Brackenber Prospectus: III

ADMISSION

Boys are received from the age of seven into the Main School and may remain until fourteen.

The normal and uninterrupted preparatory course being five to six years, boys are expected to remain at the school for at least half this period.

To enter a boy it is necessary to complete the entry form enclosed, and to pay an entry fee of one guinea.

REPORTS

A short report on each boy in the Main School is sent out at half-term, and a detailed Report is sent at the end of the Term.

SCHOOL TERMS

There are three Terms in the School Year, beginning about January 15th, April 20th and September 6th.

PRE-PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT

Boys under the age of seven enter the Junior School, which is divided into a Transition and two Kindergarten forms, and pass to the Main School before their eighth birthday; to ensure individual attention the number of boys in this department is limited. Class hours - Mornings only.

REMOVAL

One full Term's notice, given in writing, or the payment of a term's Fees, is required before Removal. Fees are not returnable in any circumstances.

DRESS

All boys wear the School cap, tie and stockings (which may be obtained only from School outfitters*). 

The School blazer is compulsory for Cricket, and School shirts for Football.

*Messrs. Warnock - Royal Avenue
*Messrs. Wood Stuart - Howard Street

INTERVIEWS

By appointment only.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Boxing - £1 0s 0d. a Term
Swimming - £1 0s 0d. a Term
Judo - £1 10s 0d. a Term
Lunch - 3s 6d. a Day

A reduction of Fees will gladly be made, if required, to the sons of clergymen, and in the case of two or more brothers being in the School at the same time.


This concludes my series of the Brackenber Prospectus.

First published in February, 2011.

Brackenber Prospectus: II

HOME-WORK

Very little home-work is required of the younger boys but about 1½ hours' preparation every evening is expected of the Upper Forms.

The work set should be done without any outside help, and may be prepared under supervision at the school, from 4pm to 5pm. on work afternoons and from 4.30-5.30 on Games days.

GAMES

Games are played on two afternoons a week in the Winter terms and on three afternoons in the Summer, and all boys are expected to take part in them.

They are carefully coached under the supervision of the Headmaster, and keenness is encouraged.

The Ground is at Ormeau (by arrangement with the North of Ireland Cricket and Football club).

The games played are Cricket, Association and Rugby Football and Table Tennis.

Athletic Sports take place during the Summer Term.

Boxing, Judo and Swimming, though voluntary, are encouraged.

Boxing and Judo lessons are given at the School and boys learning Swimming attend the Baths once a week during the Summer Term.

A systematic course of Physical Training is given twice a week.

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is in the hands of the Headmaster.

Boys are required to attend School punctually and regularly.

Sickness is the only recognised reason for absence, unless permission from the Headmaster has been previously obtained.

The conduct of boys outside the School will be dealt with by the Headmaster if it is of such a kind as to reflect discredit on the School.

SPECIAL FEATURES

In the Upper Forms English Classics are read, and the boys' reading of good literature is encouraged.

A Recitation competition takes place at the end of each term.

For the purpose of encouraging keenness in work and games the School is divided into four "Sections", between which there is continuous competition.

The School has a Debating Society, a small Library and a Chess Club, which are run by the boys themselves, under supervision of a member of the Staff.

Part III shall include Admission, Reports, School Terms, Removal and Dress.

First published in February, 2011.

Killakee House

THE BARONS MASSY WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DUBLIN, WITH 3,422 ACRES

The first of this noble family that settled in Ireland was GENERAL HUGH MASSY, who had a military command to repress the rebellion of 1641. General Massy was descended from HAMON DE MASSEY, one of the companions in arms of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, who obtained large grants of the counties of Durham and Cheshire, and was created Baron of Dunham Massey.

General Massy married Margaret Percy, by whom he had issue,

HUGH MASSY, of Duntrileague, County Limerick, who wedded Amy, daughter of John Benson, and had issue,

HUGH, his heir;
John;
William;
Margaret; Amy.

The eldest son,

COLONEL HUGH MASSY (1685-1757), of Duntrileague, espoused Elizabeth, daughter of the Rt Hon George Hampden Evans MP, and had issue,

HUGH, his heir;
George, Archdeacon of Ardfert;
John, killed in a duel;
Godfrey, in holy orders;
William;
EYRE, created BARON CLARINA;
Charles, dsp;
Mary; Amy; Elizabeth; Catherine.

The eldest son,

HUGH MASSY (1700-88), having represented County Limerick in several parliaments, was elevated to the peerage, in 1776, in the dignity of BARON MASSY, of Duntrileague, County Limerick.

His lordship married firstly, Mary, daughter and heir of James Dawson, of Ballynacourte, County Tipperary, and had issue,

HUGH, his successor;
James;
John;
Elizabeth.

The 1st Baron wedded secondly, Rebecca, daughter of Francis Delap, of Antigua, and by that lady had three other sons and five other daughters, viz.

Francis Hugh;
Eyre;
George;
Margaret; Rebecca; Frances; Caroline; Amy.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH, 2nd Baron (1733-90), who married, in 1760, Catherine, eldest daughter and co-heir of Edward Taylor, of Ballymore, County Limerick, and had issue,

HUGH, his successor;
Edward;
George Eyre;
John;
Catherine; Mary Anne; Jane; Sarah.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH, 3rd Baron (1761-1812), who wedded, in 1792, Margaret, youngest daughter of William Barton, of Grove, County Tipperary, and had issue,

HUGH HAMON, his successor;
George William;
John;
Grace Elizabeth; Catherine; Susan Maria; Margaret Everina; Elizabeth Jane Sarah Anne.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH HAMON, 4th Baron (1793-1836), who married, in 1826, Matilda, youngest daughter of LUKE WHITE, of Woodlands, County Dublin, and had issue,

HUGH HAMON INGOLDSBY;
John George Hugh.

THIS marriage brought the Massy family to Killakee, where Luke White had lands and a house.

The 5th Baron died young, and the 6th Baron, a young man of 19, inherited up to 38,000 acres.

He was very fond of the affluent life with little regard for money matters. Huge parties took place at Killakee and numerous hunting expeditions both there and in Limerick.

His great-grandson, the 6th Baron, sat in the House of Lords from 1876 to 1915.

As of 2010, the title is held by the latter's great-great-grandson, the 10th Baron, who succeeded his father in 1995.

KILLAKEE HOUSE, near Rathfarnham, County Dublin, was a two-storey, stucco-faced house of symmetrical aspect with a curved bow in the centre front and similar bows in the gables.

It contained thirty-six rooms, a balustraded parapet to the roof, a veranda with slender iron uprights and a balcony above along the centre of the front, which gave the house the appearance of a Mediterranean villa.

The Killakee estate contained the infamous Hellfire Club on the summit of Montpelier Hill.

When Luke White acquired the estate, the Hellfire Club was already in a ruinous state.

In 1878, the total landholdings of the extended Massy/Massey families in Ireland amounted to over 98,000 acres. The landholdings of John Thomas, 6th Baron Massy, consisted of 8,568 acres in County Limerick, 24,751 acres in County Leitrim (acquired through the Whites), and 1,120 acres in County Tipperary, a total of 34,439 acres.

The estate at Killakee was, at that time, still in the registered ownership of Mrs Anne Salisbury White, Samuel White’s widow.

Mrs White died in 1880 and in her will she left Killakee House and 3,422 acres, including the magnificent gardens, to her late husband’s nephew, John Thomas, 6th Baron Massy.

Her sister-in-law, the Dowager Baroness Massy (Luke White’s daughter, and mother of the 6th Baron) died at her home, Milford.

The final demise of Killakee House came in 1941 when the bank, which had maintained a caretaker on the premises since 1924, and unable to find a purchaser, sold the house to a builder for salvage.

Having removed the slates, roof timbers, floors and other saleable items, the builder demolished the house.

It was an event that must have had a profound impact on Hamon Massy, occurring as it did in full sight of his little cottage.

Although he had no alternative, living in the shadow of his former mansion was probably not helpful in putting the past behind him.

The Killakee Woods were taken over by the Irish Forestry Department.

The demolition of Killakee House was a most unfortunate turn of events: Thousands of Ascendancy mansions were built in Ireland.

Killakee House, however, both in its style and location overlooking Dublin City and bay, was a house of particular merit.

This aspect of the house was obviously noted by the bank, which paid a caretaker for 17 years to keep the house secure.

In 1941, with the 2nd World War raging in Europe, it was evident to the bank that a buyer was not going to be found.

It decided to cut its loses and sold the house for its salvage value.

In 2001, sixty years after the event , Charles Guinness, of Tibradden House, recalled the demolition of Killakee House,

”In 1941, as a young boy, I walked up to Killakee with my mother when it was being demolished." 

"The monkey-puzzle trees remained impressive and the huge glass-houses were still standing but vegetation had broken through the roofs." 

"There was a melancholy atmosphere of decay and desolation. We salvaged a piece of stone and walked home sadly.” 

EXTRACTS FROM THIS ARTICLE ARE BY KIND PERMISSION OF FRANK TRACY, AUTHOR OF IF THOSE TREES COULD SPEAK: THE STORY OF AN ASCENDANCY FAMILY IN IRELAND.

 First published in May, 2013.

Hollymount Visit

At Hollymount Church (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

I was drawn back to Ballydugan and Hollymount in June, 2021.

This special haven is situated deep in the luscious County Down countryside, a few miles from Downpatrick.

From Downpatrick, drive past the racecourse, under the old railway bridge, and after a mile or so, veer right towards Ballydugan.

On my arrival at Ballydugan there were several large television production lorries parked at Ballydugan Mill; classic 1960s cars were strategically parked at the Lakeside Inn and the Lake House (viz. an immaculate Ford Cortina 1600E, Austin Cambridge, Jaguar E Type, Ford Granada and some others).

Ballydugan Lake and the Lake House had, in fact, been transformed into a period film set for the television drama Dalgliesh.

THE LAKE HOUSE was transformed into an establishment called The Black Swan, with cast-iron tables and chairs on the lawn outside.

There were two police officers on traffic duty, both of whom I chatted to.

Hollymount House (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

I parked the car opposite the Lakeside Inn, and from there I walked for about twenty-five minutes to the lost demesne of Hollymount, deep in the woods.

The old Georgian mansion house is not easy to find, though it is adjacent to the main track.

Hollymount House (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

The remains of Hollymount are enveloped in ivy and undergrowth; even a few trees grow within the walls.

These are mature trees, perhaps ninety or one hundred years old.

Hollymount House (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

The walls appear to be largely intact, though there is abundant rubble on the ground within them.

I wandered about the former cellars, and some render or plaster remains.

Not far from the mansion was the walled garden, which I looked for; no trace of it, however, exists.

There was also a bowling-green not far from the mansion house.

Hollymount Chapel of Ease (Image: Down & Connor Church Accommodation society, 1839)

Having walked back to the car I drove a mile or so past the lake to Hollymount Church, built in 1840 and recently restored.

Intriguingly, a romantic engraving of about 1840 shows a stone wall and water close to the church; whereas today the main road passes that spot.

(Image: Down and Connor Church Accommodation Society, 1839)

The proprietor of the Lakeside Inn had left a note on my car, informing me that she had in her possession a history of Hollymount, should I wish to avail of it; so I do intend to pay a visit to the inn on an evening at some stage.

Click to Enlarge (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

I had a flask of coffee and egg & onion sandwiches in the church grounds.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

In the church graveyard was the grave of CAPTAIN MICHAEL TORRENS-SPENCE DSO DSC AFC RN, of DRUMCULLEN HOUSE, Ballydugan, Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh, 1981-9.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

Freemen of Belfast: 1900-10

HONORARY BURGESSES OF THE CITY OF BELFAST

ELECTED AND ADMITTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELFAST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL PRIVILEGE (IRELAND) ACT, 1875

3  The Most Hon Frederick Temple Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, KP GCB GCSI GCMG GCIE PC ~ 1900

4  The Most Hon Charles Marquess of Londonderry, KG GCVO PC JP DL ~ 1900

5  Sir George Stuart White VC GCB OM GCSI GCMG GCIE GCVO ~ 1900

6  The Right Hon Frederick Sleigh Earl Roberts VC KG KP GCB OM GCSI GCIE PC ~ 1900

7  The Right Hon Sir Daniel Dixon Bt JP DL ~ 1904

8  The Right Hon Margaret Montgomery Viscountess Pirrie ~ 1904

9  Sir Donald Currie GCMG ~ 1906

10  The Right Hon Anthony Earl of Shaftesbury KP GCVO CBE PC ~ 1908

11  Sir Robert Hart Bt GCMG ~ 1908

12  Andrew Carnegie Esq ~ 1910

13 The Right Hon Sir John Newell Jordan GCMG GCIE KCB  ~ 1910

First published in August, 2012.

Freemen of Belfast: 1898-99

HONORARY BURGESSES OF THE CITY OF BELFAST

Elected and admitted by the Council of the City of Belfast under the municipal privilege (Ireland) Act, 1875:-

1898 The Right Hon William James, Viscount Pirrie KP PC

1899 Thomas Henry Ismay

First published in July, 2012.

Drumboe Castle

THE HAYES BARONETS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DONEGAL, WITH 22,285 ACRES

This family had been settled in Ireland from the period of the civil wars, during the reign of CHARLES I, when Edmund Hayes went over with Cromwell's party, and attained the rank of Colonel in his army; but whether he was of English or Scots ancestry is uncertain.

CHALLIS HAYES, son of Challis Hayes, of Bridgwater, Somerset, Vice-Consul at Lisbon, married Miss Deborah Holditch, of Totnes, Devon.

Mr Hayes was murdered by his servant at Lisbon in 1737, and left an only surviving son,

SAMUEL HAYES, who married Mary, daughter and heiress of William Basil, of Drumboe Castle, County Donegal, and of Wilton Park, Buckinghamshire, and had issue,

SAMUEL, his heir;
Mary; Frances.

The only son,

SAMUEL HAYES (1737-1807), MP for Augher, 1783-90, married Mary, daughter of William Basil (previously Ball), of Wilton Park, Buckinghamshire, and Drumboe Castle.

Mr Hayes was created a baronet in 1789, designated of Drumboe Castle, County Donegal.

Sir Samuel was succeeded by his son,

SIR SAMUEL HAYES, 2nd Baronet (1773-1827), of Drumboe Castle, who married, in 1803, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Lighton Bt, and had issue,

EDMUND SAMUEL, his heir;
Anne; Harriet; Mary.

Sir Samuel was succeeded by his only son,

SIR EDMUND SAMUEL HAYES, 3rd Baronet (1806-60), of Drumboe Castle, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1830, MP for County Donegal, 1831-60, founding member of the Carlton Club, who wedded, in 1837, Emily, daughter of the Hon Hercules Robert Pakenham, son of Edward, 2nd Baron Longford.

His eldest son and heir,

SIR SAMUEL HERCULES HAYES, 4th Baronet (1840-1901), of Drumboe Castle, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1884-7, wedded, in 1878, Alice Anne, daughter of James, 4th Viscount Lifford and had issue, a daughter, Alice Emily Hayes.

Sir Samuel died without male issue, when the title devolved upon his brother,

SIR EDMUND FRANCIS HAYES, 5th and last baronet (1850-1912), of Drumboe Castle, who married Alice Isabella, daughter of Judge Wilkinson, of Sydney, Australia, in 1900.

Sir Edmund died at Drumboe Castle, when the baronetcy became extinct.

Lady Hayes died in 1933 from injuries sustained, namely, a fractured skull, after stepping in front of a tramcar in Sydney, Australia.

DRUMBOE CASTLE, near Stranorlar, County Donegal, comprised a three-storey centre with a three-sided centre bow and pillared porch; and bow-ended wings.

The Georgian dwelling is thought to have been built ca 1770 or 1780.

There was a Wyatt window on either side of the centre bow.

In 1622, Robert Redington sold the estate at Ballybofey to Sir Ralph Bingley.

Bingley erected the original Drumboe Castle, which had four large towers.

Its location protected a ford across the river.

After the death of Sir Ralph, his widow, Jane, and Robert Harrington took charge until 1641, when it was granted to Sir William Bazil, Attorney-General for Ireland.

A descendent of Sir William Bazil was William Basil (formerly William Ball), who married Frances Dowdeswell ca 1736.

Their daughter, Mary Basil, married Sir Samuel Hayes Bt and through this marriage it became the home of the Hayes Baronets, of Drumboe Castle, from 1789 until 1912.

It became the General Headquarters for the forces of the Irish Free State in County Donegal during the Irish Civil War.

It is infamous for being the location of the Drumboe massacre during the Irish Civil War.

The house has been ruinous since 1945.

First published in July, 2013.