New Vice DL

APPOINTMENT OF VICE LORD-LIEUTENANT

Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, with the approval of Her Majesty The Queen, has been pleased to appoint:-

Professor Patrick Gerald McKenna DL
Portrush

County Antrim

Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the said County, his Commission bearing date the 22nd day of October, 2021.


Lord-Lieutenant of the County

Castle Leslie

THE LESLIE BARONETS, OF GLASLOUGH, WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MONAGHAN, WITH 13,674 ACRES

THE RIGHT REV DR JOHN LESLIE (1571-1671), Lord Bishop of Clogher, founder of the Glaslough branch of the Leslie family in Ireland, was the son of George Leslie, of Crichie, Aberdeenshire, second son of Walter Leslie, of Wardis, Falconer to JAMES VI, King of Scotland.

His lordship was born in northern Scotland, and educated first at Aberdeen and then at Oxford, of which he was Doctor of Divinity.

Of this distinguished divine, there is an interesting account in Sir James Ware's History of Ireland, edited by Harris. He was consecrated, in 1628, Bishop of the Isles in Scotland, whence he was translated to Raphoe in 1633, and thence translated to the see of Clogher, in 1661.

He died at Glaslough in 1671, aged 100 years, all but five weeks, leaving two sons, of whom John the elder, then 26 years of age, succeeded to the estate at his seat at Castle Leslie, otherwise Glaslough, in 1671.

The Bishop's second son and successor, 

THE REV CHARLES LESLIE (1650-1722), of Glaslough, County Monaghan, Chancellor of Connor Cathedral, 1686, married Jane, daughter of the Very Rev Richard Griffith, Dean of Ross, and had an only child,

ROBERT LESLIE, of Glaslough, who wedded, in 1730, Frances, daughter of Stephen Ludlow, and had issue,

CHARLES POWELL, his heir;
Annabella.

Mr Leslie died in 1743, and was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES POWELL LESLIE (1731-1800), of Glaslough, MP for Hillsborough, 1771-6, County Monaghan, 1783-1800, who married firstly, in 1765, Prudence Penelope, daughter of Arthur, 1st Viscount Dungannon, and had issue,

CHARLES POWELL, his heir;
John (Rt Rev), Lord Bishop of Elphin.

Mr Leslie wedded secondly, in 1785, Mary Anne, daughter of the Rev Joshua Tench, and had further issue,

Edward (Rev);
Emily Jane; Harriet; Mary Anne; Isabella Frances.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES POWELL LESLIE JP (1769-1831), Colonel, County Monaghan Militia, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1788, MP for County Monaghan, 1801-26, New Ross, 1830-1, who espoused firstly, Anne, daughter of the Rev Dudley Charles Ryder, and had issue, three daughters.

He married secondly, in 1819, Christiana, daughter of George Fosbery, and had further issue,

Charles Powell (1821-71);
JOHN, his heir;
Thomas Slingsby;
Prudentia Penelope; Christiana; Julia; Emily.

Colonel Leslie was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

JOHN LESLIE JP DL (1822-1916), of Glaslough, Captain, the Life Guards, MP for County Monaghan, 1871-80, and a noted painter.

Mr Leslie was created a baronet in 1876, designated of Glaslough, County Monaghan.

• Sir John Leslie, 1st Baronet (1822–1916);
• Sir John Leslie, 2nd Baronet (1857–1944);
• Sir John Randolph Leslie, 3rd Baronet (1885–1971);
• Sir John Norman Ide Leslie, 4th Baronet (1916-2016).

The heir is the present holder's nephew, Shaun Rudolf Christopher Leslie (b 1947).
The heir's heir is his brother, (Christopher) Mark Leslie (b 1952).

The 2nd Baronet was the last Lord-Lieutenant of County Monaghan, from 1921 until 1922.

Sir John Leslie, 4th Baronet (Image: Irish Independent Newspaper)

The Leslie Baronets owned a total of 44,481 acres of land, including 28,827 acres in County Donegal, 13,674 in County Monaghan, 1,103 in County Tyrone, and 877 in County Fermanagh.

CASTLE LESLIE, or Glaslough House, is adjacent to Glaslough, County Monaghan.

The mansion is fashioned in the Scottish-Baronial style, and was designed by Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon in 1870 for Sir John Leslie, 1st Baronet, MP.

It is situated where an earlier castle stood and never had a defensive purpose.

The house presents a rather dour and austere façade and is sited in such a way so as to mask the gardens to an approaching visitor.

To the rear of the house the gardens are relieved by a Renaissance-style cloister which links the main house to a single storey wing containing the library and billiards-room.

In contrast to the exterior designed by W H Lynn, the interior shows the hands of Lanyon and John Leslie himself through its strong Italian Renaissance feel.

The estate has three lakes: the largest, Glaslough, shares its name with the local village; Kilvey Lake is to the north; and, finally, Dream Lake, which features a crannóg.

The 1,000-acre estate comprises park land, meandering streams and several forests.

The house remains the seat of the Leslies and is run by Samantha (Sammy) Leslie.

Other family members still assert their influence on the running of the estate through a family trust.

The estate is open to paying guests, who can stay in the former Hunting Lodge, the main house itself, the recently constructed traditional-style holiday cottages located in the village or the fully restored and refitted "Old Stable Mews".

While restoration of the house and grounds is ongoing, many new features have been added to the estate, including a spa, a bar and restaurant, and a cookery school.

A new pavilion, adjacent to the long gallery of the main house, facilitates conferences, weddings and other large events.

Work on restoring the walled garden is also continuing, though for now they remain overgrown and locked.

2004 saw the return to the estate of the Equestrian Centre and Hunting Lodge which had been sold out of the family twenty years previously.

The estate now features miles of new horse trails and jumps, a state-of-the-art indoor horse arena and new stabling.

Walkers are also catered for with many trails upgraded and clearly signposted, a new estate map being available from the Hunting lodge.

2005 saw five new sub-ground floor bedrooms being added to the castle, the Desmond Leslie room, the Agnes Bernelle Room, the Helen Strong Room, Sir Jack's Room and the only room in the castle not named after a family member, The Calm Room.

Castle Leslie hit the headlines in 2002 when Sir Paul McCartney married Heather Mills in the family church located on the estate.

In 2008, the castle was the venue of the launch of RAPID IRELAND (Rescue and Preparedness in Disasters, Ireland), a sister rescue charity to RAPID UK.

The event was hosted by Sir Jack and the Lord Oranmore and Browne, and attended by a number of ambassadors and dignitaries, including HRH The Duke of Gloucester.

Throughout the years many famous faces have frequented the house, including the poet WB Yeats, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Patrick Moore and the several members of the Churchill family (to whom the Leslies are related). 

The Leslie Papers are deposited at PRONI.

Former London residence ~ 11 Stratford Place, Oxford Street.

First published in April, 2012.

Stackallan House

THE VISCOUNTS BOYNE OWNED 2,739 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY MEATH

This is a branch of the ducal house of ABERCORN; CLAUD HAMILTON, created 1st Lord Paisley, in 1587, being the common ancestor of both.

THE HON SIR FREDERICK HAMILTON (c1590-1647), son of Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley, by his wife, Margaret, daughter of George, 6th Lord Seton, married firstly, Sidney, daughter of Sir John Vaughan, and had issue,

James, of Manorhamilton;

Frederick, killed in action in Ireland;

GUSTAVUS, of whom we treat;

Christina, m Sir George Munro.

He wedded secondly, Agnes or Alice, daughter of Sir Robert Hepburn, of Alderstown, without further issue.

The youngest son,

GUSTAVUS HAMILTON (1642-1723), having abandoned the fortunes of JAMES II, to whom he was a privy counsellor, and distinguished himself as a military officer in the service of WILLIAM III, particularly at the battle of the Boyne, and the siege of Derry, was sworn of the Privy Council of the latter monarch, appointed Brigadier-General of his armies, and further rewarded with a grant of forfeited lands.

General Hamilton was MP for County Donegal, 1692-1713, and for Strabane, 1713-15.

In the reign of QUEEN ANNE he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-General; and by Her Majesty's successor, GEORGE I, elevated to the peerage, 1715, in the dignity of Baron Hamilton of Stackallan, County Meath.

His lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1717, as VISCOUNT BOYNE.

He married Elizabeth, second daughter of SIR HENRY BROOKE, Knight, of Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, and had issue,

FREDERICK (c1663-1715), father of GUSTAVUS, 2nd Viscount;
Gustavus, father of 3rd and 4th Viscounts;
Henry, MP for Donegal, 1725-43;
Elizabeth.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

2nd Viscount Boyne (Image: Scottish National Gallery)

GUSTAVUS, 2nd Viscount (1710-46); at whose decease, unmarried, the honours devolved upon his cousin,

FREDERICK, 3rd Viscount (1718-72), who wedded, in 1737, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Hodley; but dying without issue, he was succeeded by his brother,

RICHARD, 4th Viscount (1724-89), who espoused Georgiana, second daughter of William Bury, by whom he had issue, seventeen children, including,

GUSTAVUS, his successor;
Charles;
Richard;
Catherine; Mary; Barbara; Sophia; Anne.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GUSTAVUS, 5th Viscount (1749-1816), who married, in 1773, Martha Matilda, only daughter of Sir Quaile Somerville Bt, of Somerville, County Meath, and had issue,

GUSTAVUS, his successor;
Richard Somerville, Royal Navy;
Sarah; Georgiana.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GUSTAVUS, 6th Viscount (1777-1855), who wedded, in 1796, Harriet, only daughter of Benjamin Baugh, of Burwarton House, Shropshire, and had issue,

• Gustavus Frederick Hamilton-Russell, 7th Viscount (1798–1872);

• Gustavus Russell Hamilton-Russell, 8th Viscount (1830–1907);

• Gustavus William Hamilton-Russell, 9th Viscount (1864–1942);

• Gustavus Michael George Hamilton-Russell, 10th Viscount (1931–95);

• Gustavus Michael Stucley Hamilton-Russell, 11th Viscount (b 1965).

The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest twin son, the Hon Gustavus Archie Edward Hamilton-Russell (b 1999).

STACKALLAN HOUSE, near Navan, County Meath (originally called Boyne House) was built ca 1716 for Gustavus Hamilton, afterwards 1st Viscount Boyne.

It has been attributed to Colonel Thomas de Burgh, the military engineer, architect and MP.

It comprises three storeys and two adjoining pedimented fronts, one of nine bays and the other, seven bays.

The house has bold quoins and and distinctive window surrounds.

The roof is high-pitched with a modillion cornice.

The staircase is adorned with the Hamilton coat-of-arms surrounded by various military trophies, enclosed in a stucco wreath.

After the 2nd World War Stackallan became the residence of Mrs Anthony Burke, whose late husband was the grandson of Sir Henry Farnham Burke KCVO CB, Garter Principal King of Arms.

It is believed that Stackallan is now the property of Mr Martin Lawrence Naughton KBE.

In 2015 Mr Naughton, CBE, was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) for services to the Northern Ireland economy, art and philanthropic causes.

First published in April, 2018.  Boyne arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

The Black Causeway Incident

The Location of the Incident (Image: Timothy Ferres, 1989)

Castle Ward demesne, County Down, was as idyllic in the 1970s as it is today.

A little caravan site had been established at what used to be called The Screen, a heavily wooded part of the estate beside Strangford Bay.

Black Causeway House still stands at the bay, just outside the side entrance to the estate, beside a small bridge.

This house remains part of the estate, and used to be available for rent by National Trust members and staff.

In the 1970s, the Right Hon Walter Topping QC, Recorder of Belfast, and his family took Black Causeway House for a month every summer (I recall his Ford Granada parked outside).

The National Trust's custodian of Castle Ward in the 1970s was Lieutenant-Colonel Terence P Kyd or Kydd (who retired to Black Causeway House; followed by Mrs Kyd; followed by the Macks).

Beside this house there is a side entrance, with gate pillars, to the estate; in fact, according to a Georgian map, there used to be a gate lodge, too.

Click to Enlarge

The drive from this side entrance passes through beautiful shady woodland, skirting the bay, towards the grounds of Castle Ward House.

One day, forty summers ago, my mother and I were walking along this drive, just beyond the entrance gates.

On an elevated position to our left was the caravan site warden's cottage, a modest bungalow which stood some distance from the drive.

Another drive forked upwards towards the cottage.

At that time the warden divided his duties between the caravan park and the grounds on the estate.

Incidentally, the very first warden was Ernest Swail, an old man who told us that he was Lord Bangor's last boatman.

We were strolling along the drive, and as we passed the warden's cottage we heard a loud bang.

It had come from the cottage.

I was nearest to the cottage; my mother was beside me to my right.

I instantaneously heard and felt a whoosh of air on my left cheek.

We must have been quite stunned, because we stopped immediately and looked at each other.

Thereafter I looked up at the warden's cottage on the little hill above us.

The door was closed and there was no sign of anybody.

I am absolutely convinced that the shot came from the porch of the warden's cottage.

I don't remember whether I told mother about it all; however, we simply resumed our walk.

Gussie's Predicament

FROM STIFF UPPER LIP, JEEVES, BY SIR P G WODEHOUSE KBE

BERTIE: "But what's happened?"

I faltered, if faltered's the word.

JEEVES: "I regret to inform you, sir, that Miss Bassett has insisted on Mr Fink-Nottle [Gussie] adopting a vegetarian diet. His mood is understandably disgruntled and rebellious."

I tottered.

In my darkest hour I had never anticipated anything as bad as this.

You wouldn't think it to look at him, because he's small and shrimplike and never puts on weight, but Gussie loves food.

Watching him tucking into his rations at the Drones [Club], a tapeworm would raise its hat respectfully, knowing that it was in the presence of a master.

Cut him off, therefore, from the roasts and boileds and particularly from cold steak and kidney pie, a dish of which he is inordinately fond, and you turned him into something fit for treasons, strategems and spoils, as the fellow said.

First published in June, 2013.

Shaen Manor

THE CARTERS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MAYO, WITH 40,698 ACRES

THOMAS CARTER (c1650-1726), of Robertstown, County Meath, Sergeant-at-Arms, a gentleman whose services at the Revolution were very considerable, for he not only served WILLIAM III at the battle of the Boyne, but secured divers useful books and writings belonging to JAMES II and his secretaries when they were fleeing from the scene of the battle.

Mr Carter married firstly, Margaret Houghton, and had issue,

THOMAS;
Mary; Joanna.

He wedded secondly, in 1706, Isabella, daughter of Matthew, second son of Sir Matthew Boynton Bt, of Barmeston, Yorkshire, and widow of Wentworth, 4th Earl of Roscommon (the poet), but had no further issue.

His son and heir,

THE RT HON THOMAS CARTER (1690-1763), Master of the Rolls, Secretary of State, Privy Counsellor, 1732, of Robertstown and Rathnally, County Meath, espoused, in 1719, Mary, daughter and co-heiress (with her sister Frances) of Thomas Claxton, of Dublin, and had issue,

THOMAS, MP, of Old Leighlin;
HENRY BOYLE, of whom presently;
Frances; Susan; Mary.

The second son,

HENRY BOYLE CARTER, of Castlemartin, County Kildare, Captain, Colonel Irwin's Regiment, married, in 1750, Susanna, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Arthur Shaen Bt, of Kilmore, County Roscommon, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Arthur;
Henry;
Mary.

The eldest son,

THOMAS CARTER (1753-), of Castlemartin, wedded, in 1783, Catherine, daughter of the Hon John Butler (brother of Humphrey, 1st Earl of Lanesborough), and had issue,

WILLIAM HENRY, his heir;
John, Admiral RN;
Thomas;
Margaret.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM HENRY CARTER JP DL (1783-1859), of Castlemartin, County Kildare, High Sheriff of County Kildare, 1817, married firstly, in 1809, Elizabeth, third daughter of Francis Brooke, and sister of Sir Henry Brooke Bt, of Colebrooke, County Fermanagh, and had issue,

THOMAS SHAEN, his heir;
Susanna.

He espoused secondly, in 1846, Frances, sister of Robert, 5th Earl of Mayo, but by her, who predeceased him, had no issue.

The only son,

THOMAS SHAEN-CARTER JP (1813-75), of Watlington Park, Oxfordshire, married, in 1842, Maria Susan, only surviving child and heiress of Colonel John Henry Tilson, of Watlington Park (descended from the Rt Rev Henry Tilson, Lord Bishop of Elphin), and had issue,

HENRY TILSON SHAEN, of Watlington Park;
GEORGE TILSON SHAEN, of Shaen Manor;
Thomas Tilson Shaen;
Francis Tilson Shaen;
Ernest Tilson Shaen;
Basil Tilson Shaen (Rev), Rector of Watlington;
Gerald Tilson Shaen;
Lionel Tilson Shaen;
Augusta Susanna Shaen; Elizabeth Sophia Shaen.

Mr Shaen-Carter was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY TILSON SHAEN-CARTER (1846-82), of Watlington Park, who wedded, in 1867, Adelaide Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Denis Bingham JP, of Bingham Castle, County Mayo.

He dsp 1882, and was succeeded by his brother,

GEORGE TILSON SHAEN-CARTER JP (1848-1918), of Shaen Manor, Belmullet, County Mayo, who married firstly, in 1878, Eva Augusta, daughter of William John French, of Ardsallagh, County Meath, and had issue,

VICTOR TILSON ARTHUR SHAEN, his heir;
Ernest de Freyne Tilson Shaen;
Muriel Una Shaen.

He wedded secondly, in 1894, Grace (dsp 1908), eldest daughter of the Rev David Hughes; and thirdly, Edith Hamilton Urry.

His eldest son,

VICTOR ARTHUR TILSON SHAEN-CARTER JP (1879-1954), of Shaen Manor, and Fleet End, Berkshire, married, in 1909, Wilfreda Christine, daughter of Richard Davis; High Sheriff of County Mayo, 1922.

His only son,

GEOFFREY VICTOR TILSON SHAEN-CARTER, of Shaen Lodge, County Mayo, married firstly, in 1946, Monica Howard, daughter of Brigadier Bertie Howard Penn; and secondly, in 1968, Peggy Ismay Voake.

The Carter family of Castlemartin, County Kildare, inherited half the Shaen lands in the barony of Erris, county Mayo, through marriage with a Shaen heiress in 1750.

In the mid 1820s they founded the town of Belmullet and developed it with the assistance of John Crampton, their agent, and the engineer Patrick Knight.

Former town residence ~ 44 Tilsbury Road, Hove, Sussex.

Unfortunately I have so far been unable to find any history or images of Shaen Manor or Lodge.

The principal residence of the Carters for several generations was Castlemartin in County Kildare.

First published in March, 2012.

New County Londonderry DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint:-

Mrs Leona Mary Kane
Limavady

County Londonderry

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, her Commission bearing date, the 11th day of October, 2021.


Signed:

Lord Lieutenant of the County

11th October 2021

Barmeath Castle

THE BARONS BELLEW WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LOUTH, WITH 4,110 ACRES

This very ancient family, of Norman descent, is supposed to have been founded in England by a marshal in the army of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

It was amongst the first Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland, and it always enjoyed distinction and opulence.

Of this name, so greatly celebrated in the military annals of the middle ages, have been reckoned eighteen knights-banneret in succession; and the rolls of parliament, in both Ireland and England, produced several peers of the same distinguished lineage, whose honours, either through failure of issue, or attainder in the civil wars, have, in common with other redoubtable houses, become extinct.

A branch of the family accompanied Richard, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (commonly called Strongbow) into Ireland; and we find one of the name wedded to the daughter of Hugh De Lacy, the younger.

The Most Noble Order of the Garter being extended to Ireland, Richard Bellew was, in 1439, elected to that honour; and, in 1686, the Irish peerage of the family was revived by the title of Baron Bellew of Duleek.

In 1639,

SIR JOHN BELLEW (c1605-79), Knight, of Willistown, eldest son of Patrick Bellew, of Lisraney, County Louth, MP for County Louth, 1639, married Mary, daughter of Robert Dillon, of CLONBROCK, County Galway, and had issue,

PATRICK, his successor;
CHRISTOPHER, of Mount Bellew;
Mary.

The elder son,

PATRICK BELLEW, of Barmeath, or Bellew Mount, High Sheriff of County Louth, 1687, wedded Miss Barnewall, sister of Sir Patrick Barnewall Bt, of Crickstown Castle, and had five sons and six daughters.

He was created a baronet in 1688, designated of Barmeath, County Louth.

Sir Patrick died in 1716, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN BELLEW, 2nd Baronet (c1660-1734), of Barmeath, County Louth, and Castle Bellew, County Galway, who espoused firstly, in 1685, Mary, daughter of Edward Taylor, and eventually heiress of her brother, Nicholas Taylor, by whom he had three sons and an only daughter.

He married secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Curling, storekeeper of Londonderry during the memorable siege of that city, by whom he seven sons and three daughters.

Sir John was succeeded by his second and eldest surviving son,

SIR EDWARD BELLEW, 3rd Baronet (c1695-1741), who wedded Eleanor, eldest daughter and co-heir of Michael Moore, of Drogheda, and had issue,

Michael;
JOHN, his successor;
PATRICK, succeeded his brother.

Sir Edward was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JOHN BELLEW, 4th Baronet (1728-50), at whose decease (of smallpox) unmarried, the title devolved upon his brother,

SIR PATRICK BELLEW, 5th Baronet (c1735-95), who espoused Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Matthew Hore, of Shandon, County Waterford, and had, with two daughters, nine sons, of whom,

SIR EDWARD BELLEW, 6th Baronet (c1760-1827), married, in 1786, Mary Anne, daughter and sole heir of Richard Strange, of Rockwell Castle, County Kilkenny, and had issue,

THE RT HON SIR PATRICK BELLEW, 7th Baronet (1798-1866), High Sheriff of Louth, 1831, MP for Louth, 1831-37, Lord-Lieutenant of County Louth, 1831-66, Privy Counsellor, 1838, who wedded, in 1829, Anna Fermina, daughter of Admiral Don José Maria de-Mendoza-y-Rios, of Seville, Spain, and had issue,

EDWARD JOSEPH, his successor;
Frances Mary; Annabella Mary; Ismay Louisa Ursula; Fermina Maria Magdalena.

Sir Patrick was elevated to the peerage, in 1848, in the dignity of BARON BELLEW, of Barmeath, County Louth.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

EDWARD JOSEPH, 2nd Baron (1830-95), High Sheriff of County Louth, 1854, Major, the Louth Militia, who wedded, in 1853, Augusta Mary, only daughter and heiress of Colonel George Bryan MP, of Jenkinstown, County Kilkenny, and had issue,

Patrick George, 1853-74;
CHARLES BERTRAM, 3rd Baron;
GEORGE LEOPOLD BRYAN, 4th Baron;
Richard Eustace, father of 5th and 6th Barons.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

CHARLES BERTRAM, 3rd Baron (1855-1911), High Sheriff of County Louth, 1875, Lord-Lieutenant of County Louth, 1898-1911, who espoused, in 1883, Mildred Mary Josephine, eldest daughter of Sir Humphrey de Trafford Bt, of Trafford Park, Lancashire.

His lordship died without issue, when the family honours devolved upon his next brother,

GEORGE LEOPOLD BRYAN, 4th Baron (1857-1935), High Sheriff of County Louth, 1902, who married, in 1927, Elaine Carlisle, daughter of John Benjamin Leach, of Queenstown, South Africa, but died without issue and was succeeded by his nephew,

EDWARD HENRY, 5th Baron (1889-1975), MBE, who wedded, in 1912, Barbara Helen Mary, only daughter of Sir Henry Farnham Burke, KCVO, CB, Garter Principal King of Arms, but died without issue, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,

BRYAN BERTRAM, 6th Baron (1890-1981), MC, who wedded, in 1918, Jeannie Ellen Agnes, only daughter of James Orsby Jameson, of Dolland, Clonsilla, County Dublin, and had issue,

JAMES BRYAN, 7th Baron (1920-2010), Captain, Irish Guards, who espoused firstly, in 1942, Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the Rev Edward Eustace Hill, of Chestnuts, West Malling, Kent, and had issue,

BRYAN EDWARD, his successor;
Christopher James;
Angela Mary.

His lordship married secondly, in 1978, Gwendoline, daughter of Charles Redmond Clayton-Daubeny, of Bridgwater, Somerset, and Bihar, India.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

BRYAN EDWARD, 8th and present Baron (b 1943), Major (retired), Irish Guards, who wedded, in 1968, Rosemary Sarah, eldest daughter of Major Reginald Kilner Brasier Hitchcock, of Meers Court, Mayfield, Sussex, and had issue,

Patrick Edward, 1969-97;
ANTHONY RICHARD BROOKE, b 1972.

BARMEATH CASTLE, near Dunleer, is one of County Louth's most outstanding country houses.

The Bellews have lived here since the 12th century.

The Castle has manifested the changing fortunes of the family: The exuberantly crenellated façade of the 1830s and the designs of Thomas Smith contribute to its appeal and the survival of some of the earlier fabric contributes to its archaeological and historical merit.

Originally the site of a medieval castle of the Pale, it was enlarged in the mid-18th century into a Georgian residence.

At this stage it was a plain three storey, seven bay, double gable-ended house.

In 1839 it was enlarged and castellated to the designs of either John B Keane or Thomas Smith.

What was formerly the entrance front, gained two corner round towers and became the garden front.

To one end of the side elevation, a new entrance was created with a Romanesque arch and a square entrance tower, which acted as a porte-cochère.

On the other side, a long wing with turrets and castellation was added to create a courtyard.

The original Georgian façade is still very obvious, especially on the garden front (above).

The interior is intact Georgian with fine plasterwork and a staircase.

One of the upstairs rooms features Masonic emblems and was built for the purpose of lodge meetings.

The ornamental river, designed by Thomas Wright, along with the outbuildings and paired gate lodges, add to the overall original site context.

First published in October, 2012.

Belloc on Wodehouse

Hilaire Belloc

"In the course of a broadcast I gave, as the best writer of English now alive, Mr P G Wodehouse."

"His object is comedy in the most modern sense of that word: that is, his object is to present the laughable, and he does this with such mastery and skill that he nearly always approaches, and often reaches, perfection."

"There is yet another perfection which I note in him. It is one which most moderns [sic], I think, would not regard as a perfection at all."

"Well! I differ from them. It is the repeated use of one set of characters."

"The English country house and its setting, the aged absent-minded earl, the young ladies and gentlemen with too much leisure or too little, too much money, or (contrariwise) embarrassment - the club of the young, idle, and very-much-to-be-liked young Englishmen of the wealthier sort and the immortal, vivid glimpses of suburban life - all these form one set of "property" scenes..."

"... If in, say, fifty years Jeeves and any other of that great company - but in particular Jeeves - shall have faded, then what we shall have so long called England will no longer be."
  

HILAIRE BELLOC (1870-1953)

First published in July, 2011.

Gloucesters in NI

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are in Northern Ireland for a two-day visit.

Their Royal Highnesses are fulfilling a programme of engagements in the Province.

On Wednesday, the 6th October, His Royal Highness was greeted by Mr Walter Rader OBE DL, a Deputy Lieutenant of Belfast.

Thereafter HRH, Grand Prior of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem, was welcomed at Belfast Cathedral by Sir Nigel Hamilton KCB DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast.

His Royal Highness conducted an investiture of the Order, and installation of the new Knight Commander for the Commandery of Ards.

Her Royal Highness visited the Police Rehabilitation and Training Trust, Holywood, County Down, and was received by Dr Len O'Hagan CBE DL, a Deputy Lieutenant of County Down.

HRH, Chief Patron, afterwards visited Hope for Youth Northern Ireland, Finnebrogue House, near Downpatrick, County Down, and was received by Mr Noel Lamb DL, a Deputy Lieutenant of County Down.

Dromore Castle

THE WALLERS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LIMERICK, WITH 6,996 ACRES

The ancient family of WALLER derives from

ALURED DE WALLER, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, who died in 1183, and from whom lineally descended

DAVID DE WALLER, Master of the Rolls to EDWARD III for thirty years.

This gentleman died childless; but from his only brother,

HENRY WALLER, sprang

JOHN WALLER, of Groombridge, Kent, father of

RICHARD WALLER, a gallant participator in the glories of Agincourt, who, in honour of having prisoner the Duke of Orleans in that memorable conflict, obtained, from HENRY V, the addition to his crest, of a shield of the arms of the Duke, pendent from the sinister side of a walnut tree, which his descendants have ever since borne.

The French prince, having been brought to England, was confined at Mr Waller's seat at Groombridge.

The grandson and direct successor of this gentleman,

JOHN WALLER, of Groombridge, married and was father of

WILLIAM WALLER, of Groombridge, High Sheriff of Kent, 1530, who married, in 1537, Anne Fallemar, of Eastney, near Southampton, and left two sons,

WILLIAM (Sir), his heir;
JOHN, ancestor of WALLER of Allenstown.

Mr Waller died in 1555, and was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM WALLER, of Groomsbridge, who wedded Alice, daughter and co-heir of Sir Walter Hendley, and was father of

SIR WALTER WALLER, Knight, of Groombridge, who espoused Anne, daughter of Philip Choute, and had two sons,

GEORGE, his heir;
Thomas (Sir).

The elder son,

GEORGE WALLER (c1565-1622), of Groomsbridge, wedded firstly, Eliza, daughter of Michael Sondes; and secondly, Mary, widow of Sir William Ashenden, and daughter of Richard Hardress, and had a son,

SIR HARDRESS WALLER (1604-66), one of the judges who sat at the trial of CHARLES I, for which he was afterwards tried and banished.

Sir Hardress retired to Ireland, settled at Castletown, County Limerick, and became a member of the Irish Parliament.

He married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir John Dowdall, Knight, of Kilfinny, County Limerick, and by her (with whom he acquired the Manor of Castletown), and issue,

John, Governor of Fort Limerick;
JAMES, his successor;
Elizabeth; Bridget; Mary; Anne.

Sir Hardress's second son,

JAMES WALLER (1632-1702), of Castletown, Lieutenant-Governor of Kinsale, MP for Kinsale, 1695, married Dorothy, daughter of Colonel Rondall Clayton, of Moyaloe, County Cork, and had (with four daughters) a son and successor,

JOHN WALLER, of Castletown, MP for Doneraile, 1727-8, Lieutenant-Colonel, described by Swift as "Jack, the grandson of Sir Hardress".

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Dickson, of Ballybracken, County Cork, by Elizabeth his wife, heiress of Edward Bolton, of Clonrush, Queen's County, grandson of Sir Edward Bolton, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and had, with other issue, a son and successor,

JOHN THOMAS WALLER, of Castletown, grandson of the Rev Thomas Waller, who sold Castletown in 1936.

As he had no children, the male representation of the family passed to the descendants of John Waller, a younger son of Bolton Waller.

Castletown Manor, near Pallaskenry, County Limerick, was a large Georgian block, built for John Waller.

It was demolished in the 1940s.

DROMORE CASTLE, near Templenoe, County Kerry, looks out over the Kenmare River.

It was built in the 1830s for the Mahony family to a neo-gothic design by Sir Thomas Deane.

It was designed and built for Denis Mahony.

Work began in 1831, although the account books show that only a negligible amount had been carried out before 1834.

Building work was completed in 1839.

The house is in the castellated Gothic-Revival style, with an external finish of Roman cement with limestone dressings.

With the notable exception of the grand south-facing window with its pointed arch, the windows consist of pointed tracery contained within rectangular frames, a style characteristic of Deane's domestic work.

The entrance hall, which is in the form of a long gallery, takes up half of the area of the ground floor.

The west wing of the Castle takes the form of a round tower, with a spiral staircase contained within an attached turret.

Dromore Castle was the ancestral seat of the Mahonys.

When Harold Mahony was killed in a bicycle accident in 1905, he left no heirs, so the castle passed to his sister, Norah Hood.

She in turn left the castle to her cousin, Hardress Waller, and the castle remained in the hands of the Waller family until 1993 when it was offered for sale.

Dromore Castle is now owned by an investment company which is endeavouring to restore the building.

First published in September, 2012.

Mohill Castle

THE CROFTON BARONETS, OF MOHILL, WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LEITRIM, WITH 9,590 ACRES

JOHN CROFTON, of Mote, County Roscommon, auditor-general in the reign of ELIZABETH I (descended from the Croftons, of Crofton, Lancashire), married, ca 1565, Jane, sister of Sir Henry Duke, Knight, and had issue,

Edward, ancestor of the Barons Crofton;
John;
William;
HENRY.

The youngest son,

HENRY CROFTON, succeeded to his father's estate, 1607, from whom descended

THOMAS CROFTON, of Mohill, who wedded Bridget, daughter of Major Hugh Morgan, of Dublin, and was father of

HUGH CROFTON, who wedded Anne, daughter of George Crofton, of Lisburne, County Roscommon.

Mr Crofton died in 1767 and was succeeded by his son, 

MORGAN CROFTON (1733-1802), of Mohill, who was created a baronet in 1801, designated of Mohill, County Leitrim.

He married Jane, youngest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Henri D'Abzac, of the family of Count of Périgord, and had issue,

HUGH, of whom presently;
Henry, in holy orders;
Morgan, grandfather of Lt-Col James Crofton;
Anne Magdalene; Jane.

Sir Morgan was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HUGH CROFTON, 2nd Baronet (1763-1834), of Mohill Castle, who married, in 1787, Frances, youngest daughter of Ralph Smyth, of Barbarvilla, County Westmeath, and had issue,

MORGAN GEORGE, his heir;
Hugh;
Ralph;
Henry William;
Augustus;
Charles;
Richard Maximilian;
Parsons;
Frances; Jane; Barbara; Anne Digby.

Sir Hugh was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR MORGAN GEORGE CROFTON, 3rd Baronet (1850-1900), who wedded Emily, daughter of the Rt Hon Denis Daly, of Dunsandle, County Galway, and had issue,

HUGH DENIS, his heir;
Denis.

• Sir Hugh Denis Crofton, 5th Baronet (1878–1902);
• Sir Morgan George Crofton, 6th Baronet (1879–1958);
• Sir Patrick Simon Crofton, 7th Baronet (1936–87);
• Sir (Hugh) Denis Crofton, 8th Baronet (b 1937).

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother, Edward Morgan Crofton (b 1945).

*****

MOHILL CASTLE, Mohill, County Leitrim, was stated to have been a simple early house with tall gable ends, adjacent to the village of Mohill.

It was occupied for a period in the 19th century by the Kane family.

Unfortunately I have no images of Mohill Castle.

An 18th century house stands on the site of the castle.

This may be, or have been known as Mohill House.

First published in December, 2012.