Wednesday 27 July 2022

The Richardson-Bunbury Baronets

About the time of the rebellion in Ireland, 1641, the RICHARDSONS, who were of Scotland, obtained the castle and estate of Augher, County Tyrone, by the intermarriage of ARCHIBALD RICHARDSON, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1680, MP for Augher, 1692-3, the representative of Sir James Richardson Bt, of Smeaton, Fife, with the daughter of Sir James Erskine. This gentleman neglecting, for some reason or other, to revive the baronetcy of Nova Scotia, to which he was heir, it fell into disuse, and so continues.

Mr Richardson was great-uncle of,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON (c1749-1830), of Augher, County Tyrone was the son of St George Richardson, MP for Augher, 1755-60, by his wife Eliza, eldest daughter of Benjamin Bunbury, of Mount William, County Tipperary.

Mr Richardson, MP for Augher, 1783-90, Ballyshannon, 1798-1801, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1789, was created a baronet in 1787, designated of Augher, County Tyrone.

He married firstly, in 1775, Eliza, daughter of the Rev Galbraith Richardson, and had issue,
JAMES MERVYN, his successor;
Anne; Letitia.
Sir William wedded secondly, Mary, daughter of William Newburgh, and had further issue,
Maria Isabella.
He was succeeded by his son and heir,

SIR JAMES MERVYN RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 2nd Baronet (1781-1851), of Castle Hill, County Tyrone, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1831, who espoused, in 1810, Margaret, daughter of John Corry Moutray, of Favour Royal, County Tyrone, and had issue,
JOHN, his successor;
William, great-grandfather of 5th Baronet;
Alfred;
Diana; Catherine; Caroline; Isabella; Mary; Emily; Letitia Augusta.
Sir James assumed, in 1822, the additional surname and arms of BUNBURY.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE REV SIR JOHN RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 3rd Baronet (1813-1909), who married, in 1838, Maria, daughter of William Anketell, of Anketell Grove, County Monaghan, and had issue,
Mervyn Matthew (1841-89), father of  4th Baronet;
Matilda Anne; Olivia Emma.
Sir John's eldest son predeceased him, and he was succeeded by his grandson,

SIR MERVYN WILLIAM RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 4th Baronet (1874-1952), who died unmarried, when the baronetcy devolved upon his cousin,

SIR (RICHARD DAVID) MICHAEL RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 5th Baronet (1927-2017), Lieutenant-Commander RN, who married, in 1961, Jane Louise, daughter of Colonel Alfred William Pulverman, and had issue,
Roger Michael (1962-94);
THOMAS WILLIAM.
Sir Michael was succeeded by his younger son,

SIR THOMAS WILLIAM RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 6th and present Baronet (1965-), a solicitor, who wedded, in 2001, Sally Ann, daughter of Rex Lofts, and has issue,
HARRY WILLIAM (b 2002);
Archie Oliver;
Mollie Olivia; Lily Charlotte.

SPUR ROYAL, or Augher Castle, near Augher, County Tyrone, is a square, three-storey, plantation castle with an unusual triangular tower in the centre of each of its sides.

It was built ca 1615 by Sir Thomas Ridgeway, afterwards Earl of Londonderry (1st creation).

Augher Castle was burnt in 1689; though it was restored about 1832 by Sir James Richardson-Bunbury, 2nd Baronet, who added two castellated wings; thus transforming the old castle into a late-Georgian mansion house.


The Gothic-Medieval-Revival style mansion is built onto the original tower house.

It comprises two storeys with corner bartizans, crenellated parapets and late medieval windows.

The central range is recessed with crenellated balconies over a central, tall, pointed, arch doorway.

The mansion house is set in it own grounds and perched at a height overlooking the Lake.


An estate stone wall abounds the village side, with two entrances to the estate.

On the north-east side of the lake sits the stable-yard with coach houses, a four bedroom cottage, and a large walled garden with hanger and further large storage barn.


The house commands a fine prospect over the garden and lake.

The estate manager’s house is accessed via a separate avenue and it sits amongst a copse of trees over looking the lake.

Spur Royal has passed through many hands in recent times and very little ground remains with the house.

During the Victorian era, the demesne comprised 635 acres.

A large portion of the present holding is taken up by the lake, which makes for a spectacular setting for the house.

It is surrounded by lawns and shelter trees.

Few mature trees remain of a once ‘tastefully wooded’ site.

The walled garden is concreted.

There is a gate lodge of ca 1840.

First published in May, 2012.

4 comments :

Jenni said...

Interesting. Thanks for your compilation. Were you aware the Richardson-Bunbury family had links with early white history in Western Australia, some of which exist today.
Sadly your links to the Wikipedia bios no longer work.

Anonymous said...

Why did the Richardson- Bunbury's go to Australia?

I would be fascinated to know.

Sylvia McClintock

Jenni said...

You Can read more of the family in Western Australia here
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ricksmith61/richardson/wc15/wc15_421.html

Unknown said...

Hi Jenni - have just come across your post from 1915. I’ve been researching my husband’s history. From Ancestry.com, it seems that his 4 times great grandfather was James Richardson, 1st Baronet, from Augher Castle in County Tyrone, Ireland. I’d be interested in finding the Richardson connection with Western Australia. We’re currently living in Perth but are from Queensland. Look forward to any info from you.
Regards
Shirley Jones