Manor homes, which date back to the late medieval period and continue to exist now, house the nobles or lords of the agricultural tract of land. Manors are often formed of contiguous areas of land. A manor is a type of settlement. The laborers would look after the land, and the lord of the land would usually have a manor home on that property or community. In England, the lord of the manor is usually the king or the queen, but other people can hold this position too. The person holding the position is called a lord because they hold the land from the king or queen. They make the laws for their village or town and can punish criminals by using their power over the men of the village. Lords may also have other titles such as Baron or Viscount. There are many different ways to become a lord of a manor including inheritance, marriage, and office. Some offices that can lead to becoming a lord include magistrate, mayor, and justice of the peace. In some cases, you can be given a manor as a reward for services to your country. Lords usually live in the manor home with their family but may have more than one home. The size of the estate will determine how large the house needs to be. Usually, there will be a great hall where meetings take place and a kitchen with serving girls who would prepare the food for the household. Other common features of a manor house include bedrooms, libraries, and gardens.