story Of The First Woman To Round Cape Horn – ITV, 1993. Retrieved 2025-11-22 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Rebecca Ridgway, Something Amazing (Hodder & Stoughton, 1993). ISBN 0340574801.
  9. ^ “Exposure”. BFI – British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  10. ^ Talati, Smita (28 November 1998). “Set fair for an easy berth on the beach”. Cash Clinic. The Daily Telegraph. London. p. B14.
  11. ^ Robert Swan and Roger Mee, 2041: Voyage South (2041 Trust / JWP Ltd, 1999). ISBN 0952328275.
  12. ^ “Captains’ comments: Are we over-regulated?”, The Crew Report, Issue 76 (SuperyachtNews / The Superyacht Group, 2015). PDF available at https://media.superyachtnews.com/uploads/library/Crew/Documents/TCR%2076%20Captains%20comments.pdf. Includes contribution credited to “Captain Mark Hopking, M/Y Hampshire II”.
  13. ^ The Crew Report, Issue 77 (SuperyachtNews / The Superyacht Group, 2016), p. 19. “The good old days of yachting” – Captains’ Comments section. PDF available at https://www.superyachtnews.com/library/thecrewreport/opensource/pdf/77.
  14. ^ “Sherpa: all you need to know about Feadship’s new superyacht”. Superyacht Times. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ “Feadship launches 74m explorer ‘Sherpa’“. Superyacht News. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ The Making of a Dream on YouTube
  17. ^ Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland. Vol. 93. Edinburgh: Court of the Lord Lyon. p. 90.
  18. ^ Scottish Register of Tartans, “Hopking, M & Family (Personal)”, SRT No. 12619. Retrieved from https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=12619
  19. ^ a b c Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol. VIII (1620–1633), no. 1623, p. 541.
  20. ^ Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, “Act in favour of Archibald Campbell, lord Lorne” (1633).
  21. ^ “GD86/522: Disposition by William Stirling of Achyle (11 August 1631)”. National Records of Scotland Online Catalogue.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol. XI (1660–1668), no. 541.
  23. ^ Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol. XI (1660–1668), no. 1105.
  24. ^ A.D.M. Forte & Andrew Steven, Scots Property Law.
  25. ^ Debrett’s Scottish Feudal Barons, entry “Balvill”.

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