House of Canning

The name of CANNING is derived from the Manor of Bishops Cannings, in Wiltshire, where the family was originally seated, and where the senior line continued until it terminated in co-heiresses in the time of HENRY VII.

The first on record is RICHARD DE KANYNGES, who filled the office of Priest at Little Cheverell in 1299; another is John de Canynges, who became Abbot of the Monastery of Abingdon, 1322, his elevation being confirmed by EDWARD II; and the next is a younger son,

ROBERT CANYNGES, who settled in Bristol, and who founded a branch which became the most eminent family of that city during the 14th and 15th centuries. He first appears as an eminent merchant in 1322.

Robert Canynges was father of

WILLIAM CANYNGES represented Bristol in several successive parliaments, and was six times Mayor between 1360 and 1390.

He died in 1396, leaving, with other issue,

JOHN CANYNGES, his son and heir, MP for Bristol and also, in 1392 and 1398, Mayor.

This John Canynges died in 1405, leaving three sons and three daughters, all then under age: Thomas, his second son, was Lord Mayor of London, 1456-7; and William, his third son, was the celebrated Mayor of Bristol.

JOHN CANNINGES, the eldest son of John, was the father of THOMAS CANNINGES, who acquired the estate of Foxcote, by his marriage with Agnes, eldest daughter and co-heir of John Salmon.

Richard Canning, of Foxcote, the son and heir of Thomas and Agnes, was the grandfather of

RICHARD CANNINGE, of Foxcote, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Petty, of Ilmington, and had, with several other children, RICHARD, his heir; and GEORGE, ancestor of the BARONS GARVAGH and of the EARL CANNING.

The branch, of which the Barons Garvagh are members, removed into Ulster in the reign of ELIZABETH I, when

GEORGE CANNING (1565-1646), of Barton, Warwickshire (a military officer, it was presumed), youngest son of Richard Canning, of Foxcote, Warwickshire, agent of the Ironmongers' Company of London, married Anne, daughter of Gilbert Walker, and had issue,

Paul;
WILLIAM, of whom we treat;
Robert;
Edward (Rev);
Mary; Anne; Jane; Frances; Elizabeth.

Mr Canning obtained a grant of the manor of Garvagh, County Londonderry, from ELIZABETH I, and settled there.

He was succeeded by his second son,

WILLIAM CANNING (1593-1641), of Garvagh, who was succeeded by his son,

GEORGE CANNING JP, who espoused, in 1667, Mary Stepney, and had issue,

GEORGE CANNING (c1669-1711), of Garvagh, Lieutenant-Colonel, Londonderry Militia, who married Abigail, fourth daughter of Robert Stratford, MP for County Wicklow, 1662, and aunt of JOHN, 1ST EARL OF ALDBOROUGH.

Mr Cannning was succeeded by his only son,

STRATFORD CANNING (1703-75), of Garvagh, who married Letitia, daughter and heir of Obadiah Newburgh, of County Cavan, and had issue, 

GEORGE, father of RT HON GEORGE CANNING, PRIME MINISTER;
PAUL, who succeeded at Garvagh;
Stratford, a London merchant; father of STRATFORD CANNING;
Mary; Jane Elizabeth; Frances; Letitia.

Mr Canning's second son,

PAUL CANNING (c1736-1784), of Garvagh, Colonel, Londonderry Militia, espoused, in 1776, Jane Charlotte, daughter of Conway Spencer, of County Antrim, and was succeeded by his only son,

GEORGE CANNING (1778-1840), who was elevated to the peerage, in 1818, in the dignity of BARON GARVAGH, of Garvagh, County Londonderry.

His lordship wedded, in 1803, Georgiana (d 1804), fourth daughter of Robert, 1st Marquess of Londonderry, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, in 1824, Rosabelle Charlotte Isabella, daughter of Henry Bonham MP, of Titness Park, Berkshire, and had issue,

CHARLES HENRY SPENCER GEORGE, his successor;
Albert Stratford George;
Emmaline Rosabelle.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES HENRY SPENCER GEORGE, 2nd Baron (1826-71), JP DL, who wedded, in 1851, Cecelia Susannah, daughter of John Ruggles-Brise, and had issue,

CHARLES JOHN SPENCER GEORGE, his successor;
Conway Stratford George.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

CHARLES JOHN SPENCER GEORGE, 3rd Baron (1852-1915), JP DL, who espoused, in 1877, Florence Alice, daughter of Baron Joseph de Bretton, and had issue, an only child,

LEOPOLD ERNEST STRATFORD GEORGE, 4th Baron (1878-1956), JP DL, Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps, who married firstly, in 1904, Caroline Grace Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Ernest Rube; and secondly, in 1919, Dora, daughter of Bayley Parker, by whom he had issue,

ALEXANDER LEOPOLD IVOR GEORGE, his successor;
Victor Stratford de Redcliffe;
Dora Valerie Patricia; Daphne Rose.

4th Baron Garvagh,
Photo Credit: RAF Museum

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

(ALEXANDER LEOPOLD IVOR) GEORGE, 5th Baron (1920-2013), 

• (Alexander Leopold Ivor) George Canning, 5th Baron (1920-2013);
• Spencer George Stratford de Redcliffe Canning, 6th Baron (b 1953).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon Stratford George Edward de Redcliffe Canning (b 1990).

© Garvagh House, The Sam Henry Collection, courtesy of the Craig Family

GARVAGH HOUSE is claimed to have been first built in the early 17th century and enlarged twice since then.

The house eventually evolved a late Georgian appearance, with a front of three bays between two, three-sided bows and an eaved roof on a bracket cornice.

There was a long enfilade of reception rooms, one having a modillion cornice and a Georgian bow; another with a broken pediment of a 19th century appearance over its door-case.

Garvagh Coat-of-arms

When the Canning family sold Garvagh House, it was used as flats for single female teachers, and some classrooms.

The house had fallen into disrepair over the years, suffering from wet and dry rot, and vermin infestation.

Garvagh House (taken from an auction catalogue of 1921)

County Londonderry Education Committee decided to demolish Garvagh House and to build a new primary school on its site.

This was duly done and Garvagh Primary School opened in 1965.

The village of Garvagh is unique in that, unlike other villages in the county, it was not developed by the Irish Society, nor was it an ancient settlement.

It is, in fact, a private plantation; that is, a town set up over a period of nearly 300 years and developed by the local Lords of the Manor, the Cannings.

The family association with the Garvagh area began in 1615 when George Canning, of Foxcote in Warwickshire, was appointed the Agent for the Ironmongers' Company of London, a company actively involved in JAMES I's Plantation of Ulster. 

To begin with, the townland of Garvagh was not part of the Ulster Plantation, as it had been granted to Manus O'Cahan, the local Irish chief, as a native freehold. After the Great Irish Rebellion of 1641 the situation changed, when O'Cahan joined forces with Sir Phelim Roe O'Neill in the insurrection and, as a result, he lost the freehold.

In 1649, one of George Canning's sons, Paul Canning, acquired the townland of Garvagh and began to develop it, by first building St Paul's parish church, which initially was intended as a private chapel for him and his family. 

The Canning family continued to play an active part in the development of Garvagh until 1920 when they sold the estate and moved to England, exactly three centuries after they had established the first village.

The Garvagh Estate formerly extended to 8,427 acres.

Garvagh lies between Coleraine and Maghera.

There is a museum and heritage centre in the village.

Covering over 550 acres, Garvagh Forest is situated on the Western outskirts of the village, with trees from over 80 years old to those only planted at the turn of the century.

The final unusual habitat in Garvagh Forest is the Garvagh Pyramid, created as a burial chamber for Lord Garvagh in the 19th Century.

The pyramid never fulfilled its purpose, and was sealed shut, with no incumbent, a number of years ago.

First published in February, 2010.