The Musgrave Connection

  Norwood Tower © 2011 Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland

It was assumed in 1934 that Norwood Tower, Strandtown, Belfast, or its dower house, Clonaver, would pass to Oscar Henderson when Miss Florence Elizabeth Henderson, his aunt, died.

However, she bequeathed both, together with a majority holding in Belfast News Letter shares, to Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bart, OBE, a distant cousin.

This was a bitter blow to Oscar, a distinguished naval officer, and his family.

They could do nothing about the houses, though they did succeed in buying back the News-Letter shares.

Commander Oscar Henderson DSO CVO CBE RN (1891-1969) served in a destroyer during the 1st World War. He was second in command of HMS Iris at the famous Battle of Zeebrugge, in 1918, when a British force blocked the Mole by sinking a ship across the entrance.

Commander Henderson took command when the ship's captain was killed. He was awarded the DSO for his part in this epic.

He became Comptroller and Private Secretary to the 3rd Duke of Abercorn, 1st Governor of Northern Ireland; and was awarded a CVO and CBE for his services. 

Commander Henderson was the father of Bill and Brum Henderson.

Since the James Henderson (b 1797) was Maria Barker's (née Henderson) father; and the aforesaid James Henderson was Florence Elizabeth Henderson's grandfather; it seems reasonable to conclude that James Henderson was Sir Christopher Musgrave's great-grandfather.

Therefore, Sir Christopher Musgrave was Florence Elizabeth Henderson's first cousin twice removed.

Miss Henderson bequeathed Norwood Tower to Sir Christopher Musgrave, whose grandmother was Maria Henderson:

Henderson, Florence Elizabeth of Norwood Tower Strandtown Belfast spinster died 24 March 1934 Probate Belfast 22 February to sir Christopher Norman Musgrave baronet and John Johnson solicitor. Effects £11027 11s [£615,000 in today's money].

Maria Barker (née Henderson) was, therefore, Florence Elizabeth Henderson's aunt, since James Henderson (Maria's father) was Florence's grandfather.

Maria Henderson (1839-1905) was the tenth child of James Henderson (1797-1863) and Anne Peacock, and she was born on the 26th December, 1839.

Maria lived with her brother, James Alexander Henderson, at Norwood Tower and she taught his younger children (most likely including Florence, the youngest).

This was where she met her future husband, Frank Const Barker. 

Frank Barker was one of James Alexander Henderson's business friends. All the Barker family used the middle name Const after a Mr Const of Piccadilly, London. Mr Const was a wealthy business friend of Frank's father, Richard Barker, and when he died he left the family a large sum of money.

Maria Henderson and Frank Barker were married on the 15th September, 1862, and lived at Sorrento House, Dalkey, County Dublin.

They had eight children, of whom their third child was Kathleen Const Barker who married James Musgrave and had four children.

The first child was (Sir) Christopher Norman Musgrave, later 6th Baronet (1892-1956).

First published in May, 2011.

7th Bishop of Down & Dromore

The House of Bishops of the Church of Ireland has approved the appointment of the Venerable David Alexander McClay, Archdeacon of Down, as Bishop-designate in succession to the Right Reverend Harold Miller, who announced his decision to retire on the 20th June, 2019.

David was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was ordained in 1988.

He was appointed to the curacy of Magheralin, and thereafter was incumbent of Kilkeel and Willowfield.

In December, 2016, David was appointed to the archdeaconry of Down.

His appointment as Bishop-designate of the United Dioceses of Down and Dromore was confirmed on the 4th November, 2019.

Wooster Advice

From Right Ho, Jeeves, written in 1934 by Sir PG Wodehouse.

Bertie Wooster hailed the spiking of Gussie Fink-Nottle's orange-juice with gin:-

"...it just shows, what any member of Parliament will tell you, that if you want real oratory, the preliminary noggin is essential. Unless pie-eyed, you cannot hope to grip."

Dumfries House Book

I was at home one day in March, 2014, when, somewhat unexpectedly, a postman arrived with a large parcel.

He handed me the package and I almost immediately recognized the hand-writing of an old school pal who works at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).

He knows how keen I am about heritage and country houses.

To my delight, the parcel contained a hard-back copy of Dumfries House.

In this landmark book, the author, Simon Green, draws on previously unpublished documents from the extensive archives of the Bute family, who lived in the house from the early 19th century until the death of Lady Bute in 1993.

There is a wealth of photographs, plans and drawings from the National Trust for Scotland and the RCAHMS.

Exploring the people and the ideas behind a unique building, 'Dumfries House' is the story of the survival of a treasured eighteenth century family residence.

First published in March, 2014.

6th Duke of Westminster, 1951-2016

GERALD, 6TH DUKE OF WESTMINSTER, WAS BORN AT OMAGH, COUNTY TYRONE, ON THE 22ND DECEMBER, 1951

The Most Noble Gerald Cavendish Duke of Westminster, KG CB CVO OBE TD DL, had strong, tangible and affectionate connections with Northern Ireland.

His Grace's father Robert, the 5th Duke, lived at Ely Lodge in County Fermanagh.

His mother Viola was Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh.

In February, 2014, The Prince of Wales, through The Prince’s Countryside Fund, announced that £50,000 would be donated from its emergency fund to help farmers and rural communities in Somerset. The Duke of Westminster generously confirmed he would personally match the funding and donate an additional £50,000 taking the total available to £100,000.

Gerald Grosvenor was born at Omagh, County Tyrone, on the 22nd December, 1951.

He had the following honours:

• Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
  Companion of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
• Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 

His Grace was awarded the Territorial Decoration, having served as a major-general in the TA; and was a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire.

The Duke spent his childhood at Ely Lodge Estate, an idyllic demesne in County Fermanagh on the edge of Lower Lough Erne, surrounded by forest and woodland.

He was styled Gerald, Earl Grosvenor, between 1967-79.

The Westminster family had an absolutely beautiful, classic, wooden motor yacht which they kept at Ely Lodge, called Trasna.

It was the finest vessel I'd ever seen on Lough Erne, being about fifty feet in length and it held sixteen persons comfortably.

Trasna sported a splendid mascot on her bow: a golden sheaf of wheat (or corn).

When the present 6th Duke moved permanently to his family seat at Eaton Hall in Cheshire, Trasna was acquired by the National Trust briefly; whilst moored at the boat-house on Crom Estate. I've sailed on her several times.

Trasna now belongs to the Duke of Abercorn and is based at Belle Isle, County Fermanagh.

First published October, 2009.

Cave Bovem!

I was walking recently in a country estate, through woodland, and encountered an obstacle en route, viz. a company of archers practicing their sport.

One of the archers advised me to divert my course lest I had a suit of armour, to my amusement.

Accordingly I took a left turn into a large, open field

A little further on I encountered a herd of cattle in the distance.

Pausing and cogitating, I deemed it best to alert them to my presence so I clapped and whistled.

This only seemed to arouse their curiosity, and the leader of the pack came towards me.

The rest followed.

I decided to retreat, though they continued their pursuit.

As I quickened my pace, they matched my pace.

I darted into the woods, though a small gap where there was a holly bush, thinking they stop following me.

To my horror they chased me.

These cows must have thought instinctively that I was their feeder, though the experience was quite alarming.

Eventually the leader simply passed me by, and the rest followed.

An acquaintance related his worst experience with a bull.

He was shooting with a friend  at a marsh in County Down and, as they walked down a field the bull ran up and down the hedge trumpeting.

They quickened their pace,  but to their horror saw it break through the hedge above them.

My acquaintance used to be pretty nifty and took off for the river, running into the marsh, intending to run into it.

As he did so, he was stunned to see his companion - a quite unathletic chap, fly past him.

He threw a brand new £4,000 gun (now about £15,000) over the river and made a fantastic leap of over 14 feet over it.

The steer thankfully skidded to a halt at the river's edge.

The companion tried to replicate the jump on dry land, and the best he could leap in his shooting gear was 8-9 feet. 

Fear had obviously lent him wings.

The gun fortunately just fell in the mud.