Drumnasole House

THE TURNLYS OWNED 6,503 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The Turnlys of Drumnasole descend from an scion of the old Norman family of Turnley, who accompanied Cromwell to Ireland, and settled in that country. The English line continued, and was represented by JOSEPH TURNLEY JP DL, of London, Master of Merchant Taylors Company, and Deputy Governor of the Honourable the Irish Society, 1856.

 An immediate ancestor of the Drumnasole family held lands in County Down; but his widow, who had control of the property, married for her second husband a Mr Wilson, and to her children by him she devised Mr Turnly's estate.

FRANCIS TURNLY JP (1732-1801), of Newtownards, County Down, one of the principal merchants of Belfast, married, in 1760, Catherine Black, of Bordeaux, France, and had issue with four daughters, three sons,

JOHN (1764-1841), of Rockport House; dsp;
FRANCIS, of whom presently;
Alexander.

The second son,

FRANCIS TURNLY (c1765-1845), of Drumnasole, County Antrim, and RICHMOND LODGE, County Down, High Sheriff of County Down, 1806, County Antrim, 1824, wedded, in 1804, Dorothea Emilia, daughter of John Rochfort, of Clogrennane, County Carlow, and granddaughter of Robert Burgh, of Birt, and had issue,

John, died in infancy;
Francis, died unmarried, 1820;
Robert Alexander (1805-85), of Drumnasole, died unmarried;
Joseph, died unmarried;
JOHN, of whom presently;
Charles Horace, d 1885;
Dorothea Anna, d 1885;
Catherine, d 1906.

Mr Turnly, born at RICHMOND LODGE, spent his early life in China, and obtained a high position there, realizing a considerable fortune, viz. £70,000 (£5 million today) with the East India Company.

The Turnlys were prominent merchants during the 17th and 18th centuries, involved with multifarious trading enterprises in and around Belfast.

Francis Turnly and Narcissus Batt imported alcoholic products from Holland and the Channel Islands.

They became business partners, running a brewery at one time, probably supplying the publicans of the local area.

The fifth son,

JOHN TURNLY JP DL (1818-1909), of Drumnasole, wedded, in 1850, Charlotte Emily, daughter of the Rt Hon Edward Litton QC, Master in Chancery in Ireland, and had issue,

FRANCIS JOHN SEYMOUR, of whom presently;
John Edward Litton Alexander, b 1869;
Sophia Dorothea; Dorothea Vescina; Charlotte Augusta Anne;
Flora Eugenie; Catherine Beatrice; Nina Rochfort; Gertrude; Hilda.

The eldest son,

FRANCIS JOHN SEYMOUR TURNLY JP (1862-1934), of Drumnasole, married, in 1896, Hessie Metcalfe McNeill, daughter of Charles Higginson, of Springmount, County Antrim, and had issue,

John Francis, 1898-1918, killed in action;
ARCHIBALD GORDON EDWARD, of whom we treat;
Mary Dorothea Rochfort, b 1900.

Mr Turnly's only surviving son,

MAJOR ARCHIBALD GORDON EDWARD TURNLY DL (1902-), High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1949, wedded, in 1933, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Alexander Young, of Lisvarna, Ballycastle, County Antrim, and had issue,

JOHN FRANCIS CECIL TURNLY, a local politician and activist, who was murdered in 1980.

DRUMNASOLE HOUSE, near Garron Point, County Antrim, is a country house of ca 1810, described in 1845 as "a most romantic and sheltered site at the base of the perpendicular hills".

Building began before 1819 and was finished ca 1840.

It was built near the site of an earlier house of the same name which had been occupied in the 1760s by the Donaldson family; and in the 1780s by Francis Shaw, who sold the estate to Francis Turnly in 1808.

Turnly had amassed a considerable amount of money while in China in the 1790s, and following his return to Ulster in 1801, he bought two estates, one at Drumnasole and another at Cushendall.

To facilitate his frequent journeys between the two, he cut first the Red Arch near Waterfoot in 1817, and then the Split Rock, known locally as Turnly's Cut, near Garron Point in 1822, thus creating a predecessor of the present coast road.

Turnly also erected the building in Cushendall known as Turnly's Tower.

Elsewhere in the Drumnasole estate Turnly built a schoolhouse ca 1820, and a descendant built a gate lodge about 1860.

Drumnasole House is built of basalt from the hill behind, of two storeys over a basement.

The entrance front has a breakfront centre with windows flanked by two narrower windows above.

A fan-lighted doorway is under a shallow porch of four engaged Doric columns below, one bay on either side. The side elevation comprises five bays.

The long hall with a plasterwork ceiling; the stairwell lit by a dome.

The gate-lodge is at the Antrim coast road entrance.

According to newspaper reports on the 22nd May, 1922, Drumnasole House was burnt (the extent of the damage, however, is unclear).

Photo Credit © Rev John McConnell Auld

Richmond Lodge, Knocknagoney, County Down, another property of the Turnlys, was eventually acquired by the Dunville family, who moved there in 1845.

Plans showed a long drive-way leading to the house and extensive grounds, substantial enough for Captain R L (Bobby) Dunville to establish a private zoo there during the 1920s.

First published in December, 2010.

Magherintemple House

THE CASEMENTS OWNED 3,312 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

This family came over to Ulster from Ramsey, Isle of Man, early in the 18th century.

HUGH CASEMENT (c1720-97), of Bessvale, Ballinderry, County Antrim, married, in 1740, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev George Higginson, Rector of Ballinderry, and had issue,

George, surgeon RN; father of Maj-Gen Sir William Casement KCB;
ROGER, of whom presently;
Thomas;
Higginson;
Mary; Eleanor; Jane.

Maj-Gen Sir William Casement KCB (Image: National Army Museum)

The second son,

ROGER CASEMENT (c1756-1832), of Harryville, County Antrim, wedded firstly, Catherine, daughter of the Rev Joseph Cosnahan, of Peel, Isle of Man, and had issue,

William;
John;
George;
Hugh, grandfather of (Sir) Roger David Casement CMG;
Julius;
Roger;
THOMAS, of whom presently;
Robert (Rev);
Francis;
Cornelius;
Elizabeth; Catherine; Elinor; Rosetta.

He espoused secondly, in 1819, Margaret, daughter of Andrew McQuilty, and had, with further issue,

Roger;
George, of Fenagh, Co Antrim, barrister;
JOHN, succeeded his half-brother;
Julius;
Margaret; Elizabeth; Ann.

Mr Casement's seventh son,

THOMAS CASEMENT JP (1799-1874), of Ballee House, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1874, married, in 1848, Dorinda Deborah, daughter of Thomas Abbot JP, of Mount Bellew, County Galway, and left an only daughter and heiress,

CATHERINE COSNAHAN CASEMENT, of Ballee House, who wedded, in 1869, COLONEL ELDRED THOMAS POTTINGER, Royal Artillery.

Thomas Casement's half brother,

JOHN CASEMENT JP (1825-1902), of Magherintemple, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1881, married firstly, in 1849, Charlotte, daughter of Brabazon Newcomen, of Camla House, County Rosscommon, and had issue,

ROGER, of whom presently;
Brabazon Newcomen, MD.
John, Rear-Admiral.

Mr Casement wedded secondly, in 1859, Charlotte, daughter of Alexander Miller, of Ballycastle.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROGER CASEMENT JP DL (1850-1928), of Magherintemple, who married, in 1877, Susanna, daughter of James Beatty, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Francis, Maj-Gen, DSO; father of FRANCIS CHARLES CASEMENT;
Roger Hugh;
Robert James;
Edgar Reginald.

The eldest son,

JOHN CASEMENT DSO DL (1880-1944), of Magherintemple, Captain, Royal Navy, married, in 1916, ANNA BEATRICE, daughter of John Frederick William Hodges, of Glenravel, County Antrim, though the marriage was without male issue.

His widow,

ANNA BEATRICE, MRS CASEMENT OBE (1887-1975), inherited Magherintemple for her lifetime, with reversion to her nephew,

FRANCIS CHARLES CASEMENT JP DL (1920-76), of Magherintemple, Major, Royal Artillery, who wedded, in 1942, Lesley, daughter of Captain Cecil Richard Brown, and had issue,

Hugh Francis, b 1947;
Patrick John, b 1951;
Robert Charles, b 1953;
Sarah Lindesay; Anne Louisa; Susan Catherine.

*****

Patrick Casement, OBE, was Chairman of the National Trust's  Northern Ireland Committee, 2000-2010. 

He is a zoology graduate from Oxford and holds a masters degree in Ecology; farms a large beef and sheep farm; has previously served on the Northern Ireland Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside. 

MAGHERINTEMPLE HOUSE, near Ballycastle, County Antrim, was built ca 1875 in the Scottish-Baronial style, the seat of the Casement family.

Mr Roger Casement (Sir Roger Casement CMG) was a member of this family.

Magherintemple House (Image: Twitter)

An earlier, quite modest, house called Churchfield was described in 1835 as being a plain two storey dwelling, the property of the Casement family from 1790.

It was considerably enlarged in 1874-75 for John Casement, adding an austere Scottish-baronial block in Ballyvoy stone with gate lodge in matching style.

The grimness of the architecture is, to some degree, offset by the good high position of the house and its splendid views.

The gardens are maintained.

There is a walled garden on a slope, with a bog garden at the bottom.

The walled garden is fully planted up with vegetables, fruit and ornamental plants.

The present layout dates from 1973.

There are both woodland and shelter trees.

The gate lodge replaced an earlier lodge located on the opposite side of the gates.

Two small stone figures that are placed in the rockery in the garden are said to have come from Culfeightrin Church.

Magherintemple gate lodge is available for rent.

First published in December, 2010.

Dalway of Carrickfergus

THE DALWAYS OWNED 2,477 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

JOHN DALLWAYE (1550-1618) went over to Ulster from Devon in 1573, a cornet in the army of ELIZABETH I under Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex.

John Dallwaye was Mayor of Carrickfergus, 1592 and 1600, and in 1613 was MP for Bangor in the Parliament of Ireland.

The Common Seal of Carrickfergus

He married Jane, granddaughter of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and related by the mother to Shane MacBrian O'Neill, of Lower Clandeboye.

John Dallwaye obtained from Shane MacBrian O'Neill a grant of the greater part of the Tough of Bradenisland, or Broad Island (Ballycarry), and the lands of Kilroot.

On O'Neill's death, his lands became forfeited to the Crown; but in 1603, John Dallwaye, being then Constable of Carrickfergus Castle, obtained from JAMES I for ever "the Barony of Bradiland, at the rent of xiii Engl., to hold in free and common socage, as of the Castle of Carrickfergus." 

These lands, together with those purchased from James Hamilton, Lord Claneboye, were, in 1608, erected by letters patent, into the Manor of Dallwaye.

By his marriage with Jane he had an only child, Margaret (who wedded, ca 1603, John Dobbs, of Castle Dobbs).

Dallwaye made a freehold lease to Dobbs of the lands now called Castle Dobbs.

John Dallwaye was succeeded by his nephew,

JOHN DALLWAY, the elder son of his brother Giles (he had a younger brother also named John, who was captain in the army, and High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1636).

He married a daughter of William Edmonstone, of Red Hall, and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his heir;

Robert;

John;

Archibald;

Henry;

Helen.

John Dallway was Mayor of Carrickfergus, 1660 and 1661.

He died in 1665, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ALEXANDER DALWAY, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1662, who espoused Anne, daughter of John Parkes, of Carrickfergus, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;

Robert;

Elinor; Mary; Jane.

He died in 1668, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN DALWAY, who dsp 1687, and left his estates to his uncle,

COLONEL ROBERT DALWAY (1645-99), MP for Antrim Borough, 1696-9, who married, in 1695, Mary, daughter and heir of Sir John Williams, 2nd Baronet, of Minster, in Thanet, Kent, and widow of Charles, 1st Baron Shelburne, by whom he had issue,

ALEXANDER, his heir;

Henry;

John;

Anne; Elinor.

His eldest son,

ALEXANDER DALWAY (1669-1718), MP for Carrickfergus, 1715-18, wedded, in 1695, Anna Helena, daughter of Archibald Edmonstone, of Red Hall, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;

Archibald;

Alexander;

Elizabeth; Anne; Helena; Emily; Lettice.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT DALWAY, who married, in 1718, Mary, daughter of Joseph Marriott, a brewer, of Francis Street, Dublin, and secondly, Jane Steele, of Craig's Castle, Ballymena.

By his first wife he had issue,

Robert, died in infancy;

MARRIOTT, his heir;

Mehetabella, m Noah Webb, and had issue, NOAH, of whom presently;

Anne; Eleanor; Mary.

Robert Dalway, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1740, and a burgess in Parliament for the borough of Newry, 1721, died in 1761, and was succeeded by his son,

MARRIOTT DALWAY (c1725-95), MP for Carrickfergus, 1761-8, colonel of a volunteer battalion raised by himself, 1784; who dsp 1795, leaving his estates to his nephew, NOAH WEBB (see above), who in accordance with the will of his uncle assumed the name and arms of DALWAY.

This NOAH DALWAY (c1746-1820), of Bella Hill, Kilroot, County Antrim, espoused, in 1795, Ellen, daughter of the Ven. Conway Benning, Archdeacon of Dromore, and had issue,

MARRIOTT, his heir;

Noah, Lieutenant RN;

John Benning;

Henry;

George Montague;

Anne; Mary Margaret; Ellen; Millicent Jane; Jane; Lucy; Mehetabella.

Noah Dalway, a Commander in the Royal Navy, was MP for Carrickfergus, 1799-1800, Mayor of Carrickfergus, 1806, 1809, 1811, and 1816; and was the first MP for Carrickfergus in the UK Parliament, 1801.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

MARRIOTT DALWAY (1798-), of Bella Hill, who married, in 1827, Euphemia, daughter of Thomas Henry, of Castle Dawson, County Londonderry, and had issue,

MARRIOTT ROBERT, his heir;

Euphemia.

Mr Dalway was four times High Sheriff for the county of the town of Carrickfergus, and Mayor of Carrickfergus, 1838-42.

He was succeeded by his son,

MARRIOTT ROBERT DALWAY DL (1832-1914), MP for Carrickfergus, 1868-80, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1859, who married, in 1859, Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Armstrong Barnes, and had issue,

MARRIOTT WILLIAM;

Robert;

John;

Elizabeth.

Marriott Robert Dalway and his family emigrated to Australia in 1886, where he died at Lorne, Victoria.

Dalway's Bawn and Bellahill (historic OS map)

BELLA HILL, according to the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland in 1844, was a demesne in the parish of Kilroot, barony of Lower Belfast, County Antrim.

Bellahill House (Green Collection/NMNI)

It was situated 4½ miles north-east by north of Carrickfergus, close to the road thence to Larne.

"The modern mansion occupies a commanding site a little west of the road; and the old castellated mansion, consisting of two large towers, connected by a curtain wall, which is perforated with the entrance gateway, stands on the roadside, and is now used as stables."

The original dwelling is today known as "Dalway's Bawn."

Dalway's Bawn (Green Collection/NMNI)

The Northern Ireland Department of Communities website describes it thus:

"A well-preserved example of an early 17th century planter’s fortified enclosure, built in about 1609 by John Dalway, constable of Carrickfergus Castle, to secure his royal grant of land in the area." 

"Now enmeshed with a working farm, only part of the bawn is in State Care – the roadside wall and three flanker towers, viewable only from the road. A dwelling house formerly stood inside the bawn, but it was demolished in the 19th century."

Redhall

THE MACAULAYS OWNED 567 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The Macaulays of Antrim trace their descent from the MacAulays of Ardincaple, or Ardencaple, Dumbartonshire, a branch of that family having settled in County Antrim early in the 17th century, and occupied a position of considerable importance in the county.

The ancient clan of the MacAulays of Ardincaple has been traced to Awlay, a brother of Maldouen, Earl of Lennox, who died in the reign of ALEXANDER III, King of Scots.

JAMES MACAULAY JP, of Ben Neagh, Crumlin, County Antrim, married, in 1785, Jane, daughter of Thomas Hyndman, of Ballyronan, County Londonderry, and died in 1839, leaving a son,

ROBERT MACAULAY (1788-1864), of Glenoak, Crumlin, and of Larne, County Antrim, who wedded, in 1807, Helena, daughter of Jasper White, of Limerick, and had issue,

Jasper, of Leigh Hill House, Cobham, Surrey;
JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Helena; Robina; Emily.

Mr Macaulay’s younger son,

JOHN MACAULAY JP DL (1823-1912), of Red Hall, Ballycarry, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1891, espoused, in 1853, Jane Callwell, daughter of Patrick Agnew, of KILWAUGHTER and Larne, County Antrim, and had issue,

ROBERT HELENUS;
Agnew McNeil;
Elizabeth Agnew; Helen Elizabeth White; Edith May Agnew.

Mr Macaulay was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT HELENUS MACAULAY (1854-1943), who married, in 1883, Sarah, youngest daughter of William Richardson, of BROOKLANDS, Belfast, and had issue,

ROBERT KEITH AGNEW, 1884-1963, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers;
John Mortimer William, b 1885;
Irene Vera Muriel.

REDHALL, near Ballycarry, County Antrim, is essentially a 17th century tower-house, enlarged by the addition of two wings containing large reception rooms of ca 1790, and remodelled in the 19th century.

In the older part of the house there are ceilings of primitive though vigorous plasterwork.

John Dalway arrived at Carrickfergus in 1573 and, marrying Jane O’Neill, was given a large grant of land in this area.

It is presumed he built a house and that he coined the name Red Hall.

In 1609, William Edmonstone, of Duntreath, Stirlingshire, secured a lease from John Dalway.

What form the house took at that time is not known, though it would appear that Edmonstone repaired and modernised an existing castle or tower house which had been owned by the O'Neills and dated from at least the mid-16th century, if not earlier.

Dating from the 17th century remodelling are the oak staircase of the Jacobean period; the roof timbers; and a panelled room in late 17th century style.

Panelled ceilings in the first floor have been ascribed to ca 1730.

In 1784, the estate was sold by Sir Archibald Edmonstone Bt to RICHARD GERVAS KER who, in 1793, added the wings to each side to create drawing and dining rooms, with a kitchen in the basement.

Mr Ker was also probably responsible for remodelling the main block, including building a parapet around it and adding a four-columned porch in front of a newly positioned central entrance.

Ker was succeeded by his nephew, David Stewart Ker, of MONTALTO, who, in 1822, is recorded as having built the nearby threshing mill to the west of the house in 1835.

In 1830, the house was described as,

Very plain in its architecture, stone finished on the outside without anything ornamental in its structure or appearance ... the garden is small but the demesne ornamental and pleasure grounds are very extensive, and the plantings of firs, larch and beech very tastefully varied and laid out.

In 1869, the estate was bought by John Macaulay, to whom may be attributed the present rendered finish to the exterior, incorporating quoins, rustications, string courses, and surrounds to windows; the small balcony on the east elevation; the canted bay added to the south wing, the square turret added at the north-east corner; the replacement of the small-paned windows by plate glass; and banks, terraces and stone steps around the house, all apparently between 1871-75.

The Macaulay surname is spelled MacAulay in the 1912 edition of Burke's Gentry of Ireland, and varies in several other publications.

The internal plasterwork ceilings in the entrance hall and morning room, and plasterwork details in the dining-room and drawing-room may also be attributed to Macaulay.

The present porch was in position by 1871, when it had a small pediment over it.

An addition by Macaulay, subsequently removed, was a large central chimney on the south parapet of the main block.

In 1902, the estate was bought by W J Porrit, who was responsible for the red-painted finish to the exterior, of which only traces now remain.

In 1918, George Reade became Redhall's new owner.

He inserted dormers into three of the attics; and was probably responsible for the removal of Macauley's south chimney.

In 1927, after lying empty for some years, it was bought by Vice-Admiral John William Leopold McClintock, son of Admiral Sir Francis L McClintock KCB, and grandfather of the present owner.

In 1939-45, it was requisitioned for military use.

IN the 1870s the grounds comprised 567 acres.

The wooded demesne at Redhall is laid out on an axial plan typical of sites dating from the 17th century.

The majority of such sites were subsequently altered during passing generations but the grounds at Redhall remain little altered in plan.

The house, enlarged from its 1627 origins, stands at the apex of straight avenues leading from north to south and from east to west.

There is an oak avenue, a lime avenue leading to the church of 1848 and a late 19th century Wellingtonia avenue (the latter is in addition to the axial plan mentioned above).

There has been continuous tree planting in the demesne including less formal areas around a glen and waterfall.

Atkinson, in Ireland Exhibited to England (1823), remarks on the beauty of the lawn and forest.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1839 state that,

About fifty acres are under ornamental plantings and shrubberies. Besides these are numerous judiciously disposed belts and clumps of plantings, which not only show to advantage beautifully diversified surfaces of the demesne, but exceedingly heighten the effect of the rich scenery of Larne Lough.

The demesne, on ground rising to the west from the lough, still enhances the area today.

Terraced lawns at the house are reminiscent of the Victorian era.

The walled garden is close to the house and is part cultivated with fruit trees.

There is a stone building, possibly built as a summer house.

The lodge on the Larne Road and a tower are both listed.

First published in December, 2010.

McCance of Suffolk

THE McCANCES OWNED 1,522 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The family of McCance is said to have moved from Scotland to Ulster about 1710.

DAVID McCANCE (1684-1747), of Woodbourne, Dunmurry, County Antrim, married Isabella __________ (c1669-1724), and had issue,

JOHN McCANCE (1711-86), of Dunmurry, who wedded firstly, Rachel _______, and had issue,

David (1736-93), of KNOCKNAGONEY, County Down;

JOHN, of whom presently;

William (1746-1810), of Wellington Place, Belfast; and of Suffolk House.

Mary, m James Stouppe.

He espoused secondly, Easter _____.

Mr McCance was buried at Drumbeg parish church.

The second son,

JOHN McCANCE (1744-1811), of Farmhill (Blacks Road today), Dunmurry, married Jane, daughter of JOHN CHARLEY, of Seymour Hill, and had issue,

JOHN;

Mary.

The only son,

JOHN McCANCE JP (1772-1835), of Farmhill, and Suffolk House, Dunmurry, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1825, MP for Belfast, 1835.

Mr McCance inherited the family linen business as well as becoming chairman of the Northern Banking Company. He was involved with the various activities of his times, being a magistrate, high sheriff, a Police Commissioner, Vice-President of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst), and a Trustee of the Botanic Gardens, Belfast. He also became MP for Belfast, following a strenuous contest with Lord Arthur Chichester.

He wedded, in 1799, Maria, daughter of William Finlay, of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir.

His first wife died, possibly as a result of childbirth, in the same year; and, ca 1800, John McCance wedded, secondly, Jane, daughter of William Russell, who died, without issue, in 1812.

John McCance (Image: Ulster Museum)

He espoused thirdly, in 1813, Sarah, daughter of James Law, by whom he had further issue,

James Law;

John Wellington Stouppe, JP (1816-63);

Joseph;

David;

George;

Henry Jones, JP DL (1829-1900);

Jane; Mary; Elizabeth; Charlotte.

A stained-glass window in memory of John and Henry McCance adorns First Dunmurry Presbyterian Church.

Henry Jones McCance (Image: Ulster Museum)

The eldest son,

WILLIAM McCANCE JP (1801-65), of Glenville, and Suffolk House, Dunmurry, married, in 1824, Isabella, daughter of John Russell, of New Forge, County Down, and had issue,

John (1826-69), died unmarried;

William;

FINLAY, of whom hereafter;

Holmes;

William;

Catherine Helen; Isabella; Isabella; Maria; Jane.

The third son,

FINLAY McCANCE JP (1829-90), of Suffolk House and Glenville, wedded, in 1860, Annie Lillias, daughter of James Macaulay, of Strathearn, Dunmurry, and had issue,

JOHN STOUPPE FINLAY;

Isabella; Susan Evelyn.

The only son and heir,

JOHN STOUPPE FINLAY McCANCE JP DL (1865-1926), of Suffolk House, Dunmurry, married, in 1890, Mary Letitia, daughter of James Thomson Bristow, and had issue,

Finlay (1891-1915), killed in action;

Henry Bristow, father (?) of Reginald Finlay McCance (d 2008);

Robert Alexander;

Elizabeth Lillias.

Suffolk House (Image: Planet Suffolk)

SUFFOLK HOUSE, Dunmurry, County Antrim, faced south-east across the Lagan Valley with its back to Collin Mountain. 

Though not the oldest part of the mansion, the main front block with its hipped roof was most impressive.

It was re-built in 1824, with a modest portico and two columns, stepped quoins at each corner; regular bays of windows, with a projecting band of stone dividing the storeys.

In the middle of the small park was a planted pond.

Suffolk House from an engraving by E K Proctor, 1832 (Image: Ebay)

Suffolk House was inhabited by the McCances until 1923, when the house and grounds were leased (or purchased) by the family of Gaffikin.

The Gaffikins lived at Suffolk until 1927, when it remained vacant for ten years.

Suffolk was purchased by Mr Cameron in 1937.

He leased part of the house, and several rooms were utilized for the storage of food during the 2nd World War.

Suffolk House ca 1830 (Historic OS map)

At the end of the war, in 1945, one wing of the house was leased to Otto Harriman, of London.

A section of Suffolk house was demolished about 1958 to make way for road improvements; and in the late 1970s the remainder of the house was completely demolished (a reader informs me that they recall delivering the Belfast Telegraph newspaper to the house about 1979-80)         .

The mansion house stood near the site of Margaretta Park; and the grounds today form part of Colin Glen Park.

Roots, the History of an Outstanding Ulster Family, is written by R F McCance.

First published in July, 2022.

Benvarden House

THE MONTGOMERYS OWNED 6,792 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

This family claims to be a branch of the great Scottish house of MONTGOMERY. 

ROBERT MONTGOMERY, of Glenarm, County Antrim, born in 1711, married, in 1742, Isabella Stewart, and was father of

HUGH MONTGOMERY (1743-1832), of Glenarm, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1804, who wedded, in 1785, Margaret, daughter of John Allen, of Kilmandil, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Hugh (1794-1867), of BALLYDRAIN, Co Antrim;
Alexander, of Potter's Wall, Co Antrim;
Thomas, JP, of Birch Hill, Co Antrim;
Barbara; Isabella; Marion; Victoria.

Mr Montgomery was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN MONTGOMERY JP DL (1790-1876), of Benvarden, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1819, who married, in 1819, Jane, daughter of SIR ANDREW FERGUSON Bt, and had surviving issue,

ROBERT JAMES, his heir;
Barbara Anne; Isabella Dorothea.

Mr Montgomery was succeeded by his only son,

ROBERT JAMES MONTGOMERY JP DL (1829-93), of Benvarden, and Potter's Walls, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1867 and 1870, Captain, 5th Dragoon Guards, who espoused, in 1864, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert James White, of WHITE HALL, County Antrim, and had issue,

JOHN ALEXANDER, his heir;
Francis James;
Janet Maude; Elizabeth Barbara Isabel.

Mr Montgomery was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY JP DL (1866-1928), of Benvarden and Potter's Walls, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1910, Major, Royal Irish Rifles, who married, in 1900, Elizabeth Ferguson, daughter of the Rev Canon Edward Newland, Rector of Buncrana, and had issue,

JOHN ALEXANDER JAMES, b 1904, High Sheriff, 1936;
Elizabeth Barbara Ethne; Isabel Frances Ellen.

*****

John Montgomery, later of Benvarden, County Antrim, was president of the Belfast chamber of commerce, 1802-03, and founder, 1809, of Montgomery's Bank, aforementioned precursor of the Northern Bank.

*****

The Montgomerys resided at 4-6, Donegall Place, Belfast.

*****

Hugh Montgomery (1794-1867), who purchased Ballydrain House, Dunmurry (now Malone Golf Club), was the second son of Hugh Montgomery and he, too, was involved with the Northern Bank, being a director for 43 years.

He and his wife, Emily Ferguson, had six sons and one daughter.

After his death, in 1867, the Ballydrain estate became the property of his second son, John Ferguson Montgomery, the eldest son, Hugh, having been killed at the Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Balaclava in 1854.

BENVARDEN HOUSE, near Ballymoney, County Antrim, was established in the late 17th century on the River Bush.

The house was improved and enlarged in the late 18th century and remains largely unaltered.

Benvarden, originally the seat of the MACNAGHTENS, is a two-storey, 18th century house with a central curved bow in each of its two fronts, one containing the entrance hall.

Hugh Montgomery purchased Benvarden in 1798, having returned from Virginia, USA.

He enlarged the house ca 1805, by adding two wings with three-sided bows of the same height as the 18th century block, but with higher ground-floor ceilings.

These additions included a ballroom/drawing-room and a dining-room.

At the same time or later, a service wing with a curved bow was added at one end, prolonging the façade still further.

In the mid-19th century an Italianate porch with flanking corridors was added on the entrance front and another service wing was built.

Also in the 19th century, the astragals were removed from the windows.

There is an elegant semi-circular, cantilevered stair with an oval light in the hall; good plasterwork; and a rhomboidal stable courtyard with a pedimented archway crowned by a wooden lantern.

The grounds are fully maintained. Lawns sweep to the river and to the cast-iron Victorian bridge of ca 1870 (restored in 2010).

A mid-19th century oval pond near the river is surrounded with yews and rhododendrons.

New tree-planting reinforces mature shelter planting, most necessary as the site is exposed to wind.

There is a substantial belt on the north, east and west sides of the walled garden.

This walled garden is cultivated with herbaceous borders, a rose garden, a parterre garden, glass-house sites utilized ornamentally, vegetables and soft fruit.

There is a good account of the ‘… large walled garden and an orchard, well stocked and very productive …’, in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1832.

The gardens are still kept to a high order but the design and planting have been altered from the traditional to a more convenient (though no less attractive) contemporary layout.

One ca 1830 gate lodge remains, in good order, at the north-east gate.

The Montgomery family still live at their ancestral home today.

The estate now comprises ca 600 acres. 

Benvarden Garden is open to the public.

Part of the demesne, to the north-east, was formerly a safari (lion) park and has now reverted to the estate.

First published in December, 2010.

Galgorm Castle

THE YOUNGS OWNED 1,649 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

DR WILLIAM YOUNG MD (1792-1854), of Galgorm Castle, County Antrim, son of William Young by his wife, Jane Hunter, married thrice.

By his first wife Anne (whom he wedded in 1823), daughter of William Gihon, he had issue,

JOHN;
William Alexander (1829-94);
Jane (1831-45).

Dr Young was succeeded by his elder son,

THE RT HON JOHN YOUNG JP DL (1826-1915), of Galgorm Castle, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1863, Privy Counsellor, Doctor of Law, who married firstly, in 1855, Grace, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Savage, and had issue,

Henry George, of Skeffington Lodge;
WILLIAM ROBERT, of whom we treat;
Patrick Savage;
John Robert;
Henry George;
John William Alexander;
George Charles Gillespie;
Anne Charlotte Maria; Maria; Grace Cottenham; Charlotte Elizabeth Rose;
Rose Maud; Janet Henrietta; Ethel Margaret.

The eldest son,

Brigadier-General Henry George Young CIE DSO (1870-1956), of Skeffington Lodge, Indian Army, was Sergeant-at-Arms, Parliament of Northern Ireland, 1921-51.

John Young's second son, 

THE RT HON WILLIAM ROBERT YOUNG DL (1856-1933), of Galgorm Castle, married, in 1893, Mary Alice, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Francis Macnaghten Bt, and had issue,

HILDA GRACE YOUNG (1896-1980), of Galgorm Castle, who espoused, in 1924, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur O'Neill Cubitt Chichester OBE MC, and had issue,

ROSEMARY HILDA;
Deirdre Willa;
Finola Margaret.

The eldest daughter,

ROSEMARY HILDA, VISCOUNTESS BROOKEBOROUGH (1926-2007), married, in 1949, John, 2nd Viscount Brookeborough, of Colebrooke, County Fermanagh, and had issue,

Alan Henry, 3rd and present Viscount Brookeborough;
CHRISTOPHER ARTHUR, of Galgorm Castle;
Rosalind Juliana; Melinda Charlotte; Susanna Cynthia.

GALGORM CASTLE, near Ballymena, County Antrim, is a three-storey 17th century house in a fortified enclosure - or bawn - built ca 1645 by the Rev Alexander Colville.

The early oak stair with turned balusters and large round heads on the newels still survives.

The estate passed by inheritance to the Earls Mount Cashell, the 3rd Earl of whom altered and modernized the Castle ca 1830. More work done subsequently.

These alterations gave the Castle regular fenestration, with sash windows in brick surrounds; and a roof-line of curved battlements, with a curvilinear "Dutch" gable as the central feature of the five-bay entrance front.

The gable surmounting the entrance front was repeated on a projecting porch, which was given a Renaissance door-case by Sir Charles Lanyon, who also designed the door-cases inside the Castle and the dining-room fire-place.

Lord Mount Cashell sold the estate ca 1843, through the Encumbered Estates Court, to Dr William Young.

The present site, comprising 220 acres, includes remnants of the ancient Irish fort of the McQuillan clan.

Building of the original Castle was started in 1618 by Sir Faithful Fortescue and it is recognised as one of the finest examples of early Jacobean architecture in Ulster.

The private chapel close to the Castle, also dating from the time, was used by the family until it was burnt down by the United Irishmen in 1798.

After this, services, including baptisms, were held in the Castle's kitchen.

As well as the architecturally important Castle and Courtyard, the estate includes two further listed buildings: a small roundhouse, formerly the home to a labourer and his four children and a beautiful cottage on the Sourhill Road.

The demesne bustled with life, employing over thirty people in the house, garden, stables and farm.

The Youngs, who bought the estate from Lord Mount Cashell in 1843, also owned the Braidwater Mill.

They were forward-thinking pioneers who ensured the prosperity of the estate by adopting innovative new farming methods such as building flax dams, a water wheel and tank.

At the time Galgorm was one of the premier agricultural estates in the Province.

Coinciding with the industrial revolution and mechanisation of the farming ca 1900, the estate’s fortunes began to decline.

The existing layout was perfectly suited to traditional methods, but totally inappropriate for the new mechanised approach.

The Courtyard, part of which dates back to the early 17th century, suffered the indignity of an attempted conversion/update using the Victorian approach which involved unsympathetic demolition of walls.

Galgorm is on the site of a pre-1600 castle, the demesne dating from the early 17th century.

The fine Jacobean house remains, having been altered and modernised in 1830 and 1850.

There are mature trees in clumps in the parkland between the rivers Main and Braid and in wooded areas near the house.

The shelter belts to the west, along the River Maine, are post-1858.

226 acres of the parkland is a golf course.

The walled garden is disused.

There is a small enclosed cultivated garden in the area of the bawn, which retains its Victorian formal bedding.

This layout succeeded an earlier garden.

A wide grass-lined approach leads to the house.

The offices and stables are listed with the house and have been converted to commercial units.

The gate screen, bawn and walled garden are included in the listing.

The gate lodge was added in 1852.

THE YOUNGS had in fact been prosperous merchants in Ballymena in the early 19th century and had bought Galgorm only in 1850 from the 3rd Earl Mount Cashell.

But clearly they had no difficulty in integrating into gentry circles.

Mary's father-in-law was a privy counsellor, deputy lieutenant and justice of the peace.

The family was on good terms with many of the other landed families in County Antrim and there was much coming and going between Galgorm and other county houses, especially among the younger people for parties and outings.

Most of the Youngs' land was sold to the tenants under the terms of the 1903 Wyndham Act, but the family retained the castle and about 300 acres of gardens, woods and farmland.

This did not have much immediate effect on life in the castle.

Until the 1st World War, there were never fewer than six domestic servants.

Labourers, coachmen, gardeners and gamekeepers on the estate usually numbered around fifteen.

A governess came daily from Belfast to teach the Youngs' only child, Hilda Grace, born in 1896.

For Mary Young, life at Galgorm must have been quite busy.

Her husband's stepmother had died shortly before she and her husband moved to the castle and she took over supervision of the household.

Besides her husband, daughter and father-in-law, her husband's five brothers and seven sisters frequently stayed at the castle.

When the war came she occupied herself organising comforts for the troops, and it seems to have been this which caused her to give up her photography, through lack of spare time.

She died in 1946.

Galgorm passed eventually to the widow of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur O'Neill Cubitt Chichester OBE MC (1889-1972), Mrs Hilda Grace Chichester (nee Young).

As a matter of record, Chichester was awarded the Military Cross,

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in command of his battalion. He was on his way back, wounded, when he saw a party of men almost isolated. He returned and rallied them against the attacking enemy".

Galgorm Castle and estate was sold in 2024 by the Hon Christopher Brooke, Lord Brookeborough's brother, to Galgorm Collection.

First published in December, 2010.

Sir Charles Lanyon

SIR CHARLES LANYON OWNED 1,951 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

SIR CHARLES LANYON JP DL (1813–1889), son of John Jenkinson Lanyon, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, married, in 1835, Elizabeth Helen, daughter of Jacob Owen, of Portsmouth, and had issue, ten children, including, 

JOHN (1839-1900);
WILLIAM OWEN, of whom hereafter;
Louis Mortimer (1846-1919), m Laura, daughter of CV Phillips;
Herbert Owen (1850-1919), m Amelia, daughter of J Hind.

Sir Charles's second surviving son,

COLONEL SIR WILLIAM OWEN LANYON KCMG CB (1842-1887), Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

 *****

Photo Credit: The Queen's University of Belfast

SIR CHARLES LANYON designed the famous Antrim coast road between Larne and Portrush.

He also designed and erected many bridges in the county, including the Ormeau Bridge (1860–63) over the River Lagan in Belfast.

Sir Charles laid out the Belfast and Ballymena railway lines, and its extensions to Cookstown and Portrush; was engineer of the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway; and the Carrickfergus and Larne line.

He was the principal architect of some of Belfast's best-known buildings, including the Queen's College, now University (1846-9); the old Court-House (1848-50); Crumlin Road Gaol (1843-5); and the Custom House (1854-7).

His palm house at the Botanic Gardens, Belfast, built in two phases between 1840-52, is notably one of the earliest examples of curvilinear iron and glass.

Much of Lanyon's work was carried out in private practice, in which he was assisted by two partners: W H Lynn; and latterly his eldest son John, from 1860.

Lanyon resigned the county surveyorship in 1860, and then retired from practice completely following the breakup of his firm in 1872, to devote his energies to public life, in which he was already involved.

Sir Charles served the office of Mayor of Belfast, 1862,  and was MP for Belfast, 1865-68.

He was one of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, a Deputy Lieutenant, and a magistrate.

In 1862, Sir Charles was elected President of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, and held office until 1868, when he received the honour of Knighthood, which was conferred by His Grace the Duke of Abercorn, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

In 1876, he served as High Sheriff of County Antrim.

Sir Charles died, after a protracted illness, at his residence, The Abbey, in 1889, and was buried at Knockbreda cemetery, near Belfast.

THE ABBEY, Whiteabbey, County Antrim, was designed by Charles Lanyon for Richard Davison MP (1796-1869), on the site of Demyat, a gentleman’s cottage on the site inhabited by Samuel Gibson Getty (1817-77).

Abbey House is an imposing two-storey, multi-bay, Italianate stucco house, built ca 1855 to designs by Sir Charles Lanyon, as a private residence for a client, though shortly afterwards becoming his own home and reflecting his personal taste.

Entrance Front in 2017

Despite the degradation of its setting and years of neglect, the house remains a handsome edifice, with ornate stucco detailing and the Italianate styling typical of Lanyon’s work.

Internally, while the house has undergone some remodelling for use as an administrative block, its plan from and detailing survive, although suffering serious decay.

It is said that Abbey House is an important structure, historically and architecturally, of robust character, especially given its association with Lanyon.

The Abbey takes its name from the ancient monastery which originally stood in a field near by.

The abbey was built by the Cistercian religious order (Trappist Monks) ca 1250, but was damaged by the army of Edward the Bruce in 1315.

The ruins of the White Abbey survived for centuries but today there are no visible remains.

The present Victorian house is ‘L’ shaped in plan, with an additional rectangular building located to the north-west.

Garden Front with Annexe in 2017

In 1832, the the site was occupied by a smaller, though fairly substantial, dwelling occupied by Mrs Matthews.

At that time the description detailed a ballroom, stable, scullery and dairy and a square tower.

The Abbey, inhabited by Richard Davison, was described thus:-

'…a very superior first class house built 12 years ago… Cemented and stone finished with stone quoins and dressings…very [finely] situated and close to Whiteabbey Station’.

The gate lodge was  '…very neat & well finished’.

Also listed in the entry for The Abbey was a cow-house, stables with a bell [tower attraction], and a green house.

Garden Front in 2017

Documents of 1862-64 list the occupier as Charles Lanyon.

Following Lanyon’s death in 1889, The Abbey remained vacant for about six years.

Records show that the leasehold has transferred to Granville Hotels Company, although the freehold was still owned by the Lanyon family.

In 1906, the house was described as ‘auxiliary workhouses, gate lodges and land’.

The ownership was revised from Guardians of Belfast Union to Belfast Corporation in 1916, and the property was described as ‘auxiliary workhouse, gate lodges, office, hospital for consumptives and land’.

In 1913 this entry was crossed out with the exception of the gate lodges, and "electric power house" was inserted, indicating a change of use.

Abbey House was listed as a "municipal sanatorium, gate lodges, electric power, house, office and land" about 1935, with the occupier stated as being Belfast Corporation (City Council).

The private treatment centre became Whiteabbey Sanatorium during the 1st World War, and became Whiteabbey Hospital in the 1930s.

Admittedly I haven't visited Whiteabbey Hospital - or whatever it's called today - though it seems to have been spoiled by hideous painting.

Its future is uncertain.

First published in May, 2014.