Loftus Hall

THE MARQUESSES OF ELY WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WEXFORD, WITH 14,023 ACRES 

The family of LOFTUS, or, as it was anciently spelt, Lofthouse, appears, from the archives of York Minster, to have flourished in Yorkshire as early as the reign of ALFRED THE GREAT. Before the advent of the Normans, this family held the town and lands of Loftus, Yorkshire, by thaneage, and after the Conquest, by military tenure. The same records show that Christopher Lofthouse was prior of Helagh, Yorkshire, in 1460.

EDWARD LOFTUS, of Swineshead, Yorkshire, whose descendants have been, in different branches, thrice elevated to the Irish peerage, had two sons, namely,

Robert, created Viscount Loftus;
ADAM, of whom hereafter.

The elder son, Robert, whose second son, Adam, an eminent lawyer, was appointed LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, 1619; and created, in 1622, Viscount Loftus, of Ely, a dignity which expired with his lordship' grandson ARTHUR, 3rd Viscount.

The younger son,

THE MOST REV DR ADAM LOFTUS (c1533-1605), accompanied, as private chaplain, the Viceroy, Thomas, Earl of Sussex, into Ireland, and was consecrated Lord Archbishop of Armagh, 1562-3.

In 1567, the Lord Primate was translated to the see of Dublin; and six years afterwards we find him Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.

In 1578, His Grace was constituted LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, and he continued to hold the seals until his death.

This esteemed divine having a principal share in the foundation of Trinity College, Dublin, was appointed by charter its first Provost, which office he resigned in 1594.

He married Jane, eldest daughter of Alan Purdon, of Lurgan Race, County Louth, and by her had twenty children, of whom seven died young, including,

DUDLEY, his heir;

Edward, Recorder of Dublin;

Adam;

Thomas;

Henry;

Isabella; Anne; Catherine; Martha; Dorothy; Alice; Margaret.

His Grace was succeeded by his eldest son, 

DUDLEY LOFTUS (1561-1616), of Rathfarnham Castle, who wedded Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Bagenal, of Newry, and had, with other issue,

ADAM, 1st Viscount Lisburne (1st creation);
NICHOLAS, of whose line we are about to treat;
Edward;
Samuel.

The second son,

NICHOLAS LOFTUS (1592-1666), of Fethard, MP for Fethard, 1613-34, County Wexford, 1640, Joint Clerk of the Pells and of the Treasury in Ireland, wedded and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, 

SIR NICHOLAS LOFTUS (1635-1708), Knight, of Fethard, MP for Fethard, 1661-6, who married twice, and had several children, all of whom died issueless, when the estates descended to his brother,

HENRY LOFTUS (1636-1716), of Loftus Hall, MP for Clonmines, 1692-3 and 1695-9, who married twice and was succeeded by his elder son,

THE RT HON NICHOLAS LOFTUS (1687-1763), MP for Fethard, 1710-13, Clonmines, 1713-14, County Wexford, 1715-51, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1751, in the dignity of Baron Loftus, of Loftus Hall.

His lordship was sworn of the privy council in 1753; nominated Governor of County Wexford, and advanced to a viscountcy, as Viscount Loftus, of Ely, in 1756.

He married firstly Anne, 2nd daughter of William, Viscount Duncannon, by whom he had issue,

NICHOLAS, his successor;
HENRY, succeeded as 4th Viscount Loftus;
Mary; Anne; Elizabeth.

His lordship wedded secondly, Letitia, daughter of Sir John Rowley, knight, by whom he had no issue.

He was succeeded by his elder son, 

NICHOLAS, 2nd Viscount, who was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Ely in 1766.

He married Mary, eldest daughter and heir of SIR GUSTAVUS HUME, 3rd Baronet, of Castle Hume, County Fermanagh; and dying in 1766, was succeeded by his only son, 

NICHOLAS, 2nd Earl, who died unmarried, in 1769, when the earldom expired, and the viscountcy and barony reverted to his uncle,

THE HON HENRY LOFTUS, as 4th Viscount, born in 1709.

His lordship was advanced to an earldom, in 1771, as Earl of Ely; and installed a Knight Founder of the Most Illustrious of St Patrick, 1783.

Lord Loftus married twice, though died without issue, in 1783, when the titles became extinct; while the estates devolved upon his nephew, 

THE RT HON CHARLES TOTTENHAM, who then assumed the surname and arms of LOFTUS, and was created, in two years afterwards, Baron Loftus, of Loftus Hall.

His lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1789, as Viscount Loftus; and Earl of Ely in 1794.

He was further advanced, to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1800, as MARQUESS OF ELY.

His lordship was postmaster-general of Ireland in 1789; privy counsellor; Knight of St Patrick; governor of Wexford; governor of Fermanagh; colonel, the Wexford Militia.

*****

GEORGE HENRY WELLINGTON, 7th Marquess (1903-69), styled Viscount Loftus between 1925-35, became known by the courtesy title Viscount Loftus when his father succeeded to the marquessate in 1925.

He was educated at Lancing College and served as a major in the North Irish Horse during the 2nd World War.

He was High Sheriff of County Fermanagh in 1931.

In 1935 Lord Ely succeeded to the marquessate on the death of his father.

*****

CHARLES JOHN, 8th Marquess, who died in 2006 aged 92, was a Canadian prep school headmaster for some 40 years and a dogged, if silent, attender at the House of Lords for almost 30 years until his exclusion by Tony Blair's reforms. He was appalled by the "constitutional vandalism" that cost him his seat.

His eldest son, John, who was born in 1943, succeeded to the titles as 9th Marquess.

The Ely Papers are deposited at PRONI.

LOFTUS HALL, near Fethard-on-Sea, County Wexford, is, according to Mark Bence-Jones, a gaunt, three-storey mansion of 1871, with rows of plate-glass windows and a parapet, incorporating parts of a previous, late 17th century house.

The house stands near the tip of Hook Head, an extremely wind-swept spot bereft of trees and shelter.

The present house was built after his coming-of-age by the 4th Marquess of Ely (who also had plans for Ely Lodge in County Fermanagh).

It contains an impressive staircase hall.

In 1917, Loftus Hall was bought by the Sisters of Providence and turned into a convent and a school for young girls interested in joining the order.

In 1983, it was purchased by Michael Deveraux, who re-opened it as "Loftus Hall Hotel", which was subsequently closed again in the late 1990s.

It was privately owned by Deveraux's surviving family until late 2008, when it was sold to an unnamed buyer, rumoured to be "Bono" of U2 fame.

While in need of repair at the time of writing, the nine-bay mansion comprises seven reception rooms, twenty-two bedrooms and a function room spread across three floors.

First published in May, 2012.

The King's Birthday

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY Charles the Third, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND OF HIS OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES KING, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sovereign of the Orders of the Garter, the Thistle, St Patrick, the Bath, St Michael & St George, Royal Victorian Order, the British Empire etc.

THE KING is 76 today.

His Majesty was born at Buckingham Palace, London, on the 14th November, 1948, and ascended the throne, upon the death of his dearly beloved mother, ELIZABETH II, on the 8th September, 2022.

The Sovereign's birthday  is normally marked publicly by a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, London, and 21-gun salutes throughout the other nations of the United Kingdom.

God Save The King.

Clandeboye House

THE MARQUESSES OF DUFFERIN AND AVA WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DOWN, WITH 18,238 ACRES

This family is of Scottish origin.

JOHN BLACKWOOD (1591-1663), a gentleman of respectable lineage in Fife, removed to Ulster some time towards the middle of the 17th century, and, having acquired considerable property, settled in County Down.

Of the Scottish family of BLACKWOOD, the celebrated Adam Blackwood (1539-1613), privy counsellor to MARY, Queen of Scots; and the said JOHN BLACKWOOD, of the same house, had his estate in County Down sequestered, in 1687, by JAMES II's parliament, but was restored on the accession of WILLIAM III.

Faithfully and zealously attached to his unhappy mistress, this eminent person published, in 1587, his Martyrdom of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland.

Mr Blackwood married Janet Clerke, and had, with three daughters, a son, JOHN.

He was interred at Bangor Abbey and his grave-stone reads:

HERE LIES [JOHN] BLACKWOOD, MERCHANT, LATE PROVOST OF BANGOR, 

WHO DEPARTED THIS LYFE THE 22 OF MAY 1663 AND OF AGE 72. 

HERE LYES A MAN WHO LIV'D OF LATE INTO A FLOORISHING ESTATE 

YET WAS IT HIS GLORY THAT THERBY HIMSELF HE DID NOT MAGNIFY 

A SOBER IVST [Just] AND ..... MAN AND THOVGH HIS LIFE WAS BVT A SPAN 

YET IT SO BLAMELESS WAS THAT HE DESERVES A LASTING MEMORIE.

Mr Blackwood was succeeded by his only son,

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Ballyleidy, who wedded Anna Wauchope, and had issue,

JOHN;
Isabella; Margaret; Anne.

He died in 1698, and was succeeded by his only son,

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Ballyleidy, who espoused Ursula, daughter of Robert Hamilton, and had issue,

James, ancestor of Blackwood, later Price, of Saintfield;
ROBERT, of whom hereafter;
Ursula.

Mr Blackwood's younger son,

ROBERT BLACKWOOD (1694-1774), was created a baronet in 1763.

Sir Robert married firstly, in 1721,  Joyce, sister of Joseph, 1st Earl of Milltown, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Leeson;
Margaret.

He wedded secondly, Grace, only daughter of Isaac Macartney, and had issue,

William;
Grace; Dorcas; Sarah; Elizabeth.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN BLACKWOOD, 2nd Baronet (1722-99), MP, who married, in 1751, Dorcas, eldest daughter and heiress of James Stevenson, of Killyleagh, son of Hans Stevenson, of Ballyrott, by Anne his wife, daughter and eventually sole heiress of James Hamilton, of Neillsbrook, County Antrim, nephew of James Hamilton, Viscount Claneboye, father of James, Earl of Clanbrassil, by whom he had issue,

Robert (1752-86), MP for Killyleagh, 1776-86; died unmarried;
JAMES, his successor;
John, in holy orders;
HANS, succeeded his brother;
Price;
Leeson;
Henry, created a baronet;
Anne; Sophia; Dorcas; Catherine.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JAMES STEVENSON BLACKWOOD, 3rd Baronet (1755–1836), MP for Killyleagh, 1788-1800, High Sheriff of County Down, 1804,  who inherited the peerage at the decease of his mother, DORCAS, created Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye in 1800, with remainder to her ladyship's male issue by her deceased husband, Sir John Blackwood.

Arms of 5th Baron Dufferin and Clandeboye at Down Cathedral

He espoused, in 1801, Anne Dorothea, only daughter of John, 1st Baron Oriel, but dsp in 1836, and was succeeded by his brother,

HANS, 3rd Baron (1758-1839), who married firstly, in 1784, Mehetabel Hester, second daughter and co-heir of Robert Temple, and had issue,

Robert Temple, killed at Waterloo;
Hans, died unmarried;
PRICE, his successor;
Henrietta.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1801, Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of William Henry Finlay, of Gennetts, County Meath, and had issue,

William Stear (Rev), Vicar of Ballinderry;
Henry Stevenson;
Marrianna; Elizabeth Dorcas; Sophia Louisa; Henrietta Catherine; Anne Dorothea.

His lordship died in 1839, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

PRICE, 4th Baron (1794-1841), who espoused, in 1825, Helen Selina, daughter of Thomas Sheridan, by whom he had an only son, FREDERICK TEMPLE.

The 4th Baron died suddenly on board the Reindeer steamer, from taking an overdose of morphine, and was succeeded by his son,

FREDERICK TEMPLE (1826-1902), 5th Baron, who was created, in 1871, Earl of Dufferin, and advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1888, as MARQUESS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA.

• Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess (1826–1902);
• Terence John Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 2nd Marquess (1866–1918);
• Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 3rd Marquess (1875–1930);
• Basil Sheridan Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 4th Marquess (1909–45);
• Sheridan Frederick Terence Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 5th Marquess (1938-88).

Barons Dufferin and Claneboye (1800; Reverted):

• Francis George Blackwood, 10th Baron (1916–91);
• John Francis Blackwood, 11th Baron (b 1944).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon Francis Blackwood (b 1979).

CLANDEBOYE HOUSE, near Bangor, County Down, stands within one of the finest private estates in Northern Ireland.

Much has already been written about Clandeboye and there is an article here by Peter Rankin of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society.

One of the most extensive examples of Victorian parkland planting in Ulster, the 800-acre parkland was created out of the core of an earlier 18th century designed landscape.

The estate itself comprises about 2,000 acres today.

The demesne was founded in the early 17th century, depicted on Raven’s map of 1625-26.

Formerly known as Ballyleidy, there were several earlier houses near the site of the present mansion, including a modest late 17th century house and a three-storey gable-ended house of ca 1760.

The present mansion house was designed by Robert Woodgate in 1801-04, for James Blackwood, 2nd Baron Dufferin and Claneboye.

It is a conventional two-storey Georgian block in ‘Soanic’ style, with two main façades at right angles to one another; the east façade, being the original entrance front, has seven bays with a pedimented Doric portico.

The formal landscape that accompanied the old 18th century house was swept aside in the early 19th century for a good quality, professionally designed landscape park, possibly the work of John Sutherland (1745-1826).

In the late 1840s Frederick Temple Blackwood, having succeeded his father as 5th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye in 1841, started to undertake alterations to the house, notably by moving the entrance from the south to the west.

The park was re-modelled and expanded very considerably in size, this being in part the work of James Fraser (1793-1863), the best-known exponent of Picturesque landscaping in Victorian Ireland.

Much of the work provided employment in the years after the famine, and involved the closing of the public road, sweeping away surrounding fields and farm buildings and, in their stead, planting new belts, screens and sweeping deciduous woodlands.

Between 1852-62 a number of lakes were created, most notably a great lake with islands to the south and east of the house.

On the west side of the demesne a two-and-a-half-mile avenue was created to provide access to the private family railway station at Helen’s Bay to the north, itself built in baronial style and approached via a splendid turreted arch, both built to designs of Benjamin Ferrey.

On a hill in the southern sector of the park William Burn was commissioned in 1848 to design a castellated tower.

This tower was not completed until 1862 and was named Helen’s Tower by Lord Dufferin, in commemoration of his mother, Helena Selina, a granddaughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

During his extensive postings abroad, exotic trees were brought back and planted in a Pinetum, mentioned by Lord Headfort in 1932 in Conifers in the Parks and Gardens of Ireland.

Today the demesne is a successful and maintained amalgam of woodland, farm and golf course.

The ornamental planting is mainly to the north-east and south-east of the house in the form of different compartments begun at different times.

An 1890s formal terraced garden at the house, incorporating steps, balustraded and terracotta vases, is now grassed over; but the 20th century additions are still maintained.

These include the Conservatory Garden, which is an enclosed garden near the house of 1938; Brenda’s Garden – an informal planting in a woodland glen begun in the 1930s and now extending east; and an arboretum that was begun in the 1960s to the north-east of the house.

The former Bear Garden, close to the house, provides the setting for a formal Bee Garden created in the 1980s as the setting for a Bee House which was donated by Colonel Greeves of Altona House.

More recently, in 1990, the Sheridan Garden was created, in memory of the 5th and last Marquess, in a previously laurel-infested woodland setting.

The walled garden is used by Conservation Volunteers and modern glasshouses outside are in use for the house.

Other demesne buildings include the Gothic-Revival private chapel of ca.1890 by Henry Lynn; the gas-works, built ca 1870; classical limestone pedestal memorial at Campo Santo in Tomb Wood to the south-east of the house, ca 1820.

The seven gate lodges, of which six still survive, are: Early Lodge, ca 1830; Inner Lodge, ca 1845; Cloister Lodge, ca 1845; Belfast or Ava Lodge, 1855; Bridge Lodge, ca 1875; and South or Newtownards Lodge, ca 1890.

Following the death of the 5th and last Marquess in 1988, a number of environmental projects and charities at Clandeboye were begun, including the Prince’s Trust and the NI branch of the Woodland Trust, established in 1998 in partnership with the Dufferin Foundation and a link with Kew Gardens.

In the courtyard is Dendron Lodge (Clandeboye Environmental Centre), used by Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland for meetings, workshops and accommodation.

*****

FOR A fuller history of the family, the Dufferin Papers are held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

The 4th Marquess, who married Maureen Guinness, granddaughter of 1st Earl of Iveagh, was said to have been a gifted young man of extraordinary charm.

Like his grandfather, the 1st Marquess, he combined intellectual, literary and artistic gifts with ambitions in public life.

His death in 1945 while on active service in Burma was a bitter blow to family and friends, including the future Poet Laureate, John Betjeman.

The 5th Marquess thus succeeded to the title aged six. He married his cousin Belinda (Lindy) Guinness at Westminster Abbey in 1964.

The 5th Marquess was survived by one of his sisters, Lady Perdita Blackwood, who lived at Cavallo Farm, near Clandeboye.

The 5th and last Marquess died in 1988 without issue, when Clandeboye passed to his widow Lindy, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava (1941-2020).

The marquessate is now extinct.

Lady Dufferin inherited a considerable fortune at the time, not least due to the Guinness connection. She also inherited Clandeboye and a London home in Holland Park.

Clandeboye Estate comprises about 2,000 acres of prime Ulster woodland and gardens.

Clandeboye Golf Club is now an integral part of the Estate.

There is a memorial to the 1st Marquess in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.

It cost £5,000 in 1906 ~ equivalent to £450,000 today.

I have written an article entitled The Four Great Ulster Marquessates.

First published in June, 2010; revised 2014. Photo credit: Katybird. Dufferin arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Clonyn Castle

THE EARLS OF WESTMEATH WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 9,783 ACRES

The noble family of NUGENT was settled in Ireland since the subjugation of that country by HENRY II. Its founder, SIR GILBERT DE NUGENT, originally from the Nogent-le-Rotrou district in France, was one of the knights who, in 1171, accompanied Hugh de Lacy in the expedition to Ireland, having married Rosa, the sister of the said Hugh, obtained thereby the barony of Delvin; 

But, his sons predeceasing him, he was succeeded at his decease by his brother, RICHARD NUGENT, whose only daughter and heiress carried the barony of Delvin into the family of Johns, or Jones, into which she married, and it so remained until brought back by the intermarriage of

SIR WILLIAM FITZRICHARD NUGENT, 1ST BARON DELVIN, of Balrath (descended from Christopher Nugent, third brother of  Sir Gilbert), with Catherine, daughter and heiress of John FitzJones, Baron Delvin.

Sir William was elected Sheriff of Meath, 1401, in which office he was confirmed by the King for one year, and again in 1402.

He was succeeded at his decease, ca 1414, by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 2nd Baron; who, in consequence of his services and expenses in the King's wars, to the impoverishment of his fortune, had an order, dated at Trim, 1428, to receive twenty marks out of the exchequer.

He wedded Catherine, daughter of Thomas Drake, sister and heiress of Nicholas Drake, of Drakerath, County Meath.

His lordship died in 1475, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER, 3rd Baron, who died ca 1483, and was succeeded by his son and heir,

RICHARD, 4th Baron, who had summonses to Parliament in 1486, 1490, and 1493, and was constituted by the Lords Justices and Council, in 1496, commander and leader-in-chief of all the forces destined for the defence of counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and Louth.

His lordship was subsequently summoned to parliament in 1498, but failing to appear, he was fined forty shillings for non-attendance.

In 1504, Lord Delvin accompanied the Earl of Kildare to the famous battle of Knockdoe, in Connaught, and was the first to throw a spear into the ranks of the Irish, by which he chanced to kill one of the Burkes.

In 1527, he was nominated Lord Deputy of Ireland, and conducted the public affairs with integrity and honour, until treacherously taken prisoner by O'Connor Faly.

That native chieftain having made inroads upon the confines of the Pale, in 1528, Lord Delvin ordered the detention of a yearly rent due to him out of certain carucates of lands in County Meath; which procedure led to a conference at Rathyn Castle, belonging to Sir William Darcy, when by stratagem the Lord Deputy was seized and detained prisoner, many of his attendants being slain, wounded, and taken.

Walter Wellesley, of Dangan Castle, and Sir Walter Delahyde, of Moyclare, were subsequently deputed to expostulate with O'Connor Faly, and to procure his lordship's liberation, but ineffectually, when another Lord Deputy was appointed to administer the government, and Lord Delvin remained in confinement until O'Connor's pension was restored.

His lordship wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Howth, and had two sons,

CHRISTOPHER;
THOMAS, of Carlanstown, ancestor of the EARLS NUGENT.

His lordship died in 1538, and was succeeded by his son,

RICHARD, 5th Baron (1523-59), father of

CHRISTOPHER, 6th Baron (1544-1602), was sent prisoner to London, 1580, and committed to the Tower, on suspicion of holding correspondence with the rebels of Leinster; but his innocence being soon afterwards fully established, he returned to Ireland, and was present in Sir John Perrot's parliament, in 1585.

In 1588, he obtained a grant of Fore Abbey, County Westmeath; and being, in 1593, appointed by commission leader of the forces raised in County Westmeath at the general hosting on the Hill of Tara, he brought, with the Nugents, his kinsmen, twenty horsemen there; and so acceptable were his services to ELIZABETH I that, by privy seal, 1597, Her Majesty ordered him a grant in fee farm of so many manors and forfeited lands in counties Cavan and Longford at his election as should amount to the crown rent of £100 per annum.

But this grant not having been executed during his life, on account of the troubles in Ireland, JAMES I, in 1603, ordered £60 in lands, per annum, to be granted to his widow and son.

His lordship espoused Mary, daughter of Gerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 7th Baron (1583-1642), who was arrested in 1607, and committed by the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Arthur Chichester, to Dublin Castle, upon a charge of high treason, being concerned in a conspiracy with the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, and others, to surprise Dublin Castle, cut off the Lord Deputy and Council, dissolve the state, and set up a government of their own.

His lordship effected, however, his escape, by the assistance of his servant, and was subsequently proclaimed a traitor.

Surrendering in the following year, he obtained a pardon under the Great Seal (1608), and so entirely re-established himself in a few years in royal favour; that he was created, in 1621, EARL OF WESTMEATH.

He wedded Jenet, daughter of Christopher, 9th Baron Killeen; and dying in 1642, was succeeded by his grandson,

RICHARD, 2nd Earl (1621-84), only son of Christopher, Lord Delvin, who pre-deceased his father, by Anne, eldest daughter of Randal, 1st Earl of Antrim.

His lordship espoused Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Nugent Bt, of Moyrath, and had, with junior issue,

CHRISTOPHER, father of RICHARD, 3rd Earl;
Thomas, 1st Baron Nugent of Riverston;
Anne; Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

RICHARD, 3rd Earl, who, adopting a religious life, became a friar of the Order of Capuchins; and dying in 1714, at Wassey, in a convent of his order, the honours devolved upon his brother,

THOMAS, 4th Earl (1669-1752); who had a colonel's command in the army of JAMES II, and was outlawed in consequence in 1691; but being one of the hostages exchanged for the observance of the articles of Limerick, the outlawry was reversed, and he was restored to his estates and honours.

His lordship wedded Margaret, only daughter of John, 1st Baron Bellew of Duleek, by whom he had issue,

Christopher, Lord Delvin, dsp;
John, dsp;
Katherine; Mary.

His lordship died at the advanced age of 96, and was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN, 5th Earl (1671-1754), a major-general in the army, who married Marguerite Jeanne, daughter of Count Charles Molza, of Modena, Italy, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
James;
John;
Richard;
Edward;
Marie Charlotte; Francois Christine.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 6th Earl (1714-92), who conformed to the established church, and wedded firstly, in 1742, Mary, only daughter and heiress of Walter Durand Stapleton, by whom he had an only son, Richard, Lord Delvin, who fell in a duel in 1761.

He espoused secondly, in 1756, Catherine, daughter and co-heiress of Henry White, of Pichfordstown, County Kildare, and had further issue,

Thomas, Lord Delvin, died young;
GEORGE FREDERICK, his successor;
Henry;
Catharine.

His lordship, a founder Knight of the Order of St Patrick, 1783, was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

GEORGE FREDERICK, 7th Earl (1760-1814), who wedded firstly, in 1784, Maryanne, eldest daughter of Major James St John Jeffries, of Blarney Castle, County Cork, and niece of John, 1st Earl of Clare, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, and had issue, and had issue,

GEORGE THOMAS JOHN, his successor.

His lordship espoused secondly, in 1797, the Lady Elizabeth Emily Moore, daughter of Charles, 1st Marquess of Drogheda, and had further issue,

Robert Seymour;
Thomas Hugh;
Elizabeth Emily; Catherine Anne; Mary Frances.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE THOMAS JOHN, 8th Earl (1785-1871), who wedded, in 1812, the Lady Emily Anne Bennet Elizabeth Cecil, second daughter of James, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, and had issue,

William Henry Wellington Brydges (1818-19);
Rosa Emily Mary Anne.

His lordship, Lord-Lieutenant of County Westmeath, Colonel, Westmeath Militia, was advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1822, as MARQUESS OF WESTMEATH.

He died without surviving male issue, when the marquessate expired.

The Earldom, however, reverted to his kinsman,

ANTHONY FRANCIS NUGENT, as 9th Earl.

• Anthony Francis Nugent, 9th Earl (1805–1879);

• William St George Nugent, 10th Earl (1832–83);

• Anthony Francis Nugent, 11th Earl (1870–1933);

• Gilbert Charles Nugent, 12th Earl (1880–1971);

• William Anthony Nugent, 13th Earl (b 1928).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Sean Charles Weston Nugent, styled Lord Delvin.

Clonyn Castle (Image: The Times)

CLONYN CASTLE, also known as Delvin Castle, is situated in Delvin, County Westmeath.

The first castle (now in ruins) is believed to have been built in 1181 by Hugh de Lacy the Norman, Lord of Meath for his brother-in-law, Sir Gilbert de Nugent.

Sir Gilbert, originally from the Nogent-le-Rotrou area in France, came to Ireland with Hugh de Lacy in 1171 and settled on some land in Delvin and was granted the title Baron of Delvin.

The ruins of Nugent Castle, burnt when Cromwell's army approached, remain near the centre of the city.

Clonyn Castle is a square, symmetrical, two-storey, 19th century castle of cut limestone.

It has four tall, round corner towers.

The interior has a large two-storey hall with gallery and enormous arcading.

In 1639 Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath, build another more recent castle, situated on the dominating ground, and now overlooking Delvin urbanised area today, may be referred to as either Delvin or Clonyn Castle.

Following the death of the 8th Earl and 1st and last Marquess of Westmeath in 1871, Clonyn passed to his only surviving child Lady Rosa, wife of the 1st Lord Greville.

After the 2nd World War, the castle served briefly as a home for 97 Jewish children, most of them orphans of the Holocaust.

A public golf course lies behind the more recent castle, 500 yards from Delvin centre.

First published in July, 2012. 

The Acheson Baronets

The founder of this noble Scottish family in Ulster,

CAPTAIN PATRICK ACHESON (1558-1617), married Martha, daughter of Archibald Drummond, of Edinburgh, and had issue,

ARCHIBALD, his heir;
Henry (Sir);
Isabelle.

The elder son,

ARCHIBALD ACHESON (1583-1634), was seated at Gosford, Haddingtonshire, previous to his settlement in Ulster, where we find him in 1610.

In the following year he had passed patent for a large proportion of land in County Armagh, and at the same time his younger brother, Henry, passed patent for a smaller proportion in the said county, which lands he afterwards assigned to Sir Archibald. 

Sir Henry Acheson returned to Scotland and there died unmarried. Sir Archibald was "so steady and zealous a friend" of the protestant interest in Ulster that seven years after he obtained this grant (according to the survey made by Nicholas Pynnar) he had 203 men upon his estate capable of bearing arms. In 1612, he obtained another grant from JAMES I of a small proportion of land in County Cavan containing 1,000 acres. 

Sir Archibald was created a baronet in 1628, designated of Market Hill, County Armagh. 

In 1630 he obtained, in conjunction with Pierce and Walter Crosbie, a territory in Nova Scotia, Canada, called Bonovia [sic]. Sir Archibald was also Solicitor-General, a senator of justice, and for many years Secretary of State for Scotland; which latter office he continued to fill until his decease in 1634. 

He died at Letterkenny, County Donegal, at his nephew's house, Sir William Semple, Knight.

Sir Archibald was succeeded in the title and estates by his eldest son,

SIR PATRICK ACHESON, 2nd Baronet (1609-38), who wedded, in 1634, Martha, daughter of William Moore; at whose decease without issue, the title devolved upon his half-brother,

SIR GEORGE ACHESON, 3rd Baronet (1629-85), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1655-6, County Tyrone, 1657, who espoused firstly, in 1654, Nichola, daughter of Sir Robert Hannay Bt, and had issue,

NICHOLAS, his successor.

He married secondly, in 1659, Margaret, daughter of William Caulfeild, 1st Baron Charlemont, and had further issue,

Sarah; Catherine; Mary.

Sir George was succeeded by his only son and heir,

SIR NICHOLAS ACHESON, 4th Baronet (c1655-1701), MP for Armagh County, 1695-9, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1695, who wedded, in 1676, Ann, daughter of Thomas Taylor, and had issue,

Alexander (1676-1757);
ARTHUR, of whom hereafter;
Nichola.

Sir Nicholas was succeeded by his younger son,

SIR ARTHUR ACHESON, 5th Baronet (1688-1748), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1728, MP for Mullingar, 1727-48, who wedded Anne, daughter of the Rt Hon Philip Savage, Chancellor of the Exchequer in Ireland, and had issue,

Nicholas;
Philip;
ARCHIBALD, of whom presently;
Nichola; Ann.

Sir Arthur was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

THE RT HON SIR ARCHIBALD ACHESON, 6th Baronet (1728-90), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1751, County Cavan, 1761, MP for Dublin University, 1741-61, Privy Counsellor.

Sir Archibald was elevated to the peerage, in 1776, in the dignity of Baron Gosford, of Market Hill, County Armagh; and further advanced to a viscountcy, 1785, as Viscount Gosford.

His lordship married, in 1740, Mary, youngest daughter of John Richardson, of Rich Hill, County Armagh, by whom he had issue,

ARTHUR, his successor;
Anna Maria; Nicolas; Julia Henrietta; Lucinda; Mary.

Sir Archibald was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR, 2nd Viscount; who was created, in 1806, EARL OF GOSFORD.

First published in April, 2011.

Blessingbourne House

THE MONTGOMERYS OWNED 7,996 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY FERMANAGH

AND 4,552 ACRES IN COUNTY TYRONE

HUGH MONTGOMERY was settled at Derrybrusk, County Fermanagh, by his kinsman, the Rt Rev Dr George Montgomery, Lord Bishop of Clogher, about 1618, and was father of

THE REV NICHOLAS MONTGOMERY (c1615-c1705), of Derrybrusk, Laureate of Glasgow University, 1634, Lieutenant in Sir James Montgomery's Regiment, and afterwards Rector of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.

He left issue, with two younger sons (Robert, of Derrybrusk, Captain in the army, and Andrew, who succeeded his father as Rector of Carrickmacross), and a daughter, Catherine, who married Captain Alexander Acheson, an elder son,

HUGH MONTGOMERY JP (1651-1723), of Derrygonnelly, Captain of Horse under WILLIAM III, who married Katherine, daughter and heir of Richard Dunbar, of Derrygonnelly (by his wife, Anna Catherina, daughter of Lars Grubbe Stjernfelt, a cousin of King Gustavus Adolphus, of Sweden, and widow of Ludovic Hamilton, Baron of Dalserf, in Sweden), and great-granddaughter of Sir John Dunbar, Knight, of the same place, and had issue,

NICHOLAS;
HUGH, of whom we treat;
Richard, of Monea, Co Fermanagh;
Sarah; Anne; Jane; Margaret; Sidney.

Mr Montgomery's eldest son,

COLONEL NICHOLAS MONTGOMERY (1690-1763), of Derrygonnelly, married firstly, Angel, daughter and heir of William Archdall, of Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, and assumed the surname of ARCHDALL.

By his first wife he had issue, an only son, Mervyn, MP, of Castle Archdale.

Colonel Montgomery wedded secondly, Sarah, daughter of ______ Spurling, of London, and had further issue,

Robert;
Richard;
Nicholas;
Edward;
Catherine; Sarah; Augusta; Elizabeth.

Hugh Montgomery's second son,

HUGH MONTGOMERY, of Derrygonnelly, wedded Elizabeth, daughter of the Ven William Armar, Archdeacon of Connor (by Martha his wife, daughter of Captain William Leslie, of Prospect), and sister of Colonel Margetson Armar (1700-73), of Castle Coole, County Fermanagh, and was father of Hugh Montgomery, of Castle Hume.

Mr Montgomery died before 1760, leaving a son,

HUGH MONTGOMERY (1739-97), of Castle Hume, who espoused, in 1778, Mary, daughter of Sir Archibald Acheson (afterwards 1st Viscount Gosford), and had issue,

HUGH, his heir;
Archibald Armar;
Mary Millicent.

Mr Montgomery was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH MONTGOMERY (1779-1838), of Blessingbourne, Captain, 18th Dragoons, Lieutenant-Colonel, Fermanagh Militia, who married, in 1821, Maria Dolores Plink, of Malaga, Spain, and had an only son,

HUGH RALPH SEVERIN MONTGOMERY (1821-44), of Blessingbourne, who wedded, in 1843, Maria, daughter of Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg, of Hofwyl, Switzerland, sometime Landmann of the Republic of Bern, and had issue, a son and heir, 

THE RT HON HUGH DE FELLENBERG MONTGOMERY JP DL (1844-1924), of Blessingbourne, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1871, Tyrone, 1888, Captain, Fermanagh Militia, who espoused, in 1870, Mary Sophia Juliana, youngest daughter of the Hon and Rev John Charles Maude, Rector of Enniskillen, and had issue,

HUGH MAUDE DE FELLENBERG, his heir;

Archibald Armar (Sir), GCB etc, Field-Marshal;

Geoffrey Cornwallis;

Francis Trevilian;

(Charles) Hubert (Sir), KCMG etc;

Maurice William de Fellenberg;

Walter Ashley;

Ralph Noel Vernon;

Mary Millicent.

Mr Montgomery was succeeded by his eldest son,

MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH MAUDE DE FELLENBERG MONTGOMERY CB CMG (1870-1954), of Blessingbourne, who married, in 1894, Mary, second daughter of Edmund Langton, and Mrs Massingberd, of Gunby, Lincolnshire, and had issue,

Hugh Edmund Langton (1895-1971);
PETER STEPHEN, of whom hereafter;
Mary Langton; Elizabeth; Anne.

The younger son,

PETER STEPHEN MONTGOMERY JP DL (1909-88), of Blessingbourne, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Tyrone, died unmarried.

BLESSINGBOURNE HOUSE, near Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, is an Elizabethan-Revival style manor house built between 1870-74.

It comprises two storeys and an attic storey.

The windows are multi-gabled and mullioned, with carved, round chimney stacks. 

Located just north of Fivemiletown in County Tyrone, much of the estate was in the neighbouring county of Fermanagh.

Blessingbourne passed to the Montgomery family through marriage to the Armor family early in the 18th century.

This is a Regency period demesne, created for a modest dwelling of 1810, referred to as, ‘a romantic thatched cottage’ built as a bachelor pad for Hugh Montgomery. 

When the family left County Fermanagh their former seat was Derrygonnelly Castle, which was burnt in the late 18th century. 

Hugh Montgomery, known as ‘Colonel Eclipse’, married in 1821 and travelled abroad, needing the cottage only for very occasional visits.

The present house is considerably more substantial.

It is a large restrained Elizabethan style manor-house designed by F Pepys Cockerell and built between 1870-74 for Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery, grandson of Hugh.

Its grey stone elevations overlook a natural lough, Lough Fadda and is surrounded by a present-day garden around former sunken lawns, Fastigate yews and a gravel terrace, vestiges of the garden made for the present house.

A planted area and lawns on the south east side, which leads to the lough, is now a grazing field.

Views were opened up in the 1960s.

There is also a late 19th century rhododendron walk.

There are fine mature woodland and parkland trees.

A walk through the woods goes round the lake; a lake walk, via a rockery. 

There is public access in the woods and the Ulster Wildlife Trust undertakes some management here. 

This wood dates from the time of the present house.

The boat house and summer house have gone.

The part-walled garden is partly cultivated and dates from the time of the first dwelling. 

The Gardener’s House was replaced by a bungalow in the 1970s.

There is a delightful little Tudor-style gate lodge, built ca 1845 by Hugh Ralph Severin Montgomery after he succeeded to the property in 1838.

Major-General Hugh Montgomery's brother was Field-Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd.

Peter Montgomery, former president of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, stylishly redecorated much of the interior at Blessingbourne.

In December, 2007, the Daily Telegraph published an obituary of Hugh (Montgomery) Massingberd: 

". . . He was born Hugh John Montgomery at Cookham Dean, in Berkshire, on December 30, 1946. His father was in the Colonial Service and later worked for the BBC; his mother was a "Leftward-leaning schoolmistress". 

His remoter background, however, was distinctly grand, even if it promised a great deal more than it delivered.The Montgomerys, seated at Blessingbourne in Co Tyrone, were a Protestant Ascendancy family, albeit exceptionally conscious of the need to right the wrongs suffered by Roman Catholics. 

In his youth Hugh stayed at the Montgomerys' pseudo-Elizabethan (actually 1870) pile in the full expectation that one day it would be his. There was a strong military tradition in the family. Hugh's paternal grandfather was Major-General Hugh Montgomery, while his great-uncle, the major-general's younger brother, ended his career as Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd, Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1933 to 1936  

. . As a teenager, Hugh seemed to add substance to his dreams when he went to stay with his Uncle Peter at Blessingbourne. Peter Montgomery was something of a figure in Ulster, to such a degree that his homosexuality, at that date unknown to Hugh, did not prevent him from becoming Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone

... It was, therefore, a shattering blow to be told in his mid-teens that a cousin who intended to be a farmer would inherit Blessingbourne. This youth, it was judged, would be better qualified than Hugh to return the estate to order after years of benign neglect under Peter Montgomery."

The estate was eventually inherited by Captain Robert Lowry, a great-great grandson of Colonel Hugh Montgomery. 

I recall Captain Lowry voluntarily "skippering" the Duke of Westminster's motor yacht, Trasna, on loan to the National Trust ca 1988 at Crom estate:

The Grosvenors, Dukes of Westminster,  had a beautiful, classic, wooden motor yacht which they used to keep at Ely Lodge. It was called Trasna; it was the finest vessel I'd ever seen on Lough Erne. It was about fifty feet in length and held sixteen persons in comfort. Trasna sported a magnificent kind of figurehead on her bow: a golden sheaf, or bundle, of wheat (or corn). The vessel was acquired by the National Trust for a short period before acquisition by the Duke of Abercorn for Belle Isle. 

Colleen and Nicholas Lowry today operate self-catering apartments on the estate.

First published in December, 2009.

Lord Bingham's Theory

The Daily Telegraph published an interview given by George, Lord Bingham, only son and heir of the 7th Earl of Lucan, in September, 2012.

Lord Lucan likely committed suicide by drowning himself following the murder of family nanny Sandra Rivett, his son has said.

George Bingham (now 8th Earl) said he was certain his father wished to "vanish for ever" and died in a small boat which sank to the bottom of the English Channel after drinking whisky and taking sleeping pills.

Lord Bingham spoke for the first time about the mysterious disappearance of his father in 1974.

He had been unable to succeed to the titles because a death certificate has not been issued.

In his first in-depth interview about the murder, he insisted he was certain his father was not the killer, though he said that he did hope his father had been involved in some way as it would make him "feel better" about his disappearance.

Sandra Rivett, 29, was found dead at the Lucan home in Belgravia, London, in 1974, after being bludgeoned with a lead pipe.

The nanny's attacker turned on the Countess of Lucan, beating her severely before she managed to escape and raise the alarm at a nearby pub.

Lord Lucan's car was later found abandoned and soaked in blood in Newhaven, East Sussex, and an inquest jury declared that the nobleman was the killer a year later.

What happened to Lucan remains a mystery and he was officially declared dead by the High Court in 1999.

George Bingham, who was in the house with his siblings at the time of the attack, said it was "extraordinarily unlikely" that his father was the killer or paid somebody else to carry out the atrocity.

He believes his father lost all sense of perspective as he became increasingly worried about being blamed for the nanny's death:

"I think Dad felt backed into a terrible corner. I think he chose almost immediately to take his own life. He had such a huge sense of pride and couldn't bear to consider the horrendous storm that was coming. It was his intention, therefore, to vanish ... and vanish for ever."

Lord Bingham added:

"Dad adored boats. He even built a powerboat. As a seaman, he would have known that if you jump from a boat in the English Channel, you will bloat, float and be washed up with the tides. It seems very likely he would have had access to a small motor boat somewhere in Newhaven harbour.

He would have got on board with a bottle of whisky and some pills and taken it out to the 50 metre mark, the point where if you go down you're not going to come back up again, but not so far out that you are in the shipping lane."

The former merchant banker has said he would prefer that to trying to understand why his father had left the family for "no apparent reason".

Lord Bingham continued,

"I've always thought it extraordinarily unlikely my father went into our family home, wandered down and killed anybody with a piece of lead piping for the love of his children, while those very children might well have come downstairs and witnessed this appalling carnage."

He also dismissed the possibility of a contract killer being involved, but added he had no idea of the extent of his father's involvement or his guilt.

First published in September, 2012.

Remembrance Sunday

FOR THE FALLEN: THE GLORIOUS DEAD

They went with songs to the battle,

They were young, straight of limb,

 True of eyes, steady and aglow,

 They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

 They fell with their faces to the foe,

 They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old,
 Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn,

 At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

 We will remember them.

LAURENCE BINYON, 1869-1943