Dobbs of Castle Dobbs

THE DOBBS FAMILY OWNED 5,060 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

This family was established in Ulster by  

JOHN DOBBS, only son of Sir Richard Dobbs (a founder of Christ's Hospital and Lord Mayor of London, 1551).

Sir Richard Dobbs. Photo credit: Christ's Hospital Foundation

This John Dobbs accompanied Sir Henry Docwra to the province in 1596, and was subsequently his deputy as treasurer for Ulster.

He wedded, in 1603, Margaret, only child of John Dalway, of Ballyhill, and had two sons, Foulk, who was lost at sea, with his father, in returning from England in 1622; and

HERCULES DOBBS (1613-34), who, succeeding to his father's property, married Magdalen West, of Ballydugan, County Down, and left an only son,

RICHARD DOBBS (1634-1701), of Castle Dobbs, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1664, who wedded, in 1665, Dorothy, daughter and co-heir of Bryan Willans, of Clints Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire, and had (with three daughters), two sons.

Mr Dobbs left his estate to his younger son,

RICHARD DOBBS (1660-1711), of Castle Dobbs, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1694, who espoused firstly, Mary, daughter of Archibald Stewart, of Ballintoy, and had (with two daughters) three sons,

ARTHUR, his heir;
Richard (Rev), Rector of Lisburn;
Marmaduke.

He married secondly, Margaret Clugston, of Belfast, and had three daughters.

Mr Dobbs served in WILLIAM III's army in Ireland until the second siege of Limerick and the Treaty of Surrender.

On the 14th June, 1690, he welcomed Prince William of Orange on his landing in Ulster as Mayor of Carrickfergus.

Mr Dobbs was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR DOBBS (1689-1765), of Castle Dobbs, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1720, MP for Carrickfergus, 1727-41, who wedded Anne, daughter of Captain Osborne, of Timahoe, County Kildare, and widow of Captain Norbury, by whom he had issue.

Arthur Dobbs, 6th Governor of North Carolina

He was appointed Engineer and Surveyor-General of Ireland, by Sir Robert Walpole, and was, in 1753, sent out as Governor of North Carolina, where he acquired large possessions, including 400,000 acres in the colony.

Arthur Dobbs was succeeded by his eldest son,

CONWAY RICHARD DOBBS (1727-1811), of Castle Dobbs, MP for Carrickfergus, 1768-85, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1752, who married firstly, in 1749, Anne, daughter of Alexander Stewart, and had issue,

RICHARD, his heir.

He wedded secondly, Charity, widow of Stephen Rice, of Mount Rice, County Kildare, and daughter of Robert Borrowes, of Kildare, by Mary, his wife, daughter of John O'Neill, of Shane's Castle, and had further issue,

Edward Brice, twice Mayor of Carrickfergus;
Robert Conway (Rev);
Frances.

Mr Dobbs was succeeded by his son,

RICHARD DOBBS (1753-1840), of Castle Dobbs, who espoused, in 1792, Nichola, daughter of Michael Obins, of Portadown, County Armagh, by Nichola his wife, second daughter of Archibald, 1st Viscount Gosford, and had issue,

CONWAY RICHARD, his heir;
Archibald Edward, barrister, father of ARCHIBALD EDWARD DOBBS;
Acheson;
Nichola; Frances; Olivia.

Mr Dobbs was succeeded by his eldest son,

CONWAY RICHARD DOBBS JP DL (1796-1886), of Castle Dobbs, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1841, MP for Carrickfergus, 1832, who married, in 1826, Charlotte Maria, daughter and co-heiress of William Sinclair, of Fort William, County Antrim, and had issue,

Richard Archibald Conway (1842-53);
MONTAGU WILLIAM EDWARD, his heir;
Olivia Nichola; Frances Millicent; Charlotte Louisa Mary; Alicia Hester Caroline;
Harriet Sydney; Nichola Susan; Millicent Georgina Montagu.

He wedded secondly, in 1875, Winifred Susannah, youngest daughter of Benjamin Morris, of Lewes, Sussex.

Mr Dobbs was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

MONTAGU WILLIAM EDWARD DOBBS JP DL (1844-1906), of Castle Dobbs, High Sheriff of County Kildare, 1871, County Antrim, 1888, Barrister, who was succeeded by his cousin,

ARCHIBALD EDWARD DOBBS JP (1838-1916), of Castle Dobbs, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1909, Barrister, who espoused, in 1875, Edith Mary, second daughter of Sir James Timmins Chance Bt, and had issue,

ARTHUR FREDERICK, his heir;
Francis Wellesley;
Archibald Edward.

Mr Dobbs was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR FREDERICK DOBBS DL (1876-1955), High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1921, who married, in 1915, Hylda Louise, daughter of Conway Richard Dobbs Higginson, and had issue,

RICHARD ARTHUR FREDERICK, his heir;
Joan Kathleen.

Mr Dobbs was succeeded by his son and heir,

SIR RICHARD ARTHUR FREDERICK DOBBS KCVO JP, Barrister, Judge of the Circuit Court, 1951-55, Midland Circuit, Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, 1959-94, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, who wedded, in 1953, Carola Day, daughter of Christopher Clarkson, and had issue,

Richard Francis Andrew, b 1955;
Nigel Christopher, b 1957; High Sheriff of County Antrim, 2009;
Matthew Frederick, b 1959;
Nicholas Arthur Montagu, b 1973;
Sophia Carola, b 1965.

The eldest son,

Richard Francis Andrew Dobbs, married, in 1980, the Lady Jane Alexander, sister of 7th Earl of Caledon; divorced in 1999 and had issue, three daughters.

I HAVE written about Castle Dobbs here.

First published in August, 2012.

Louisa Bailie of Ringdufferin

THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT IS FROM FROM THE DOWN RECORDER OF NOVEMBER 9TH, 1941

"TO DIE from a burning accident was the sad fate of a dear old lady, Miss Louisa Bailie, of Ringdufferin, County Down, the last survivor of a family of proud lineage, and held in affectionate respect by the whole countryside."

"The father, Major James Bailie, 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, died in February." [1896]

"Miss Bailie was the youngest of his three daughters. She was aged 80."

"The family had been in possession of Ringdufferin for almost 300 years, having obtained a lease in September, 1668, from Henry, Earl of Clanbrassil."

"No later than last Sunday Miss Bailie attended the service in Killyleagh Parish Church, of which she was an ardent member."

"The Rev. S Mann [sic] conducted the funeral service."

*****

I HAVE BEEN researching the history of the Ringdufferin estate and the Bailies.

Major James Bailie and his family - including Louisa  -  were the last of the Bailies to live there.

Ringdufferin was purchased by the Mackie family in 1945.

I am grateful to the Down Recorder for the above information.

First published in November, 2016.

Ardfert Abbey

THE EARLS OF GLANDORE OWNED 9,913 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY KERRY

This family came into Ireland during the reign of ELIZABETH I when one of the house of CROSBIE, of Great Crosby, in Lancashire, left two sons, Patrick and John.

PATRICK CROSBIE, the elder son, obtained a considerable landed property, and was succeeded by his son,

PIERS CROSBIE (1590-1646),

Who incurred the resentment of the great Earl of Strafford, for opposing in parliament his violent measures, which obliged him to quit the kingdom, when a second prosecution was carried on against him by the Star Chamber, in England, which ended in his confinement in the Fleet, from whence he escaped beyond seas, and continued abroad until Lord Strafford's trial, when he became, in his turn, evidence against him. 

He is said to have been created a baronet by JAMES I, and was a gentleman of the Privy Chamber to CHARLES I, and a Lord of the Privy Council.

Sir Piers died without issue, and bequeathed his estates to his cousins, Walter and David Crosbie.

THE RT REV JOHN CROSBIE, his uncle, Lord Bishop of Ardfert, appointed to that see in 1601, married Winifred, daughter of O'Lalor, of the Queen's County, and had, with four daughters, six sons,

WALTER (Sir), 1st Baronet;
DAVID, ancestor of the EARLS OF GLANDORE;
John (Sir), of Tullyglass, Co Down;
Patrick;
William;
Richard.

The Queen's letter to Lord Deputy Mountjoy, dated from the manor of Oatland, 1601, directing his appointment to the see of Ardfert, describes the Bishop as "a graduate in schools, of the English race, skilled in the English tongue, and well disposed in religion."

He was prebendary of Dysart in the diocese of Limerick.

His lordship died in 1621. His second son,

DAVID CROSBIE (1610-58), Colonel in the army, Governor of Kerry, 1641, stood a siege in Ballingarry Castle for more than twelve months.

He was afterwards governor of Kinsale for CHARLES I.

In 1646, Colonel Crosbie inherited a portion of the estate of his cousin, Sir Piers Crosbie, son of Patrick Crosbie, who had been granted a large portion of The O'More's estate in Leix.

He married a daughter of the Rt Rev John Steere, Lord Bishop of Ardfert, and had, with four daughters, two sons,

THOMAS (Sir), his heir;
Patrick, of Tubrid, Co Kerry.

Colonel Crosbie was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR THOMAS CROSBIE (1650-94), Knight, of Ardfert, High Sheriff of Kerry, 1668, knighted by James, Duke of Ormonde, in consideration of the loyalty of his family during the Usurper's rebellion.

Sir Thomas, MP for County Kerry in the parliament held at Dublin by JAMES II, 1688, refused to take the oath of allegiance to WILLIAM III.

He married firstly, Bridget, daughter of Thomas Tynte, of County Cork, and had issue,

DAVID, father of 1st and 2nd Barons Brandon;
William;
Patrick;
Walter;
Sarah; Bridget.

Sir Thomas wedded secondly, Ellen, daughter of Garrett FitzGerald, of Ballynard, County Limerick, by whom he had no issue; and thirdly, in 1680, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of William Hamilton, of Liscloony, King's County, by whom he had a daughter, Ann, living in 1694, and (with a daughter) four sons,

THOMAS;
John;
Pierce;
Charles;
Ann.

Sir Thomas's eldest son,

DAVID CROSBIE, of Ardfert, wedded Jane, younger daughter and co-heir to William Hamilton.

He died in 1717, and was succeeded by his heir,

SIR MAURICE CROSBIE (1690-1762), Knight, of Ardfert, who married the Lady Elizabeth Anne FitzMaurice, eldest daughter of Thomas, Earl of Kerry.

Sir Maurice, MP for County Kerry, 1713-58, was elevated to the peerage, on his retirement, in the dignity of Baron Brandon, of Brandon, County Kerry.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 2nd Baron (1716-81), MP for Ardfert, 1735-62, who was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1771, as Viscount Crosbie, of Ardfert, County Kerry.

His lordship was further advanced, to the dignity of an earldom, in 1776, as EARL OF GLANDORE.

He married firstly, in 1745, the Lady Theodosia Bligh, daughter of John, Earl of Darnley; and secondly, in 1777, Jane, daughter of Edward Vesey.

His lordship was succeeded by his only surviving son,

JOHN, 2nd Earl (1753-1815), PC, MP for Athboy, 1775.

The 2nd Earl chose to sit for the latter, and held the seat until 1781, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the Irish House of Lords. He was sworn of the Irish Privy Council in 1785.

In 1789, he was appointed Joint Master of the Rolls in Ireland alongside the Earl of Carysfort; was married in London, in 1771, by Frederick Cornwallis, Archbishop of Canterbury, to the Hon Diana, daughter of George, 1st Viscount Sackville. The marriage was childless.

The earldom and viscountcy expired on his death; the barony, however, reverted to his lordship's cousin,

THE REV DR WILLIAM CROSBIE, as 4th Baron (1771-1832), son of the Very Rev and Hon Maurice Crosbie, Dean of Limerick, younger son of the 1st Baron.

His lordship wedded, in 1815, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of David La Touche, of Upton, by whom he had a daughter,

THE HON ELIZABETH CECILIA CROSBIE, who married, in 1837, Henry Galgacus Redhead Yorke MP.

The 4th Baron served as rector of Castle Island in County Kerry.

On his death, in 1832, the titles expired.

ARDFERT ABBEY, Ardfert, County Kerry, was a mansion originally built at the end of the 17th century by Sir Thomas Crosbie.

It was renovated in 1720 by Sir Maurice Crosbie (afterwards 1st Lord Brandon), and further altered about 1830.

The house comprised a two-storey block with seven-bay front, the two outer bays on either side breaking forwards and framed by quoins.

There was a pedimented centre; plain rectangular door-case; and a high, eaved roof on a modillion cornice.

The front was elongated by lower two-storey wings which protruded forwards at right angles to it, thus forming an open forecourt.

Inside the house, the panelled hall was decorated with figures painted in monochrome on panels.

There was an early 18th century staircase and gallery; Corinthian newels, and more panelling on the landing.

A large drawing-room boasted compartmented plasterwork on the ceiling.

Here there was a full-length Reynolds portrait of Lady Glandore.

The gardens had an early formal layout: sunken parterre; yew alleys; trees cut into an arcade; avenues of beech, lime and elm.

A ruined Franciscan friary was in the grounds.

The mansion was burnt to the ground by the IRA ca 1922, and all that remains are some relics of the formal garden.

Ardfert Abbey (or House) eventually passed to the 2nd Earl of Glandore's sister, the Lady Anne Crosbie, who married William John Talbot in 1775.

Her eldest son,

The Rev John Talbot-Crosbie MA, of Ardfert House, married Jane, daughter of Colonel Thomas Lloyd, in 1811; was MP for Ardfert, prior to taking Holy Orders.

In 1816, his name was legally changed to John Talbot-Crosbie.

He died in 1818.

His eldest son,

William Talbot Talbot-Crosbie JP DL (1817-99), of Ardfert House, High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1848.

He married firstly, Susan Anne, daughter of Hon Lindsey Merrick Peter Burrell, in 1839. He married secondly, Emma, daughter of Hon Lindsey Merrick Peter Burrell, in 1853. He married thirdly, Mary Jane, daughter of Maj.-Gen. Sir Henry Torrens, in 1868 at Edinburgh. In 1880, his name was legally changed to William Talbot Talbot-Crosbie.

His youngest son,

Lindsey Bertie Talbot-Crosbie JP DL (1844-1913), married Anne Crosbie, daughter of Colonel Edward Thomas Coke and Diana Talbot-Crosbie, in 1871; Lieutenant, RN; High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1903. His 2nd son,

John Burrell Talbot-Crosbie (1873-1969), of Ardfert House, married Mary, daughter of Gilbert Leitch, in 1910.

The marriage was childless.

Mr Talbot-Crosbie sold Ardfert House (the garden gates being re-erected outside the parish church in Tralee as a memorial to the Crosbie family).

It stood close to Ardfert Village, next to Ardfert Friary with extensive surrounding grounds.

The house was evacuated by the Crosbies and most of its furniture and belongings removed prior to it being burned by the IRA in August, 1922.

Article from a publication written thereafter: The Lord Danesfort:

"May I give two illustrations of damage to property since the truce, and of the manner in which it has been treated? I take the case of Mr. Talbot-Crosby, and I mention his name because his case was fully reported in the Cork newspapers of May last."

"What happened was this. His house, Ardfert Abbey, was burnt to the ground at the end of 1922, or the beginning of 1923. In May, 1924, his case came before the County Court Judge. It was, I venture to think, a most astounding case."

"It was admitted that if, at or shortly before the time when the house was burnt, Mr. Talbot Crosby had been in residence, he would have been entitled, I think, to a sum of something like £21,000 compensation."

"But the counsel or solicitor who appeared for the Free State at that hearing raised this extraordinary defence. He pointed to a section in the Act of 1923 to the effect that if the house was not at the time of the damage maintained as a residence by the applicant, the applicant should only get what they called market value."

"Then he went on to argue that Mr. Talbot Crosby had been driven out of his house by threats of violence some few months before; therefore, his compensation, which would otherwise be £21,000, should be reduced to £2,250."

"Did ever such a travesty of justice come before the Court of any civilised country in the world?"

"It comes to this, that if there is a ruffianly body in Ireland desirous of getting rid of a man, turning him out of his house and country and destroying his property, all it has to do is to terrorise him, shoot at him, turn him out of Ireland, and having allowed a few weeks, or whatever time this Court thinks necessary, to elapse after he has left Ireland, then to burn his house down and otherwise destroy his property."

"Then, when he comes to ask for compensation, he only gets one-tenth of what he would otherwise receive. I hope the noble Lord will see the gravity of a ease of that sort. I have already given him particulars of it, and I trust he has applied to the Free State and is able to give me the explanation that they offer." 

Former Dublin residence ~ Fitzwilliam Square.

First published in August, 2013.   Glandore arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

1st Marquess of Tweeddale

THE MARQUESSES OF TWEEDDALE WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN HADDINGTONSHIRE, WITH 20,468 ACRES

This illustrious family, and that of HAY, Earls of Erroll, are descended from a common ancestor, namely, WILLIAM II DE HAYA, who settled in Lothian more than eight centuries ago, and filled the office of royal butler during the reigns of MALCOLM IV and WILLIAM THE LION, kings of Scotland.

From the youngest son of this personage lineally descended

JOHN HAY (1450-1508), who was elevated to the peerage, in 1488, in the dignity of Lord Hay of Yester; which barony descended, uninterruptedly, to

JOHN, 8th Lord (1593-1653), who inherited, at the decease of his father, in 1609, and was created, in 1646, Earl of Tweeddale.

His lordship married firstly, in 1624, the Lady Jean Seton, daughter of Alexander, 1st Earl of Dunfermline; and secondly, 1641, the Lady Margaret Montgomerie, daughter of Alexander, 6th Earl of Eglinton.

He was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 2nd Earl (1626-97), LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF SCOTLAND; who was advanced, in 1694, to the dignities of Viscount Walden, Earl of Gifford, and MARQUESS OF TWEEDDALE.

His lordship married the Lady Jane Scott, daughter of Walter, 1st Earl of Buccleuch, by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

His eldest son,

JOHN, 2nd Marquess (1645-1713), wedded, in 1666, the Lady Anne Maitland, only daughter and heiress of John, Duke of Lauderdale, by whom he had three sons; of whom the eldest,

CHARLES, 3rd Marquess (1670-1762), was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 4th Marquess (1695-1762), whose son,

GEORGE, 5th Marquess (1758-70), died a minor, when the family honours reverted to his uncle,

GEORGE, 6th Marquess (1700-87), who died without issue, when the family honours reverted to his kinsman,

GEORGE, 7th Marquess (1753-1804), great-grandson of John, 2nd Marquess (through his youngest son, Lord William Hay), who married, in 1785, the Lady Hannah Charlotte Maitland, daughter of James, Earl of Lauderdale, and had issue,

GEORGE, 8th Marquess (1787-1876).

• George Hay, 8th Marquess (1787–1876);
  • George Hay, Earl of Gifford (1822-62);
• Arthur Hay, 9th Marquess (1824-78);
• William Montagu Hay, 10th Marquess (1826–1911);
• William George Montagu Hay, 11th Marquess (1884–1967);
  • Lord Hay (1928–1928);
• David George Montagu Hay, 12th Marquess (1921-79);
• Edward Douglas John Hay, 13th Marquess (1947–2005);
• Charles David Montagu Hay, 14th Marquess (b 1947).

The heir presumptive is the present holder's younger brother Lord Alistair James Montagu Hay, Master of Tweeddale (b 1955).

YESTER HOUSE, near Gifford, Haddingtonshire, was built by the architect James Smith for John, 2nd Marquess of Tweeddale.

Smith was assisted by his partner Alexander MacGill and although work began in 1697, progress was slow and the house was not completed for more than 20 years.

By 1729, the 4th Marquess was already planning modernisation.

He turned to William Adam, who provided a new roof, some exterior detail and remodelled the interior.

The saloon, by William, John and Robert Adam, was described by painter Gavin Hamilton (1723-98) as "the finest room at least in Scotland".

None of Smith's original interior remains today, but the Adam work is of remarkable quality.

Robert Adam was commissioned once again to restyle the exterior (1789), but only the north side was completed due to Adam's death in 1792.

The architect Robert Brown re-oriented the interior in the 1830s, moving the main entrance to the West.

In order to achieve this, the west wing was demolished.

The original entrance was converted to a dining-room and the garden parlour to a fine drawing-room.

Robert Rowand Anderson made further changes (1877).

The estate was sold after the death of the 12th Marquess in 1967.

In 1972, it was bought by the Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti.

After Menotti's death, the house was marketed by his family with a price of between £12 million and £15 million.

The house is said to have a gross internal area of 34,580 square feet.

In September, 2010, the guide price was reduced to £8 million, with the exclusion of 120 hectares (300 acres) of woodlands from the sale; and two months later, it was reported that the house was being purchased by the musician Lady Gaga, although this was denied by the estate agent.

Yester was built on the site of a previous 16th Century tower house, which itself had been a replacement for the original 13th Century Yester Castle, the ruins of which are still to be found a mile to the south-east.

First published in December, 2013.  Tweeddale arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Stormont Castle: House Party

House Party at Stormont Castle (Image: Victoria & Albert Museum). CLICK TO ENLARGE

 On or about the 27th February, 1923, about two years after the foundation of Northern Ireland, a house party was held at Stormont Castle, Belfast.

The party was given by Sir James Craig (first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland) on the occasion of the official state entry into Belfast of James, Duke of Abercorn, as first Governor of Northern Ireland.

Lord Londonderry is seen wearing the star and sash of the Order of the Garter; whereas the Duke and Lord Pirrie wear the stars and sashes of the Order of St Patrick.

Those seated on the front row, from the left, included:-

1. The Rt Hon the Viscountess Pirrie
2. Lady Craig, later the Viscountess Craigavon
3. The Rt Hon Sir James Craig Bt, later 1st Viscount Craigavon
4. The Most Hon the 7th Marquess of Londonderry KG MVO
5. His Grace the 3rd Duke of Abercorn KG KP
6. Her Grace the Duchess of Abercorn
7. The Rt Hon the 1st Viscount Pirrie KP PC

Those standing in the back row included:-

1. The Hon James Craig,  later 2nd Viscount Craigavon (2)
2. Colonel J K McClintock CBE (4)
3. Commander Oscar Henderson DSO CVO CBE RN (5)
4. Sir Stephen George Tallents KCMG CB CBE (6)

The photograph and information is reproduced by kind permission of the Victoria & Albert Museum.

First published in December, 2020.

Tyrone House

THE ST GEORGES OWNED 15,777 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY GALWAY

CHRISTOPHER FRENCH, of Tyrone, Dunkellin, County Galway (son of Jeffry French, of Mulpitt, County Galway, d 1610), settled his estate in 1675, and died intestate, 1676, leaving issue, by Jane his wife,

ARTHUR, his heir;
Jeffry;
Robert.

The eldest son,

ARTHUR FRENCH, of Tyrone, County Galway, Mayor of Galway, 1691, son of Christopher French, of Tyrone (who died in 1676), left issue by his first wife, Mary, daughter of Sir John Kirwan, two sons,

CHRISTOPHER, his heir;
Julian.

He wedded secondly, in 1691, Sarah, only daughter of Ulick Burke, of Clare, County Galway, and had further issue,

Simon Arthur Hyacinth;
ARTHUR, ancestor of FRENCH OF CLOONYQUIN;
Jeffry;
Patrick;
Christopher;
Edmund;
Ellen; Jane; Mary; another daughter.

Mr French died in 1712, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER FRENCH, of Tyrone, County Galway, conformed in 1704, who married, in 1699, Margery, third daughter of Ariel Farrell, of Cloonyquin, by Sarah his wife, daughter of Ulick Burke, and had issue,

ARTHUR, his heir;
Patrick;
Christopher;
James;
Jane; Juliane; Sarah; Mary; Margery; Rosa.

The eldest son,

ARTHUR FRENCH, of Tyrone, appellant in the case of French v Caddell in the House of Lords, 1764-5, wedded, in 1736, Olivia, eldest daughter of John Ussher MP, of Carrick, by his wife, the HON MARY ST GEORGE, only daughter and heir of GEORGE, 1st BARON ST GEORGE, of Hatley St George, Cambridgeshire, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, his heir;
Olivia; Julia; Nicola.

Mr French died in 1779, and was succeeded by his only son,

CHRISTOPHER FRENCH (1754-1826), of Tyrone, who assumed, in 1774, the surname of ST GEORGE, in compliance with the settlement of his great-grandfather, Lord St George.

He espoused, in 1778, Anne, eldest daughter of Henry Bingham, of Newbrook, County Mayo, and had issue,

ARTHUR, his heir;
Letitia; Olivia.

Mr French was succeeded bu his only son,

ARTHUR FRENCH ST GEORGE (1780-1844), who married, in 1801, the Lady Harriet St Lawrence, eldest daughter of William, 2nd Earl of Howth, and co-heir of her mother, the Lady Mary Bermingham, second daughter and co-heir of Thomas, 1st Earl of Louth, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, his heir;
Arthur St George;
Mary; Matilda; Louisa; Anne; Harriet.

Mr St George was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER ST GEORGE JP DL (1810-77), MP for Galway, 1847-52, who wedded, in 1852, Honoria Kane, and had issue, three daughters,

Katherine; Josephine; Elizabeth.

KATHERINE ST GEORGE and JOSEPHINE BROWNE, co-heirs of Christopher St George, succeeded their father in 1877.

The eldest daughter,

KATHERINE ST GEORGE (d 1934), of Tyrone House, married, in 1874, Robert James Ker St George, grandson of Sir Richard Bligh St George, 2nd Baronet, and had issue,

Richard Christopher Bligh;
Arthur French;
Robert Charles Cecil;
Rosamund Frances Katherine; Gladys Alienora; Josephine.

Entrance Front (Image: Tripadvisor)

TYRONE HOUSE, near Clarinbridge, County Galway, was a Georgian mansion of 1779, built for Christopher French St George, reputedly by the architect John Roberts of Waterford.

It comprised three storeys over a basement, with two bays on either side of a central, three-bay breakfront.

The house had many balustrades, including one at the grand steps leading up to the hall door.

There were prominent quoins at the breakfront and sides.

There were six bays on the garden front.

The Hall was noted for its fine plasterwork.

There was a niche containing a life-size marble statue of Lord St George, surmounted by a baron's coronet.

The St Georges stopped living in the house in 1905.

Sadly, in 1920 Tyrone House was gutted by a malicious fire, and thereafter it became a visitor attraction for people in the neighbouring towns and villages.

Tyrone House (Image: Tripadvisor)

The great mansion house is now ruinous, bereft of its park and woodland.

I'm grateful to Robert O'Byrne ~ the Irish Aesthete ~ for use of the coat-of-arms of the St Georges at the top of this article.

He has written a book about Tyrone House.

Castle Archdale Pictures

PETER ARCHDALE HAS SENT ME PHOTOGRAPHS OF CASTLE ARCHDALE MANOR HOUSE, COUNTY FERMANAGH

The Georgian manor house had a basement, accessible from the courtyard at the rear.

The courtyard still exists and is in excellent condition.

One side of the courtyard served as a hostel (the side facing the lough and the huge elevated water tanks) until ca 2004.

I stayed in the Castle Archdale hostel on several occasions until 2004, when it closed its doors for the last time. The person who managed it was, I think, called Stephen. The male dormitory was on the ground floor; and the female section was upstairs. I'm told that one or two occupants upstairs had complained about bats in the rafters! When the hostel closed down, business was transferred to a new hostel at the Clinton Centre in Enniskillen (which has since closed down itself).

The elevated water tanks were painted green (as far as I recall) and could be seen as a landmark from vessels on Lough Erne. 

The colour image was taken prior to demolition in the 1970s: Clicking on it will greatly enhance the detail.

The manor house was derelict by 1959, and was swept away ca 1975; as was the north gate lodge.

First published in August, 2010.

1st Baron Kelvin

The family of THOMSON, of whom we are about to treat, is of Scottish origin. In 1641, it is said that three brothers, James, John and Robert Thomson, migrated from the lowlands of Scotland, during the troubled times of the civil war.

JOHN THOMSON settled in County Down, at Ballymaglave, and for nearly two centuries his descendants continued to occupy a farm called Annaghmore, near Spa, Ballynahinch.

John Thomson's grandson, 

JAMES THOMSON, had three sons: John, Robin and James Thomson (ca 1738-).

The first two sons, John and Robin, both migrated to Buffalo Valley, New York ca 1755.

On his house, on a quoin of a building now used as a barn, this James Thomson, grandson of John Thomson, cut his name, bearing the date 1707.

The youngest son,

JAMES THOMSON, born about 1738, stayed in Scotland, and married, in 1768, Agnes Nesbitt, who bore him three sons: Robert, John and James Thomson (mathematician).

At this period the Thomsons owned about one quarter of the townland of Ballymaglave.

JAMES THOMSON (1786-1849), of Annaghmore, near Ballynahinch, County Down, was a teacher of mathematics and engineering at Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst).

Although originally Scottish, the family were Presbyterians who had been forced to leave Ayrshire in the 1640s during the struggle between the episcopacy of CHARLES I and the Covenanters. They settled in Ulster. James Thomson's father, also called James, was a farmer. 

He married Margaret Gardner in 1817 and, of their children, four boys and two girls survived infancy. 

Margaret Thomson died in 1830 when their son William was only six years old. 

WILLIAM THOMSON was born at 17, College Square East, Belfast, on the 26th June, 1824.

College Square East, Belfast

In 1832, his father was appointed professor of mathematics at Glasgow and the family relocated there in October, 1833.

The Thomson children were introduced to a broader cosmopolitan experience than their father's rural upbringing, spending the summer of 1839 in London; the boys were tutored in French, in Paris. 

The summer of 1840 was spent in Germany and the Netherlands. Language study was given a high priority.

William Thomson was educated at Glasgow University from the age of eleven and at Peterhouse, Cambridge. 

In 1846 he became Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow, a post which he held for fifty-three years. 

In 1852 he married Margaret, daughter of Walter Crum of Thornliebank, who died in 1870; and in 1874 he married Frances Anna, daughter of Charles R Blandy, of Madeira.

He discovered the second law of thermodynamics, but also carried out considerable research on electric currents which was to prove invaluable in submarine telegraphy and accounted for the success of the Atlantic cables. 

Kelvin Memorial Window at Westminster Abbey

He also devised a more accurate way of determining the size of the earth.

He invented depth-sounding apparatus, tide gauges, a new type of ship's compass, and instruments for measuring electricity. 

In 1866 he was granted a knighthood.

Sir William was elevated to the peerage, in 1892, in the dignity of BARON KELVIN, of Largs, Ayrshire.

In 1896, Lord Kelvin was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order; and in 1902 he received the Order of Merit, thus becoming the Rt Hon the Lord Kelvin OM GCVO PC.

An exhibition of his inventions in 1896 attended by prominent international scientists was held as part of his fifty years' service as professor.

He wrote prolifically and his works are collected as Mathematical and Physical Papers. 

Lord Kelvin died in Scotland on the 17th December, 1907, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Lord Kelvin's statue stands at the entrance to Botanic Gardens, Belfast. 

The Kelvin temperature scale is a memorial to his name.

Lord Kelvin was an Elder of St Columba's Parish Church, Largs, for many years.

It was to that church that his remains were taken after his death in 1907.

Following the funeral service there, his remains were taken to his beloved University of Glasgow for a service of remembrance before interment at Westminster Abbey, near the final resting place of Sir Isaac Newton.

Lord Kelvin died without issue, when the title expired.

First published in May, 2011.

Michael Edward (Bear) Grylls OBE

Bear Grylls OBE (Honorary Colonel, Royal Marines Reserve)

SAMUEL SMILES (1812-1904), born in Haddington, East Lothian, married Mary Anne Holmes, and was father of

WILLIAM HOLMES SMILES (1846-1904), of Woodhouse, Yorkshire, and Belfast, Managing Director, Belfast Ropework Company, who wedded, in 1874, Lucy Dorling, by whom he had numerous issue, of whom

SIR WALTER DORLING SMILES CIE DSO DL (1883-1953), of Portavo Point, Donaghadee, County Down, MP for Blackburn, 1931-45, North Down, 1945-50, who wedded Margaret Heigway, and had issue, an only child,

PATRICIA SMILES (1921-95),  MP for North Down, 1953-55, who married firstly, in 1941, Captain Neville Montagu Ford, son of the Very Rev Dr Lionel Ford, Dean of York, Headmaster, Harrow School, and had issue, two daughters,

SARAH (Sally) SMILES JUSTICE, of whom hereafter;

Mary.

Mrs Patricia Ford wedded secondly, in 1956, Sir Nigel Fisher MP, without further issue.

Portavo Point House (Timothy Ferres, November, 2022)

The elder daughter,

SARAH (Sally) SMILES JUSTICE FORD (Lady Grylls), married, in 1965, William Michael John Grylls (Sir Michael Grylls MP), and had issue,

MICHAEL EDWARD;

Lara Sarah.

The only son,

MICHAEL EDWARD "Bear" GRYLLS OBE (1974-), adventurer, explorer, writer, television presenter, married, in 2000, Shara Cannings Knight, and has issue, three sons,

Jesse;

Marmaduke;

Huckleberry.

The Smiles Papers are deposited at PRONI.

First published in November, 2022.

Dundarave: Lodges

Dundarave Main Entrance in 2014

During a visit to Portballintrae and Bushmills, County Antrim, my curiosity was aroused by the boundary walls and gate lodges of Dundarave estate, erstwhile seat of the Macnaghten Baronets.

The main gate lodge, and the closest to Bushmills, is almost opposite the Clay Field.

Main Entrance Lodge in 2014

This is easily the grandest of the lodges, of which there used to be four in total.

J A K Dean, in his Gate Lodges of Ulster, describes it thus:-

"A mini-palazzo ... and its grand porte-cochère ... the extensive gate-screen of tall, square, sandstone piers with restrained friezes below moulded cappings ... Wide, double, cast-iron carriage gates flanked by wicket gates and concave sweeps beyond."

There is a modest, plain lodge - almost like a cottage -  at a side entrance which leads to a courtyard.

At the rear entrance to the estate there is another charming little lodge.

Dundarave estate now comprises 1,300 acres of land; though during the Victorian era its extent was 7,134 acres.

First published in 2014.

Merry Christmas

Cathedral Church of Saint Anne, Belfast (Six Mile Images)

Wishing my readers, followers and friends a very merry Christmas

The Firewood Poem

THE FIREWOOD POEM, COMPOSED BY LADY CONGREVE, IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES NEWSPAPER ON THE 2ND MARCH, 1930:-

Beechwood fires are bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year,

Chestnut's only good they say,

If for logs 'tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,

Death within your house will be;

But ash new or ash old,

Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast

Blaze up bright and do not last,

It is by the Irish said

Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,

E'en the very flames are cold

But ash green or ash brown

Is fit for a queen with golden crown.

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,

Fills your eyes and makes you choke,

Apple wood will scent your room

Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom.

Oaken logs, if dry and old

keep away the winter's cold

But ash wet or ash dry

a king shall warm his slippers by.

Pheasant Percy

I like the festive tale of Percy the Pheasant, as originally revealed by BBC Northern Ireland.

Pupils at a County Down primary school took a beady-eyed friend under their wing - but the creature appears to have ruffled a few feathers.

Percy the pheasant took up residence in the grounds of Towerview Primary School in Bangor.

He lived there for two months and was particularly fond of the playground.

Percy followed the children around all day, sat in the front porch when it was raining, loitered around the dinner ladies looking for snacks, and peered through the assembly windows to listen to the songs.

As Christmas Day approached, however, the school principal, Alan Brown, suggested that Percy could soon be on a dinner plate.

Why?

Well, it seemed Percy had taken a dislike to the headmaster.

When he saw Mr Brown he attacked his shoes which became full of holes.

"The reason I dared to suggest to pupils that he would be on my Christmas dinner list was that he suddenly became a little aggressive towards my black shoes." 

"He arrived about four or five weeks ago as a small animal and he loves to walk behind me as I go to greet parents in the morning and walks out with me in the afternoon as well."

The headmaster said Percy has started to rule the roost, deliveries were having to be taken via another door and even the caretaker had taken to wearing hobnailed boots.

All the children were horrified at the headmaster's proposal and wrote letters begging for mercy for Percy.

They also made placards in protest.

Primary Seven pupil Amber McGimpsey said,

"He is great, he's very colourful. He mainly goes into the key stage one playground and we feed him at lunchtime. He likes most people except Mr Brown".

Luckily for the pupils, the principal said he had 'grown to love' Percy, so the bird remained safe for another year.

First published in December, 2012.

Norwood Tower Painting

I visited Mrs Primrose Henderson in 2011.

Her late husband was Captain Oscar William James (Bill) Henderson OBE DL.

The Hendersons once owned the Belfast Newsletter newspaper.

Brum Henderson, CBE, ran Ulster Television for many years.

Mrs Henderson generously gave me permission to photograph the family's 1864 oil-painting of the old family home, Norwood Tower, Strandtown, Belfast.

Norwood Tower, which stood between Circular Road and Sydenham Avenue in east Belfast, was their home until 1934.

West Lodge ca 1845 (Drawing by the Rev J McC Auld)

The grounds extended to about fifty acres.

On the large, ten-acre field to the east of the former mansion, Norwood Park and Norwood Gardens were built.

Mrs Henderson recalled, as a girl, riding her pony across a track through the grounds to the stables and house itself (presumably in the 1930s).

Primrose Henderson's mother was Gundreda Forrest (née Ewart), daughter of Sir William Quartus Ewart Bt.

Miss Florence Henderson bequeathed Norwood Tower to a distant cousin and baronet, Sir Christopher Musgrave, rather than her nephew Oscar Henderson.

The Musgraves resided at Norwood for 20 years.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2011) Click to enlarge

The painting is dated March, 1864, and entitled NORWOOD TOWER, Seat of J A Henderson, Esq; painted by Hugh Fraser, ex-Professor of Painting of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2011) Click to enlarge

This painting, together with another one of Norwood Tower, was discovered by the Rt Hon Terence O'Neill DL MP [the Lord O'Neill of the Maine] in the auction rooms of Messrs Robert Stirling, Antrim, in the autumn of 1957. 

They were given as a present by him to Captain OWJ Henderson MP, with the instructions that he was to keep one of them and the other was to be given to his brother, Mr RB Henderson.

It would seem likely that these paintings were sold by Musgrave when he came into possession of Norwood Tower on the death of Miss Florence Henderson, great-aunt of Bill and Brum Henderson. 

At the time when Sir Christopher inherited Norwood Tower, it was known that he sold as many of the Henderson family's possessions as possible; and it is indeed surprising that, over twenty years later, these two paintings should be discovered in Antrim by Captain O'Neill and returned to the Henderson family.

Norwood Tower was sold and demolished in ... 1955 and the site is now part of suburbia; and, at the present time, August 1958, only the gate lodge remains standing; and this will, itself, be shortly demolished.

First published in May, 2011.