Thursday 26 January 2023

Glyde Court

THE FOSTER BARONETS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LOUTH, WITH 3,442 ACRES

JOHN FOSTER (1665-1747), of Dunleer, County Louth, Mayor of Dunleer, married, in 1704, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of William Fortescue, of Newrath, County Louth, and had issue,
Anthony (1705-79), ancestor of Lord Oriel;
THOMAS, of whom presently;
John William, MP, of Dunleer;
Margaret; Alice; Charlotte.
The second son,

THE REV DR THOMAS FOSTER (1709-84), Rector of Dunleer, wedded, in 1740, Dorothy, daughter of William Burgh, of Birt, County Kildare, and had issue, an only child,

JOHN THOMAS FOSTER (1747-96), of Dunleer, MP for Dunleer, 1776-83, who espoused, in 1776, the Lady Elizabeth Hervey, daughter of Frederick, 4th Earl of Bristol and Lord Bishop of Derry, and had issue,
Frederick Thomas, born 1777;
AUGUSTUS JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Elizabeth.
His younger son, 

THE RT HON SIR AUGUSTUS VERE FOSTER GCH (1780-1848), of Stonehouse, County Louth, married, in 1815, Albina Jane, daughter of the Hon George Vere Hobart, and had issue,
FREDERICK GEORGE, his successor;
CAVENDISH HERVEY, 3rd Baronet;
Vere Henry Lewis.

Mr Foster was knighted 1825 for his diplomatic services (which were not particularly distinguished, since his manners were not conciliating).

Sir Augustus was created a baronet in 1831, designated of Glyde Court, County Louth.

The influence of his stepfather William, 5th Duke of Devonshire, was exercised at the instance of his mother, the Duke's second wife.

The 1st Baronet, who committed suicide, was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR FREDERICK GEORGE FOSTER, 2nd Baronet (1816-1857), who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his next brother,

THE REV SIR CAVENDISH HERVEY FOSTER, 3rd Baronet (1817-1890), who married, in 1844, Isabella, daughter of the Rev John Todd, and had issue,
JOHN FREDERICK, his successor;
Hervey;
Jane Vere.
Sir Cavendish was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR AUGUSTUS VERE FOSTER, 4th Baronet (1873-1947), JP DL, Captain, Norfolk Yeomanry, who married, in 1894, Charlotte Philippa Marion, daughter of the Rev Henry Edward Browne ffolkes, and had issue,
ANTHONY VERE (1908-34);
Philippa Eugenie Vere; Dorothy Elizabeth Charlotte Vere.
The baronetcy became extinct in 1947 following the decease of the 4th and last Baronet.


GLYDE COURT, near Tallanstown, County Louth, was a late 18th century house with a long elevation, remodelled in the 19th century in Jacobean style.

The long elevation had curvilinear gables and two curved bows.


The main entrance was at one end of the house, where there was a shorter front with two gabled projections joined by an arcaded cloister.


The last baronet to live at Glyde Court, Sir Augustus, features in a romantic Edwardian family portrait by Sir William Orpen KBE, on display at the National Gallery of Ireland.

First published in April, 2013.

6 comments :

Northern Scrivener said...

One of this family was Vere Foster the educationalist.

Anonymous said...

According to Debrett´s Peerage & Baronetage (1980 edition), Glyde Court was lived in as late as 1979 by Mrs Dorothy Elizabeth Charlotte Vere May, née Foster, the surviving daughter of Sir Augustus Vere Foster, 4th and last Baronet. She was married to Lt-Col. Arthur Charles William May, a kinsman of the Earl of Ellesmere, who was apparently living in 1979. The couple was childless. The only now living Foster relatives that I know of are the several descendants of the sister of the 4th Baronet, who according to Debrett´s was still living in 1979.

Anonymous said...

There appears to be no explanation as to how or why the house fell into such rapid and total dereliction within a relatively short space of time. There is no information and no mention of what must have been a considerable amount of "good" furniture which must have been sold. Does anyone know why? Someone must have inherited the estate.

EVWA said...

My English great-grandmother, Eliza Champness, and her sister Rosetta Champness were maids at Glyde Court in the latter part of the 19th century. Eliza was sent home to Essex in disgrace and gave birth to my grandfather, Andrew Henry Champness, who was brought up in London. In the 1960s I visited Glyde Court with my parents and met Mrs May and her husband who were living in the servants' quarters. The rest of the house was closed up. I went again with my husband in 2004, but the road was closed. Rumour has it that the younger son of the house may have been my great-grandfather, but who knows. Apparently, he died in a riding accident.

Sylvia said...

There were 4 daughters of John Foster, 1665-1747 & Elizabeth Fortescue. The one who has been left out was Rhoda, 1720-1788 who married Roger Anketell, 1715-1782 of Dernamuck, Co. Monaghan. They had a numerous family: Rev. John, 1744-1824, William, 1751-1828, Oliver, 1756-1835, Thomas, 1758, Roger, 1762-1839 & 3 daughters, Mary, Matilda & Rhoda. The Anketells were buried at Mount Errigal Cemetery.

Regards, Sylvia

Andrew said...

Anna Wintour, the fashion editor, is a granddaughter of Alice Foster, 4th baronets sister.