Ely Lodge

 
Formerly the Ulster seat of the 5th Duke and Duchess of Westminster, Ely Lodge, County Fermanagh, sits on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne. 

It has an association through marriage with the Hume family. Lord Ely married the daughter of Sir Gustavus Hume (of Hume Castle) and they lived at Ely Castle.

In 1870, the castle was in danger of collapsing and was demolished. The stable block remained, and was converted and extended to become Ely Lodge.

In 1948, Ely Lodge became the home of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Grosvenor, Lord Hugh Grosvenor's younger son; who subsequently became 5th Duke of Westminster. 

The 5th Duke's mother was Lady Mabel Crichton, of Crom Castle, and the Duke spent much of his childhood at Crom.

The late 5th Duke's son, the 6th and present Duke of Westminster, was born at Omagh, County Tyrone. 

The 6th Duke was then known as Gerald, Earl Grosvenor; and both he and his sisters spent their childhood at Ely Lodge.

Ely Lodge remained part of the Westminster Estates till about 1987, when Viola, Dowager Duchess of Westminster, Lord-lieutenant of County Fermanagh, was tragically killed in a car accident.

In 1994, Charles Plunket, the former land agent who inherited the estate on the Duchess's death, sold the estate privately.

First published in June, 2009.

T A Villiers MP

The Right Honourable Theresa Villiers MP is the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Unless I am mistaken, the family pronounces their name as in "Villerz".

Theresa Anne Villiers, born in 1968, is MP for Chipping Barnet. She was appointed as a Privy Counsellor in 2010.

Mrs Villiers was born in London, the daughter of George Edward Villiers and Anne Virginia (née Threlfall).

On her father's side she is a descendant of the Hon Edward Ernest Villiers, brother of George, 4th Earl of Clarendon, Charles Pelham Villiers and Henry Villiers.

She is also a distant relative of the actor James Villiers.

Growing up in north London, she was educated at the independent Francis Holland School; gained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree with first class honours in 1990 from the University of Bristol, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) from Jesus College, Oxford, in 1991.

After graduating she worked as a barrister and as a lecturer at King's College London (1994–99);  married fellow lawyer Sean Wilken in 1997; and the couple wrote an academic legal book. They have since divorced.

Aquatic Resumption

Sixty. Not the advanced age, Belmont hastens to add. I have a dozen years to go on that one. Ha!

Swimming at the old sports club began in earnest this evening; and I got to it like the proverbial duck to water. I swam sixty lengths.

The stroke I use is the front crawl. I noticed that swimmers at the Olympics had a certain technique, whereby, when they pushed themselves off the wall of the pool, they performed a sort of dolphin movement for a few seconds, prior to using their arms.

I tried this technique and it does seem to be effective.

Alan in Belfast

I am indebted to Alan, because his own blog, Alan In Belfast, inspired me to create Lord Belmont in 2007.

I wonder if he recalls my contacting him for advice about it five years ago? A year or so later, several of us met at a restaurant on the Belmont Road, Belfast, for a natter and meal.

You played a part in creating the Belmont Phenomenon - or should that be the Phenomenal Belmont? -  Alan!

Alan has written another great post about his trip to the new National Trust Giant's Causeway visitor centre today; articulated to a far greater degree than my post about it three weeks ago.

To be truthful, my posting was slightly - shall we say - diplomatic, given that I really do whole-heartedly concur with Alan's sentiments on his experiences there, and the virtual golf-course he alludes to.

Hi Baldy!

The talk this weekend is that a baldness remedy might hit the shelves within two years.

About ruddy time, Timothy Belmont says.

Whoever owns the patent should fare as well as the Gillette Company.

I cannot wait to slap the lotion on the crown atop and see the results.

Divis Munitions Store

Today I motored up the Belfast hills to the National Trust's splendid Divis and Black Mountain property.

There were quite a few walkers, many with their dogs.

I had a chat with the member of staff on duty at the Long Barn.

My curiosity required to be satisfied regarding the conspicuous structure on the heathland en route to the Black Mountain.

On closer inspection, it is relatively recent, probably dating from the 2nd World War. It is built of breeze blocks and corrugated iron; and has recently been painted.

I fancy it was a munitions store and even a shooting-range, judging by the heavy strong-room door, electricity and large, panoramic, rectangular window.

More recently, it has been used as a byre.

Divis mountain was formerly Ministry of Defence property.

If any readers have any knowledge or memories they'd like to share about it as a military base, please leave a comment.

Castle Dillon Sale

 Image courtesy of © Sarah Hutchinson Burke – Please do not use without permission

Here is a golden opportunity for readers to acquire one of the finest stately homes in Northern Ireland.

I've already written about the illustrious family that once lived here, the Molyneux Baronets.

I'm grateful to Jonathan Bamford for alerting me to the news about Castle Dillon.

There are more images here.

Castle Dillon, County Armagh, is on the market. The maximum reserve price is £250,000.

• 21 Bed Mansion House/Private Nursing Home
• 2-storey/9-bay centre block with single-storey/3bay wings
• Numerous Reception Rooms/Bathrooms/Kitchens
• Stores/Conservatory/Lift/Set in grounds overlooking Lake
• Extensive Refurbishment will be required

Property Description

Castle Dillon House is externally a large and somewhat austere mansion, built for Sir George Molyneux, 6th Baronet, in 1845. The designer was William Murray.

It has a two-storey, nine-bay centre block; with single-storey, three-bay wings. Both the entrance front and the garden front, which faces the lake, are similar and plain, apart from a pillared porch on the entrance front.

The interior is no less austere: a large hall with a screen of columns dividing it from a central corridor which ran the whole length of the House, with a curved stair at one end.

At the garden front, a saloon flanked by the dining-room and drawing-room. There was a library and a morning-room on either side of the hall.

The entrance gates, dating from 1760, once described as "the most costly park gates perhaps at that time in the three kingdoms", were erected by Sir Capel Molyneux, 3rd Baronet.

Sir Capel also erected an obelisk near the Park in order to commemorate the winning of independence by the Irish Parliament in 1782.

The sizeable walled demesne lies in pleasantly undulating countryside, with a lake at its centre. An anonymous guide wrote in 1839 that,

‘… the demesne is laid out in a style of elegance, rarely imitated in this country, and which would do honour to the best taste. Here every natural advantage of hill, wood and water, appears admirably improved by the correctest aid of art …’

It is laid out as a mid-18th century landscape park, though there is little remaining planting, with some woodland at the lake and very few parkland trees. The site has been forested and intensively farmed in recent years.

The first house was built circa 1611 and, when that was burnt in 1663, another followed.

The walled garden has gone but two gate lodges survive, one possibly by Sir William Chambers and an eye-catching obelisk erected in 1782, still impresses outside the demesne walls.

The baronetcy became extinct when the 10th Baronet, Sir Ernest, died in 1940; though Castle Dillon was sold in 1926 and has served for various purposes, including a nursing home for almost 20 years, since then.

The property accommodated around 76 residents and was always around 98% full and very successful. Unfortunately the company who acquired it from the Sandown group of nursing homes got into financial difficulty and the property was closed down and left vacant.

It was then vandalised but the main structure is still excellent and can be reinstated as a Nursing Home again as the demand for beds in the area is very high.

Another possible use, subject to planning permission, would be a hotel and leisure facility similar to Galgorm Manor and Spa or a Wedding Venue.  Another option to be considered is the conversion of the building into luxury apartments.

Only very seldom does the opportunity to acquire a property such as this arise and for interested parties, early viewing is recommended.

To be auctioned at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast.

Open Viewing Dates: Viewing By Appointment Only