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

Royal County Down Golf Club

The Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, County Down, was established in 1889 by a group of Belfast businessmen.

The Club has two eighteen-hole links courses, viz. The Championship Course and The Annesley Links.

The clubhouse was built in 1896, to designs by Vincent Craig (brother of Sir James Craig, later 1st Viscount Craigavon), and opened in September of the following year.

The building cost of £2,200 (about £300,000 in 2020) and was partly funded by the Belfast and County Down Railway, which ran a Golfers' Express train from Belfast every Saturday.

The railway company and its successor, the Ulster Transport Authority, maintained formal links with the club until 1968.

Slieve Donard Hotel in early 20th century

The Slieve Donard Hotel, adjacent to Royal County Down, has always had close associations with the club, having originally opened, in 1898, as a railway hotel.

Royal patronage was conferred on the Club in 1908 by EDWARD VII.

In 1965, the clubhouse was extended at a cost of £60,000, with additional changing-room facilities added to the ground floor and extensive remodelling of rooms to the first floor.

The Centenary Extension, added in 1989, provided a visitors bar to the first floor and ladies toilets to the ground floor.

The most recent extension and refurbishment occurred in 2005.

The original two-storey Clubhouse is in the Domestic-Revival style.

It has a rosemary clay tile roof, dormers, gables and bays, with a battered Scrabo stone finish to the ground floor which rises to the first floor cill level.

The Clubhouse was extended in 1965, with a sympathetic additional extension ca 1992, the latter to designs by Hobart & Heron.

In the middle of the south elevation an external timber stair ascends to a gabled timber porch with recessed central double doors and a segmental fanlight.

The porch has glazed sides each with three large panes surmounted with a small decorative fanlight.

The Irish Open golf championship was held at Royal County Down from the 28-30th May, 2015.

A number of Old Brackenbrians (a degree of partiality here!) have served the office of Captain, namely: Michael Harkness; Dr Peter Brown; and Kenneth McCaw.

Royal County Down is widely considered to be one of the finest golf links in the British Isles.

First published in June, 2014.

Linen Hall Charity Bookshop

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

On a weekend several years ago I received a letter from my solicitor requesting a reply so, instead of doing the obvious thing and sending it by post, I decided to get some exercise on the new ebike by riding to College Street.

College Street, by the way, extends from Fountain Street to College Square East.

The rain was relentless, quite heavy at times and, despite wearing "waterproof" trousers and jacket, high-visibility waistcoat, cycle helmet, the rain managed to absorb the rotten trousers and saturate my denims underneath.

I'll throw the so-called waterproof trousers out; I have another pair which I'll wear in future.

Having delivered my letter to the solicitor's premises I noticed the Linen Hall Charity Bookshop at street level.

Still drenched, I ambled in for a little rummage, though I must have been inside for twenty-five minutes.

I chatted briefly to the two members of staff and, it transpires, none other than Conor Bradford and Mark Carruthers, OBE, both well-known BBC broadcasters, are occasional patrons of this admirable little second-hand bookshop.

Somebody arrived while I was there to donate some unwanted books.

One hardback that caught my eye was Ulster: A Journey Through The Six Counties, by Robin Bryans; a bargain at a fiver.

On this occasion I left empty-handed, though it's my intention to revisit this Aladdin's Cave of old books more often.

2024 Update

The bookshop has since vacated the College Street premises and relocated to 55-59, Royal Avenue, Belfast.

First published in October, 2020.

Mount Congreve

THE CONGREVES OWNED 2,016 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WATERFORD,

2,295 IN COUNTY KILKENNY, AND 2,998 IN COUNTY CORK

This family claims descent from the Congreves of Congreve, Staffordshire.

THE REV JOHN CONGREVE (1654-1710), of Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, son of John Congreve, of County Cork, married Rebecca, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver Jones, and sister and co-heir of Ambrose Jones, and had issue,

AMBROSE, his heir;

Mary;

Elizabeth;

Jane.

The Rev J Congreve was succeeded by his son,

AMBROSE CONGREVE (1698-1741), of Waterford, who wedded Eleanor, daughter of John Lapp, and widow of _______ Roche, and by her (who espoused thirdly, the Most Rev John Whitcomb, Lord Archbishop of Cashel) had issue,

JOHN CONGREVE, of Mount Congreve, High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1755, who married, in 1758, Mary, daughter of Beverley Ussher, of Kilmeaden, by his first wife, Mary, daughter of Nicholas Lysaght, and sister of the first Baron Lisle, and had two sons,

John, of Landscape, High Sheriff of Waterford, 1792, who dsp 1801;

AMBROSE, of whom presently.

The younger son,

AMBROSE USSHER CONGREVE (c1767-c1809), of Mount Congreve, High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1806, wedded Anne, daughter of John Jenkins, and had issue,

JOHN;

Ambrose (1801-39);

Jane.

The eldest son,

JOHN CONGREVE DL (1800-63), of Mount Congreve, High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1823, espoused, in 1827, Harriet Louisa, daughter of Luke, 2nd Baron Clonbrock, and had issue,

AMBROSE, his heir;

Louisa Anne; Augusta Mary; Jane.

The only son,

AMBROSE CONGREVE JP DL (1832-1901), High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1871, married, in 1866, his cousin Alice Elizabeth Dillon, sixth daughter of Robert, 3rd Baron Clonbrock, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;

Ambrose;

Leopold Hugh;

Caroline Mabel; Eleanor Augusta; Violet Jane.

Mr Congreve was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN CONGREVE JP DL (1872-1957), High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1906, Major, Border Regiment, South African War, 1900-1, who wedded, in 1904, the Lady Helena Blanche Irene Ponsonby, second daughter of Edward, 8th Earl of Bessborough, and had issue,

AMBROSE CHRISTIAN CONGREVE CBE (1907-2011), of Mount Congreve, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, and Winkfield Manor, Ascot, Berkshire, who married, in 1935, Margaret Cholson, daughter of Arthur Graham Glasgow.

Mount Congreve House (Image: Mount Congreve Gardens)

MOUNT CONGREVE, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, is a Georgian mansion of ca 1750, comprising a central block of three storeys and seven bays; and two-storey, three-bay, overlapping wings.

Single-storey pavilions are adjoined the wings by screen walls.

Entrance Front with Bow (Image: Tripadvisor)

The centre block has a three-bay breakfront with an Ionic door-case.

Mount Congreve House underwent considerable embellishment and re-modelling between 1965-69, when a great, full-height bow was constructed in the centre of the entrance front.

Cupolas adorned the pavilions; and stately new gateways were added, adjoining the garden front; as well as statuary.

Ambrose Christian Congreve CBE (Image: Irish Arts Review)

The last owner of Mount Congreve, Ambrose Congreve, created superb gardens along the bank of the River Suir, extending to about 100 acres; where abundant exotic flora, magnolias, rhododendrons were planted.

18th Century Greenhouse

A Georgian greenhouse is contained within the walled garden.

Culloden Hotel

TEMPLETON ROBINSON (c1790-1826), of Chichester Street, Belfast, a draper, married Margaret Auchinleck, and was father of

WILLIAM AUCHINLECK ROBINSON JP (c1816-98) married, in 1847, at St Anne's Church, Belfast, Elizabeth Jane (1819-89), daughter of Patrick Culloden (1768-1844), of Arthur Street, latterly Stranmillis, Belfast.

Earlier generations of Robonson's paternal ancestry can be documented in Stewartstown, Country Tyrone back well into the 18th century. His parents were both buried at Clifton Street Cemetery in Belfast. Mr Robinson was a stockbroker, and initially settled on the Antrim Road, Belfast. He conducted his business at 67 High Street. His commercial prowess and acumen were such, that he purchased land at Craigavad, County Down. 

The Cullodens would appear to have come to Belfast from Dublin: Patrick Culloden (1768-1844), a Calico printer, was born in Dublin.

CULLODEN, Cultra, County Down, was built in 1876 by the Belfast firm, Young & Mackenzie.

Most of the stone came from Scotland by boat, landed at Portaferry, and was conveyed by horse and cart to the Craigavad site.

The mansion took two years to build, during which time the Robinsons lived in a modest cottage within the grounds.

The house and grounds are located between the main road and the railway line.

Culloden House, named after his wife, Elizabeth Jane Robinson (née Culloden) was presented to the representative body of the Church of Ireland.

At the end of the 19th Century, Culloden House duly became the official residence of the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore, and was known as The Bishop’s Palace.

Ardtullagh, Knocknagoney, near Holywood, was the previous episcopal palace, but this property was acquired in 1886 by the War Department (Ministry of Defence) for use as military barracks. The barracks are still in use today by the Army and are known as Palace Barracks.

The Rt Rev Thomas James Welland was the first prelate to live at Culloden, in 1898.

Death notice for W A Robinson; click to enlarge;
(Image: S E Holdrege)

In subsequent years, three further bishops lived at Culloden.

During the tenure of Bishop Crozier (later Archbishop of Armagh), a private chapel, the Jeremy Taylor Memorial Chapel, was dedicated within the house.

Sale of Culloden House; click to enlarge
(Image: S E Holdrege)

During this period, the celebrated songwriter and entertainer Percy French often stayed there (Bishop Crozier was godfather to French’s second daughter).

In the 1920s, the Church of Ireland sold Culloden to Sir John Campbell MD FRCS LL.D, a well-known Belfast gynaecologist and MP for Queen's University of Belfast, 1921.

In 1959, Culloden was purchased from Sir John’s son, Robert, for £10,000, by Thomas C Reid, sometime chairman of the Northern Ireland Ploughing Association.

Mr Rutledge White, proprietor of White’s Home Bakery, purchased Culloden in 1962.

It was opened as a hotel, comprising eleven bedrooms, the following year, under the management of Mr White’s son-in-law, Mr Roberts.

The late hotelier Sir William Hastings, CBE, purchased the premises in 1967, and Culloden is now one of Northern Ireland's most prominent hotels.

First published in October, 2012; revised.

The Osborne Baronets

THE OSBORNE BARONETS OWNED 12,242 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WATERFORD AND 942 ACRES IN COUNTY TIPPERARY

This family claims to be an elder branch of the house of OSBORNE, from which the DUKES OF LEEDS descended.

The Osbornes of Newtown Anner first settled in Ireland in 1558, and were raised to the degree of baronets in the person of  SIR RICHARD OSBORNE (1593-1667), of Ballintaylor, and of Ballylemon, in County Waterford, in 1629, having been appointed by JAMES I, in 1616, with Henry Osborne, Clerk of The King's Courts, and prothonotary within the city and county of Limerick; and in Tipperary, Clerk of the Crown and Peace, and Clerk of the Assizes in the said counties.

During the Civil Wars, taking the side of the usurper Cromwell, he was attacked in his castle of Knockmoan, by the Earl of Castlehaven, in 1645, and compelled to surrender at discretion.

Sir Richard, MP for Waterford County, 1639-49, 1661-66, was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR RICHARD OSBORNE, 2nd Baronet (1618-85), High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1671, MP for Dungarvan, 1639-48, who wedded Elizabeth Carew, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Richard (c1662-1713);
Grace; Elizabeth; Anne.

Sir Richard was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN OSBORNE (c1645-1713), 3rd Baronet, who wedded, in 1699, Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Thomas Walsingham, and granddaughter, maternally, of Theophilus, 2nd Earl of Suffolk; but dying without issue in 1713, the title devolved upon his kinsman,

SIR THOMAS OSBORNE(1639-1715), (grandson of 1st Baronet, through his 2nd son, Nicholas Osborne), 5th Baronet, who married twice.

By his first wife, Katherine Butler, he had issue,

Nicholas, who predeceased him; father of NICHOLAS.

Sir Thomas wedded secondly, in 1704, Anne, youngest daughter of Beverley Usher, but by that lady had no issue.

He died was succeeded by his grandson,

SIR NICHOLAS OSBORNE (1685-1719), 6th Baronet, who married Mary, daughter of the Rt Rev Dr Thomas Smith, Lord Bishop of Limerick.

Dying in 1718 without male issue, the title devolved upon his brother,

SIR JOHN OSBORNE, 7th Baronet (1697-1743), Barrister, MP for Lismore, 1719-27, County Waterford, 1727-43, who wedded Editha, only daughter of William Proby MP, sometime governor of Fort St George, in the East Indies, by whom he had six sons and four daughters.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son, 

THE RT HON SIR WILLIAM OSBORNE, 8th Baronet (1722-83), MP for Carysfort, 1761-83, Dungarvan, 1768-83, who married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of of Thomas Christmas, of Whitfield, County Waterford, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
Charles, a judge;
HENRY, succeeded his brother;
Elizabeth.

Sir William died in 1783, and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

SIR THOMAS OSBORNE (1757-1821), 9th Baronet, MP for Carysfort, 1776-97, who espoused Catherine Rebecca, daughter of Major Robert Smith.

• Sir William Osborne, 10th Baronet (1817-24)
• Sir Henry Osborne, 11th Baronet (d 1837)
• Sir Daniel Toler Osborne, 12th Baronet (1783–1853)
• Sir William Osborne, 13th Baronet (1805-75)
• Sir Charles Stanley Osborne, 14th Baronet (1825-79)
• Sir Francis Osborne, 15th Baronet (1856–1948)
• Sir George Francis Osborne, 16th Baronet (1894–1960)
• Sir Peter George Osborne, 17th Baronet (b 1943)

The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son George Gideon Oliver Osborne (b 1971). The heir apparent's heir apparent is his only son Luke Benedict Osborne. 

Ralph B Osborne owned 942 acres in County Tipperary; and her cousin, Sir Charles Stanley Osborne, 13th Baronet, of Beechwood Park, Nenagh, owned 940 acres in County Tipperary.

Sir Peter George Osborne, 17th and present Baronet (b 1943) co-founded the wallpaper company, Osborne & Little.

The Rt Hon George Gideon Oliver Osborne CH, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 2010-16, First Secretary of State, 2015-16, is heir apparent to the baronetcy.

NEWTOWN ANNER HOUSE (above), near Clonmel, County Tipperary, is a two-storey late-Georgian house with a nine-bay front, the three outer bays breaking forwards and elevated an extra storey above the centre block.

Newtown Anner was formerly a seat of the Osborne Baronets; as was Beechwood Park in County Tipperary.

The doorway has engaged columns and a large semi-circular fanlight over the door and side-lights; with a curved two-storey bow at the side.

The Osbornes purchased the Newtown Anner estate from Clonmel Corporation in 1774, though the present house dates from 1829.

Newtown Anner passed eventually to the 12th Duke of St Albans, grandson of Ralph and Catherine Bernal (nee Osborne).

It was occupied by the Duchess of St Albans in 1906 and was still in that family's possession in the early 1940s.

It is now thought to be the home of Nigel Cathcart.

First published in October, 2011.