Burnham House

THE BARONS VENTRY WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY KERRY, WITH 93,629 ACRES

This noble family derives from a common ancestor with that of Molyneux, Earls of Sefton, namely, SIR RICHARD MOLYNEUX, Knight, of Sefton, Lancashire, from whom descended WILLIAM MOLYNS, of Burnham, Norfolk, descended from the ancient family of MOLYNS of Sandhill, Hampshire, itself a scion of the old baronial house of DE MOLEYNS OF HENLEY, whose heiress of line, ELEANOR MOLEYNS, married Sir Robert Hungerford, Knight.

Mr Molyns married firstly, the daughter and heir of William Montague; and secondly, Emily, daughter William Walrond, of Bovey, Devon, by whom he had a younger son,

RICHARD MOLEYNS or MOLINS, of Mitford, Norfolk, who wedded Jane, eldest daughter of Sir Alexander Culpeper, Knight, of Bedgebury, and was father of

COLONEL FREDERICK WILLIAM MULLINS (c1625-1712), MP for Dingle, 1692-3, and for Tralee, 1695-9, who settled in Ireland ca 1666, purchased estates in County Kerry, and named his seat there "Burnham," from that place in Norfolk wherein he was born.

Colonel Mullins wedded Jane, daughter and co-heir of the Very Rev John Eveleigh, Dean of Ross, of Blackhall and Coplands Meade, in the parish of St Giles's, Oxford, by Mildred, his wife, daughter of Thomas Caldwell, of Newbury, Berkshire, by Jane, his wife, youngest daughter of Michael Boyle, of London, sister of Richard Boyle, Lord Archbishop of Tuam, and of Michael Boyle, Lord Bishop of Waterford, and aunt of the Lord Primate, Michael Boyle.

He had issue,

FREDERICK;
Richard;
Edward;
Samuel.

The eldest son,

FREDERICK MULLINS (1663-95), wedded, in 1685, Martha, eldest daughter of Thomas Blennerhassett, and granddaughter maternally of Dermot, 5th Baron Inchiquin, and by her had issue, an only son,

WILLIAM MULLINS, of Burnham, County Kerry, who espoused, in 1716, Mary, daughter of George Rowan.

Mr Mullins died in 1761, and left, with a daughter, Anne, an only son,

THOMAS MULLINS (1736-1824) who was created a baronet, in 1797, designated of Burnham, County Kerry.

Sir Thomas was elevated to the peerage, in 1800, in the dignity of BARON VENTRY, of Ventry, County Kerry.

He wedded, in 1775, Elizabeth, daughter of Townsend Gunn, of Rattoo, in the same county, and had issue,

WILLIAM TOWNSEND, his successor;
Townsend, father of THOMAS TOWNSEND AREMBERG, 3rd Baron;
Thomas;
Richard;
Edward, a major in the army;
Frederick, in holy orders;
Theodora; Elizabeth; Arabella; Charlotte; Catherine; Helena Jane.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM TOWNSEND, 2nd Baron (1761-1827), who espoused firstly, in 1784, Sarah Anne, daughter of Sir Riggs Falkiner Bt, and had issue,

ANNA;
Elizabeth.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1790, Frances Elizabeth, only daughter of Isaac Sage, which marriage was dissolved, 1796; and thirdly, in 1797, Clara, daughter of Benjamin Jones, and had further issue,

THOMAS (1798-1817).

The 2nd Baron died without surviving male issue, when the honours devolved upon his nephew,

THOMAS TOWNSEND, 3rd Baron (1786-1868), who espoused, in 1821, Eliza Theodora, daughter of Sir John Blake Bt, and had issue,

DAYROLLES BLAKENEY, his successor;
Frederick William;
Edward Alured;
Denis John;
Christabella; Rose; Eliza; Helena Emily.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

DAYROLLES BLAKENEY, 4th Baron (1828-1914), DL, who married, in 1860, Harriet Elizabeth Frances, daughter of Andrew Wauchope, and had issue,

FREDERICK ROSSMORE WAUCHOPE, his successor;
ARTHUR WILLIAM, 6th Baron;
Edward Dayrolles;
Richard Andrew;
John Gilbert;
Mildred Rose Evelyn; Maud Helen; Frances Elizabeth Sarah; Hersey Alice.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

FREDERICK ROSSMORE WAUCHOPE, 5th Baron (1861-1923), DSO DL, who died unmarried, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,

ARTHUR WILLIAM, 6th Baron (1864-1936), of Burnham House, who wedded, in 1897, Evelyn Muriel Stuart, daughter of Lansdowne Daubeny, and had issue,

ARTHUR FREDERICK DAUBENEY OLAV, his successor;
Francis Alexander Innys;
Mary Helen.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR FREDERICK DAUBENEY OLAV, 7th Baron (1898-1987),

• Arthur Frederick Daubeney Olav Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 7th Baron (1898–1987)
• Andrew Harold Wesley Daubeney de Moleyns, 8th Baron (born 1943)

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, the Hon Francis Wesley Daubeney de Moleyns (b 1965).

BURNHAM HOUSE (or Manor), near Dingle, County Kerry, comprises a three-storey, seven bay Georgian block enlarged by the addition of two-storey wings, which were re-faced during the late 19th century.

The entrance front boasts engaged Doric columns which support sections of entablature and a steep pediment above a porte-cochère.

The roof is eaved on the centre and wings; while the centre has a modillion cornice.

The garden front has two-storey, rectangular projections in the centre; with three-sided bows at the ends of the wings.

Burnham House was sold to the Irish Land Commission in the 1920s and is now a girls' boarding school. 

Other former residence ~ Lindsay Hall, Branksome, Dorset.

First published in April, 2011.