Thursday 14 March 2024

Ballywhite House

THE RT HON WILLIAM BROWNLOW (1726-94), of Lurgan, MP for Armagh County, 1753-94, married firstly, in 1754, Judith Letitia, eldest daughter of the Very Rev Charles Meredyth, Dean of Ardfert, and had issue,
WILLIAM, his heir;
CHARLES, heir to his brother.
He wedded secondly, in 1765, Catherine, daughter of Roger Hall, of Mount Hall, County Down, and had further issue,
James (1772-1832);
FRANCIS, of whom hereafter;
Catherine, m, in 1783, M Forde, of Seaforde;
Isabella, m, in 1796, Richard, 4th Viscount Powerscourt;
Elizabeth, m, in 1791, John, 4th Earl of Darnley;
Mary Anne, died unmarried 1791;
Frances Letitia, m, in 1800, John, 2nd Viscount de Vesci;
Selina; Louisa.
Mr Brownlow's youngest son,

THE REV FRANCIS BROWNLOW (1779-1847), Rector of Cumber Upper, County Londonderry, espoused, in 1799, the Lady Catherine Brabazon, daughter of Anthony, 8th Earl of Meath, and had issue,
William, ancestor of the BARONS LURGAN;
John (Very Rev), Dean of Clonmacnoise, 1862-82;
JAMES, of whom we treat;
Anne Julia; Isabella Elizabeth; Martha Grace; Mary; Catherine Cecilia.
The youngest son,

JAMES BROWNLOW (1808-96), married, in 1849, Maria Harriet, daughter of General Rainey, and had issue,
WILLIAM CLAUDE BRABAZON, his heir;
Charles James Rainey;
Maurice FitzGerald;
Harold Arthur (Rev);
Catherine Frances; Caroline Grey; Maria Isabella; Emily Louisa; Margaret Ethel de Vesci; Esme Bligh.
Mr Brownlow was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM CLAUDE BRABAZON BROWNLOW JP (1850-1914), of Coolderry, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, who wedded, in 1882, Janet Georgina, daughter of Robert Orme, and had issue,
GUY JAMES, his heir;
Andrew L'Estrange;
Gwendolyn Sydney; Eileen Anne; Marjorie; Geraldine Maria; Nina Emily.
The elder son,

COLONEL GUY JAMES BROWNLOW DSO DL (1883-1960), of Hays, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and Ballywhite, County Down, High Sheriff of County Down, 1945, wedded, in 1920, Elinor Hope Georgina, daughter of Colonel George John Scott, and had issue,
WILLIAM STEPHEN, his heir;
James Christy, of BALLYDUGAN HOUSE; High Sheriff of Co Down, 1971;
Anne.
Colonel Brownlow was succeeded by his elder son,

COLONEL WILLIAM STEPHEN BROWNLOW JP (1921-98), of Ballywhite, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, 1990-96, High Sheriff of County Down, 1959, who married, in 1961, Eveleigh Finola Margaret, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel George William Panter, and had issue,
JAMES GEORGE CHRISTY;
Camilla Jane; Melissa Anne.
Ballywhite House (Image: Davina Jones/ Parallel Lives)

BALLYWHITE HOUSE is situated at Ballywhite Bay, about two miles north-west of Portaferry, County Down.

This is a Georgian house comprising two storeys with gable.

It was extended and enhanced in the Italianate style about 1870 by its then owner, John Warnock, a Downpatrick solicitor, who also added a conservatory.

A substantial pedimented projection, similar to a wing, juts out from the centre of the entrance front, which has coupled Corinthian pilasters on the upper storey.

One of the gable ends has a single-storey bow; while the other end has a Victorian conservatory joined to a single-storey ballroom wing.

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This property was originally an 18th century farm-house owned by the McDonnell familu.

Isabella McDonnell lived there in 1838.

John Warnock (1811-91) purchased the property about 1861.

It was sold ca 1918 to the 3rd Baron Lurgan, and subsequently passed to his cousin, Guy James Brownlow.

Colonel Brownlow's eldest son, William Stephen Brownlow, inherited Ballywhite House on his father's decease.

Mr & Mrs Jamie Brownlow now live at Ballywhite.

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THE grounds of Ballywhite extend to about 75 acres today

There were formerly two conservatories, one of which remains.

The site of the demolished conservatory has a garden at the present time.

The house is in a fine position, with views to Strangford Lough.

The grounds fall away to the south west and the area near the house is maintained as an ornamental garden.

There are other cultivated compartments around the house.

Attractive trees and shrubs are planted informally, but the arrangement of the grounds is organized into specific areas, including a paddock and managed woodland beyond the garden.

There is a cultivated productive garden enclosed by a laurel hedge, with a wooden nectarine house.

First published in February, 2014.

3 comments :

Ken Moreland said...

Great post. I grew up on the neighbouring Nugent estate and travelled regularly through the Brownlow property down to the sea. I have a vague recollection of the old Colonel James Brownlow (I was very young), knew Colonel William Brownlow to speak to (and see his amphicar) and I remember Jamie as a little boy. Well respected in Portaferry.

Michael P. said...

I was born in Inchmurren a house just next to Ballywhite House. At the time (1946) Col Guy Brownlow was Deputy Lieutenant of County Down. He had a Bentley which my father drove him around in. When I was about three months old I was seriously ill and was driven to Newtonards hospital in the Bentley. Obviously, I survived.

Michael Pickett.

Andrew said...

I met Lady Monteagle at an auction in Carrick on Suir. Lady M was sister to Colonel Brownlow. The Monteagles were great characters, there was a lot of affection for them.