Synnot of Ballymoyer

THE HART-SYNNOTS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY ARMAGH, WITH 7,321 ACRES

Synnot, Synot and Sinnot, a French family, derived its descent from a Marquis of Lusignan, who came to England either with WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, or some time after. A younger brother settled in Ireland at a very early period, and among the oldest records of Wexford the name occurs. In that county, the ancestors of the family of which we are about to treat possessed considerable estates, and ranked amongst the most eminent of the gentry of the baronies of Forth and Bargy.

JOHN SYNNOT, of Ballytramon, County Wexford, son of Stephen, and grandson of Pierce Synnot, both of Ballytramon, married and had issue,

WALTER, ancestor of SYNNOT OF BALLYTRAMON;
PIERCE.

The younger son,

PIERCE SYNNOT, of Ballytramon, was father of 

DAVID SYNNOT, of Ballytramon, whose son,

STEPHEN SYNNOT, of Wexford, married Eleanor, daughter of John Bolane, and left issue, an only son,

MICHAEL SYNNOT, of Raheen, County Wexford, 1618, who wedded Elinor, daughter of George Dormer, County Wexford, and had issue,

John;
Michael;
DAVID, of whom presently;
Mary; Margaret; Catherine.

He espoused secondly, Mary, daughter of Edmond Hore, of Harperstown, County Wexford, and had a daughter, Elinor.

The youngest son,

DAVID SYNNOT, a colonel in the army, was the gallant Governor of Wexford when that place was besieged by CROMWELL in 1649.

His son,

TIMOTHY or TOBIAS SYNNOT, of County Londonderry, was brought up a Protestant, and was in Derry during its celebrated siege.

The family is said to have come originally from Flanders, where the name "Sigenod" meant "Victory-bold". Translations and modifications over time saw the name become "Synad". Various explanations of when and how the family travelled to Ireland have been documented, however all revolve around the Norman Invasion of Ireland.

It is believed that a Richard de Synad was one of the Flemish that crossed to Ireland with Strongbow in the invasion force. After various campaigns from Waterford to Wexford and on to Dublin, he returned to the Wexford region to settle down. He later built a castle at Ballybrennan, close to the present village of Killinick, on the main Wexford-Rosslare road.

This was the family's chief castle, which remained until dispossessed in the Cromwellian confiscations. The castle is long gone, but part of its walls is incorporated into the present large dwelling house at the site.

His eldest son,

THOMAS SYNNOT, Town Major (Chief Constable) of the City of Dublin and Captain in Lucas's Regiment of Foot, 1711, left a son and heir,

RICHARD SYNNOT, of Drumcondra, Registrar of the Diocese of Armagh, who married, in 1694, Jane, daughter of Edward Bloxham, of Dublin, and had (with a daughter) a son,

MARK SYNNOT (1696-1754), of Drumcondra, who wedded firstly, Euphemia, daughter of Mr Rivers; and secondly, in 1769, Anne, daughter of Walter Nugent, of Carpenterstown, County Westmeath, and had issue,

Mark, of Drumcondra;
WALTER (Sir), of whom presently;
Mary, m W Smyth, of Drumcree.

The younger son, 

SIR WALTER SYNNOT (1742-1821), of BALLYMOYER HOUSE, County Armagh, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1783, espoused, in 1770, Jane, daughter of John Seton, of New York,  and had issue, 

MARCUS, his heir;
Walter.

Sir Walter married secondly, in 1804, Ann Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev Robert Martin, and had a daughter, Elizabeth (who married the Rev Fitzgibbon Stewart), and a son,

Richard Walter.

By the time of his death, Sir Walter and his son, Marcus, had made considerable improvements to the estate and many of the beautiful trees, buildings and structural improvements date from this time.

The demesne was noted as being very ornate.

He was knighted by Lord Buckingham, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

The eldest son and heir,

MARCUS SYNNOT JP (1771-1855), of Ballymoyer, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1830, wedded, in 1814, Jane, daughter of Thomas Gilson, of Wood Lodge, Lincolnshire, and had issue,

MARCUS, his heir;
MARK SETON, of Ballymoyer, succeeded his brother;
Parker George;
William Forbes;
Mary Marcia; Maria Eliza; Agnes Jane; Barbara Cecilia; Juliana Hewitt.

Mr Synnot was succeeded by his eldest son, 

MARCUS SYNNOT JP DL (1813-74), of Ballymoyer House, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1852, who married, in 1844, Ann, eldest daughter of William Parker, of Hanthorpe House, Lincolnshire.

Mr Synnot died without issue, when the estates devolved upon his brother,

MARK SETON SYNNOT JP DL (1820-90), of Ballymoyer, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1876, Captain, Armagh Light Infantry, who espoused, in 1843, Anne Jane, second daughter and co-heir of Mark Synnot, of Monasterboice House, King's County (Offaly), and Grove House, Clapham, Surrey, and had issue,

MARK SETON, late of Ballymoyer;
MARY SUSANNA, of Ballymoyer;
Rosalie Jane; Eva Charlotte; Charlotte Augusta; Ada Maria; Annette Beatrice.

Mr Synnot was succeeded by his only son, 

MARK SETON SYNNOT JP (1847-1901), of Ballymoyer, Captain, Armagh Light Infantry, who died unmarried, where the estate devolved upon his eldest sister,

MARY SUSANNA SYNNOT (1844-1913), of Ballymoyer, who married, in 1868, Major-General Arthur FitzRoy Hart CB CMG (who assumed the name and arms of SYNNOT), and had issue,

ARTHUR HENRY SETON, his heir;
RONALD VICTOR OKES, succeeded his brother;
Beatrice May; Horatia Annette Blanche.

The elder son,

BRIGADIER ARTHUR HENRY SETON HART-SYNNOT CMG DSO, married his nurse, Violet Drower, while convalescing from his wounds, though died without issue in 1942.

Family of Hart

THE REV WILLIAM HART (c1668-1746), of the parish of Netherbury, Dorset, possessed land in the county of Dorset, namely Corfe, in the parish of West Milton, Pomice, Hurlands, Colmer's Estate, Camesworth, Greening's Orchard, and Furzelease House, in Netherbury.

He was buried at Netherbury, leaving by Ann, his wife (with other issue who died young), a son,

WILLIAM HART (1707-71), of Netherbury, who wedded, in 1731, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Henville, of Hincknowle, Netherbury, and had issue (with two daughters, Betty and Ann, who both died unmarried), an only surviving son,

GEORGE HART (1744-1824), of Netherbury, who possessed lands in Dorset, viz. Corfe, Cape Leazne [sic], and Pomice.

His elder son,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM HART (1764-1818), of Netherbury, had issue, his third son,

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL HENRY GEORGE HART (1808-78), whose fourth son was

MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR FITZROY HART-SYNNOT CB CMG.

*****

The tenanted land of BALLYMOYER estate was transferred to the occupiers under the Irish land acts of 1902 and 1909.

Subsequently Brigadier Hart-Synnot and his brother, Ronald Victor Okes Hart-Synnot, sold the farm land of the demesne and, in 1938, donated the avenue and glen to the National Trust, and had the house demolished owing to damage suffered from requisitioning.

The estate is now open to the public.

First published in February, 2012.

Crawfordsburn Park

THE SHARMAN-CRAWFORDS OWNED 5,748 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DOWN

ANDREW CRAWFORD, of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, one of fifty Scottish undertakers of the plantation, was granted 1,000 acres of land in County Tyrone.

Although he sold this property within ten years, many of the kinsmen he brought over from Scotland remained.

In 1625, Crawford, as a tenant of Sir James Hamilton, was in possession of a mill and lands in County Down.

His descendant,

WILLIAM CRAWFORD, purchased the estate of Crawfordsburn, County Down, from Henry, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil, about 1670, and was succeeded therein by his son,

JOHN CRAWFORD, of Crawfordsburn, who married Jane, daughter of Crawford, of Rocksavage, County Antrim, and was father of

JAMES CRAWFORD, of Crawfordsburn, who wedded Mabel, daughter of Hugh Johnston, of Rademon, County Down, and heiress of Arthur Johnston (1721-1814), of Rademon, MP for Killyleagh, 1769-76, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Arthur;
James;
William;
Jane;
Anne, m James, 1st Earl of Caledon;
Mary, m David Gordon, of Florida Manor.

Mr Crawford died in 1777, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN CRAWFORD JP (1745-1827), of Crawfordsburn, married, in 1774, Mary, daughter of John Kennedy, of Cultra, County Down, and had issue,

Arthur Johnston, MP, of Rademon, dvp unmarried;
MABEL FRIDESWIDE, of whom hereafter.

The only daughter,


MABEL FRIDESWIDE CRAWFORD (1785-1844), of Crawfordsburn, eventually sole heiress, espoused, in 1805, WILLIAM SHARMAN, who took the additional surname and arms of CRAWFORD, and had issue,

John, his heir;
ARTHUR JOHNSTON, successor to his brother;
James, of Rademon House, MP;
Frederick;
Charles;
William;
Henry;
Maria; Arminella; Mabel; Eleanor Frideswide.

William Sharman-Crawford assumed the latter surname in 1827, in addition to his paternal one of SHARMAN, in compliance with the will of John Crawford.

He was the eldest son of William Sharman, of Moira Castle, County Down, by Arminella his wife, daughter of Hill Wilson, of Purdysburn, County Down.

William Sharman-Crawford (1781-1861), Photo Credit: Ulster Museum

Mr Sharman-Crawford died at Crawfordsburn and was buried in the family vault at Kilmore, County Down, where there is a monumental inscription.

A great stone obelisk was erected in his memory on a hill at Rademon Estate, near Crossgar, County Down.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN SHARMAN-CRAWFORD JP DL (1809-84), of Crawfordsburn, Major, North Down Militia, High Sheriff of County Down, 1839, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

ARTHUR JOHNSTON SHARMAN-CRAWFORD JP DL (1811-91), of Crawfordsburn, High Sheriff of County Down, 1888, Barrister, Director, Belfast Banking Company, who married, in 1846, Louisa Alicia, daughter of William Crawford, of Lakelands, County Cork, and had issue,

William Henry;
Arthur Johnston (1850-62);
ROBERT GORDON, of Crawfordsburn;
Arthur Frederick;
Mary Elizabeth; Louisa Mabel; Alice Aimée.

Mr Sharman-Crawford was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

THE RT HON ROBERT GORDON SHARMAN-CRAWFORD JP DL (1853-1934), of Crawfordsburn, High Sheriff of County Down, 1895, Colonel Commanding, 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, 15th Hussars, 16th Lancers, who wedded, in 1882, Annie Helen, eldest daughter of Ernest Arbouin, of Brighton, and had issue,

TERENCE (1892-1913), d unm; Helen Mary.

Family of Sharman

JOHN SHARMAN, of Grange, County Antrim (elder brother of Captain William Sharman, MP for Randalstown 1749-60, who married, in 1740, Anne, daughter of John O'Neill, of Shane's Castle), had issue, two sons and three daughters,

WILLIAM, of whom hereafter;
Richard;
Letitia; Anne; Sarah.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM SHARMAN (1731-1803), of Moira Castle, County Down, Barrister, Colonel, the Union Volunteers, MP for Lisburn, 1783, married, in 1773, Arminella, daughter of Hill Wilson, of Purdysburn, County Down, and had issue,

WILLIAM, assumed surname of CRAWFORD, as stated above;
John Hill;
Eleanor, m, in 1884, Hill Wilson, of Rosebrook, Co Antrim.

Crawfordsburn House

CRAWFORDSBURN HOUSE, near Bangor, County Down, was built in 1906 to designs by Vincent Craig, at an estimated cost of £20,000 (about £2.2 million in today's money).

The Irish Builder publication in 1904 invited tenders for the

...erection of a new house at Crawfordsburn Co Down for Colonel Sharman Crawford D.L....This will do away with the rather historic, if excessively ugly old mansion on the shores, at the entrance of Belfast Lough.

The present house replaced an earlier "excessively ugly" building (below) of ca 1820, situated to the west, which itself replaced a house of about 1780.

The Irish Builder was surely suffering from an unfortunate dose of myopia or sycophancy, or had not seen the prosaic Edwardian pile before its Georgian predecessor was demolished.

Crawfordsburn House c820-1905, prior to demolition (Welch Collection/NMNI). Click to enlarge

The first occupant of the new house was the Rt Hon Robert Gordon Sharman-Crawford.

In 1933, a valuer described the building as

a well built modern mansion occupying attractive site on shore of Lough. Built about 30 years ago cost £20,000 + extras also large sums spent on cottages and offices. Well planned house with good approach by drives from both C’burn and Helen’s Bay Roads. 

Extensive lawns, ornamental gardens, kitchen garden (walled in), conservatories and well built offices (none of which are used for agricultural purposes) including garages, carriage and coach ho, stabling for hunters &c. Ho[use] and offices have been well maintained and are in good general condition. 

Own water supply pumped from wells to service tank. Central heating. Lighting from own acetylene gas plant. Drainage to septic tank. House and offices are now somewhat larger than required by occupier.

The accommodation at this time comprised, on the ground floor, an outer hall and porch, a lounge hall, 6 rooms, two cloak rooms (lavatory and basins), a safe room, butler’s pantry, butler’s room and safe, brushing room, lavatory and cloakrooms, servant’s hall, housekeeper’s room, store room, flower room, kitchen, scullery larder, boots and lavatory, dairy, wood stores and coal hole.

On the first floor there was a boudoir, minstrels gallery, 10 principal bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 lavatories, a house maids’ pantry, linen room and sewing-room.

On the second floor there were 8 principal bedrooms, six maids’ rooms, three bathrooms, and two lavatories.

A wine cellar, store and safe were in the basement and cottages for the coachman and gardener in the grounds.

An estate agent’s pamphlet of this period describes the house as having a thoroughly modern interior with 9 reception rooms, 25 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.

It was thought that the house might have been be used as a private residence, ‘a Country Club, Hotel or Central Headquarters for a Holiday Camp’.

In 1935, that the house was let to W J Stewart, after Crawford’s death.

William John Stewart, MP for South Belfast, 1929-46, was head of the building firm, Stewart & Partners, which built the parliament buildings at Stormont in 1932.

Colonel Crawford’s representatives were obliged to spend ‘over £1,250’ on improvements before the house could be let, including the installation of electric light and extra bathrooms with improved fittings.

Crawfordsburn House was sold in 1948 to the Northern Ireland Tuberculosis Authority.

A nurses home, recreation and school room were to the site in the same year.

In 1959, the Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority took over, using the house as a geriatric hospital.

In the early 1980s it passed into private ownership; and in 2000, was redeveloped to designs by MacRae Hanlon Spence Partnership, who converted the building into thirty-eight apartments with an additional twenty-two apartments in a new courtyard development.

*****

SUBSEQUENTLY a great deal of planting was undertaken, so that today the area is well wooded.

There is extensive woodland and glen-side planting, shelter belts and two fine, twisting approach avenues.

An ornamental garden, known as Mrs Crawford’s Garden was added in the 1880s.

A rockery and pond remain, with some now outsize plants, but it is not maintained.

The walled garden is part used for a tree nursery and not otherwise cultivated. The gardens were probably at their peak at the turn of the century.

Banim says, in 1892, it had,

luxuriant growth of tree … masses of crimson rhododendrons lend rich colour.

Robinson commented in the Garden Annual and Almanac in 1908 and the head gardener, John Whytock, had a regular column in Irish Gardening at that period.

Since the 1970s replanting for the country park has improved the site.

There is a waterfall, numerous bridges, including a stone viaduct by Lanyon and modern buildings and landscaping associated with the park.

The ‘Crawfordsburn Fern’ was discovered here. It is thought to be extinct.

The gates lodges are notable and are all listed: Burn Lodge, of ca 1812, is thought to be by Nash for the first house; Helen’s Bay Lodge of ca 1870; and Home Farm Lodge of ca 1900.

*****

Crawfordsburn’s heyday, like many of Ulster's stately homes, was during the 18th and 19th centuries.

It was then that much of the estate was planted, including the coastal headlands (with Scots Pine, Beech, Beach, Sycamore and Elm) and the Glen (many exotic trees Monterey Cypress, Red Cedar, Californian Redwood as well as Rhodendrons, Beach and Laurel.

Crawfordsburn is now a Country Park.

Crawfordsburn House has been converted into opulent apartments and re-named Crawford House, Sharman Estate.

First published in July, 2010. Sharman-Crawford arms courtesy of the NLI.

1st Marquess of Hertford

THIS FAMILY SHARES A COMMON ANCESTOR WITH THE DUCAL HOUSE OF SOMERSET

SIR EDWARD SEYMOUR, 4th Baronet (1633-1708), of Berry Pomeroy, the speaker in the Long Parliament from 1672, wedded firstly, in 1661, Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Sir William Wale, an alderman of the city of London, and by her was grandfather of the 8th Duke of Somerset.

Sir Edward espoused secondly, in 1674, Lætitia, daughter of Alexander Popham, of Littlecote, Wiltshire, by whom he had issue.

his eldest son by his second wife,

POPHAM SEYMOUR-CONWAY (1675-99), inherited the estates of his maternal cousin, Edward, Earl of Conway, who dsp under the will of the said Earl, and assumed, in consequence, 1683, the surname of CONWAY.

This gentleman fell in a duel with Colonel George Kirk, in 1699; and dying unmarried, those estates devolved upon his next brother,

FRANCIS SEYMOUR-CONWAY (1679-1732), who also assumed the surname and arms of CONWAY, and was elevated to the peerage, 1703, in the dignity of Baron Conway, of Ragley, Warwickshire.

Part of his extensive inheritance being situated in Ulster, his lordship was created a peer of Ireland, in 1712, as Baron Conway, of Killultagh, County Antrim.

He did not, however, take his seat in the Irish House of Lords until 1721.

His lordship was sworn of the Irish Privy Council, and in the following year, Governor of Carrickfergus (1728-32).

His lordship married firstly, in 1703, the Lady Mary Hyde, third daughter of Laurence, 1st Earl of Rochester, by whom he had four daughters; the second of whom, Mary, wedded NICHOLAS PRICE, of Saintfield, County Down.

Lord Conway espoused secondly, Jane Bowden, of Drogheda, by whom he had a son, who died in infancy, and a daughter who died unmarried; and thirdly, in 1715/16, Charlotte, daughter of Alderman Sir John Shorter, Knight, Lord Mayor of London, 1688, and sister-in-law of the celebrated statesman, Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford, by whom he had (with three daughters) four sons; of whom

FRANCIS, succeeded to the honours;
Henry (Field-Marshal the Hon).

His lordship died at Lisburn, County Antrim, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

FRANCIS, 2nd Baron (1718-94); who was created, in 1750, Viscount Beauchamp and Earl of Hertford (similar honours had been conferred upon his lordship's ancestor, Edward, Duke of Somerset, which expired with Algernon, 7th Duke), with remainder, in default of male issue, to the male descendants of his brother, Field-Marshal the Hon Henry Seymour-Conway.

His lordship was installed a Knight of the Garter in 1756; and in 1765 he was constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; the following year, Lord Chamberlain of the Household, having previously filled the office of Master of the Horse.

He married, in 1741, the Lady Isabella Fitzroy, youngest daughter of Charles, 2nd Duke of Grafton, by which lady he had thirteen children.

His lordship's armorial bearings as Earl of Hertford are displayed at the top.

His lordship was advanced, in 1793, to the dignities of Earl of Yarmouth and MARQUESS OF HERTFORD.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

FRANCIS, 2nd Marquess (1743-1822), KG, MP for Lisburn, 1761-8, Antrim, 1768-76, Lord Chamberlain of the Household, Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Governor of County Antrim, who espoused firstly, in 1768, Alice Elizabeth, daugther of Herbert, 2nd Viscount Windsor, though the marriage was without issue.

His lordship had a natural son by Margaret Williams, HARRY AUGUSTUS, of Knockbreda, ancestor of the Seymour Baronets.

He wedded secondly, in 1776, Isabella Anne, daughter of Charles, 9th Viscount Irvine, and had further issue,

FRANCIS CHARLES, his successor.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

FRANCIS CHARLES, 3rd Marquess (1777-1842), KG GCH PC, MP for County Antrim, 1812-18, who espoused, in 1798, Maria Emilia, daughter of William, 4th Duke of Queensbury, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Henry;
Francis Maria.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 4th Marquess (1800-70), MP for County Antrim, 1822-26, who died unmarried.

His lordship had a liaison with ca 1818 in Paris with Elizabeth Agnes Dunlop-Wallace, by whom he had a natural son, RICHARD WALLACE.

Francis Hugh George Seymour, 5th Marquess (1812–84);
Hugh de Grey Seymour, 6th Marquess (1843–1912);
George Francis Alexander Seymour, 7th Marquess (1871–1940);
Hugh Edward Conway Seymour, 8th Marquess (1930–97);
Henry Jocelyn Seymour, 9th Marquess (b 1958).

The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son, William Francis Seymour, styled Earl of Yarmouth (b 1993).

Seat and former seats ~ Ragley Hall, Warwickshire; Sudbourne Hall, Suffolk; Lisburn, County Antrim; Kingley Farm, Alcester, Warwickshire.

Former London residences ~ 16 Lower Grosvenor Street; Hertford House, Manchester Square.

First published in December, 2019.

His Majesty's Wedding Day

TODAY is His Majesty's twenty-first Wedding Anniversary. 

On the 9th April, 2005, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales married Mrs Camilla Rosemary Parker-Bowles (née Shand) at Windsor Guildhall, Berkshire.

Thereafter Mrs Parker-Bowles became known as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall; and on The King's accession to the throne, Her Majesty The Queen Consort.

The honeymoon was spent at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire.

The Years of my Pilgrimage

The Right Honourable Sir John Ross, 1st Baronet, was the last Lord Chancellor of Ireland. 

Sir John was a son of the manse: his father was the Very Rev Dr Robert Ross, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

In 1924 he wrote random reminiscences of his pre-eminent legal career in a book called The Years of my Pilgrimage.

My copy was published in 1924 by Edward Arnold & Co, London.

I happened to be rummaging in a charity bookshop at Botanic Avenue, Belfast, in 2019 (located in a unit below the former Arts Theatre), and I came across this fascinating book.

It shall be an antique in several years' time.

Sir John is, as one would expect, an eloquent writer, recounting a number of crimes he sat in judgment upon during his notable career.

He also had the privilege of meeting many important figures, political and patrician, during his time at Westminster, and having been invited to numerous country house parties, in particular at Mount Stewart, County Down, Baronscourt, County Tyrone, Londonderry House, and Hampden House, the latter residence being the London home of the first Duke of Abercorn at the time.

The first Duke invited Sir John to Baronscourt in September, 1885.

Sir John, in his reminiscences, remarks that His Grace was

"a remarkable man and his like I have never met again. He was one of the handsomest men of his time and kingly in everything he did. He had been twice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and was most popular, mainly, it was said, because he regarded the people much as the mud on his boots."

"His seven beautiful daughters had married the greatest nobles in the land, namely the Earl of Lichfield, the Earl of Durham, the Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, Marquess of Blandford (afterwards Duke of Marlborough), and the Marquess of Lansdowne."

Of Sir Winston Churchill’s father, Sir John remarked: "It was very sad to witness the rapid decline of Lord Randolph Churchill's great prowess. It is unpleasant to read accounts attributing his deterioration to abuse of stimulants and tobacco. He never appeared robust, and it seemed to me a case where the ardent mind simply burned out the frail body."

Sir John observed that Colonel Edward Saunderson was "one of the greatest humorists and hardest hitters in the House of Commons."

I've no idea how many editions of this book were printed, though it's one of my most precious autobiographical publications.

First published in October, 2020.

Middleton Park

THE BOYD-ROCHFORTS WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 16,397 ACRES

THE REV JAMES BOYD (1725-75), Rector of Erris, County Mayo, married, in 1752, Mary, daughter of Abraham Martin and widow of Arthur Vernon, and left an only son,

ABRAHAM BOYD (1760-1822), Barrister, King's Counsel, who wedded firstly, in 1786, Catherine Shuttleworth, widow of John Davies, by whom he had a daughter, Helena; and secondly, in 1815, Jane, Countess of Belvedere, daughter and eventually sole heiress of the Rev James Mackay, and by her left at his decease an only son,

GEORGE AUGUSTUS ROCHFORT-BOYD JP DL (1817-87), of Middleton Park, County Westmeath, High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1843, who wedded, in 1843, Sarah Jane, eldest daughter of George Woods, of Milverton Hall, by Sarah his wife, daughter of Hans Hamilton, of Abbotstown (for many years MP for County Dublin), and had issue,

ROCHFORT HAMILTON, his heir;
George, died in infancy;
Charles Augustus, CMG;
George Warren Woods;
Francis;
Alice Jane; Edith Sarah Hamilton; Florence.

Mr Rochfort-Boyd inherited from his mother, the Countess of Belvedere, a great portion of the Rochfort estates situated in County Westmeath, and assumed the surname and arms of ROCHFORT by royal licence in 1867.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROCHFORT HAMILTON BOYD-ROCHFORT JP (1844-91), of Middleton Park, who married, in 1875, Florence Louisa, daughter of Richard Hemming, of Bentley Manor and Foxlidiate, Worcestershire, and had issue,

GEORGE ARTHUR, his heir;
Harold;
Cecil Charles (Sir), KCVO;
Ethel Victoria; Alice Eleanor; Winifred Florence; Muriel.

Major Boyd-Rochfort assumed the surname of ROCHFORT in 1888 on succeeding to the Rochfort estates left by his grandmother, Jane, Countess of Belvedere.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE ARTHUR BOYD-ROCHFORT  VC (1880-1940), of Middleton Park, who married, in 1901, Olivia Ellis, daughter of Christopher Ussher, of Eastwell, County Galway.

MIDDLETON PARK HOUSE, near Mullingar, County Westmeath, was built by George Boyd-Rochfort in 1850.

He commissioned George Papworth, Architect and President of the Royal Academy, to design and oversee the building of the House.

Drawings of part of the interior were exhibited by Mr Papworth during the Royal Hibernian Annual Exhibition of 1850.

Only the very best craftsmen and materials were used in the building and it is a testimony to those craftsmen and materials that Middleton Park House has stood the test of time since then.

It is a fine example of late Georgian architecture favouring the classic Georgian style over the Gothic style evident in other houses of that era.

Acclaimed features of the House are its under-floor heating system, stone bifurcated staircase leading to the Gallery Landing and three-storey high atrium lantern located in the Main Hall.

Middleton Park House also boasts one of a few Richard Turner Conservatories to be found in Ireland.

The House and estate remained in the Boyd-Rochfort family until the early 1960s when it was sold.

Since then it has seen many owners, the most colourful of whom was Barney Curly who famously raffled the House in 1986.

In quite a state of disrepair when acquired by its current owners, it took a lot of time, effort and care to attention to bring it back to life, bringing in specialist professionals to ensure that the original aesthetic and atmosphere remained.

Built between 1840 and 1850, it is unusual in that context, as the Irish famine not only reduced the peasant farmers of Ireland to penury and starvation; it also destroyed the economic basis of the large landed estates held by the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy, as rents could not be paid.

It replaced an older house on the site, which was demolished.

The name Middleton comes from a previous owner of the estate, Mr George Middleton Berry, who subsequently lived in Ballingal House.

Middleton Park House was designed by George Papworth to be a technical wonder of its age.

It had its own gas-house where coal was converted to gas to fuel the house boilers, and an extraordinary heating system buried in its walls, which circulated heated air.

It utilised the most modern materials of the time including cast iron beams for structural supports in the vaulted basement, instead of the usual timber.

Although built well into the Victorian era, it was created in a classical Georgian style, as opposed to the prevailing Victorian Gothic.

It has one of only six turner conservatories left in Ireland.

Richard Turner also built Kew Gardens in London and the Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

Its entrance hall and sweeping stone, cantilevered bifurcated staircase is regarded as one of the finest of its kind in Ireland, and was famously described as “suitable for Citizen Kane” in Burke's Country Houses.

Middleton Park House was built for George Boyd-Rochfort, whose wife was the eldest daughter of the last Earl of Belvedere.

GEORGE III stood as godfather to one of them, and they were high-ranking members of the peerage.

Mr Boyd was granted permission to change his name to Rochfort-Boyd in 1867 by a petition to the House of Lords.

Although the behaviour of George Boyd-Rochfort was questionable during the Irish famine, being cited by the House of Lords for his actions, his successors are remembered today as having been good, progressive landlords.

The various land acts and subsequently the Irish land commission reduced the estates to a fraction (470 acres) of what they were.

A noted stud was established on the estate and it was the venue for point-to-points, and a starting or finishing point for the Westmeath Hunt.

The Westmeath Hunt Ball was also held at Middleton for many years, as well as hare coursing.

The estate was a large employer in the area.

A great many valuable horses were bred here, including Airborne, Winner of the Derby in 1946.

One of the Rochforts (Sir Cecil) also became the royal horse trainer for both KING GEORGE VI and our current sovereign, ELIZABETH II.

*****

THE FAMILY sold the House in the early 1960s, when many of the contents were auctioned, including a Persian rug, now said to be worth in the region of $15m.

A German family bought the estate, which was sold again in the 1960s to the O’Callaghans who, in turn, sold it to Barney Curley, who famously raffled Middleton Park in 1986.

Subsequent owners broke up the estate up into many smaller parcels.

The stud farm ceased to operate around this time as well.

Many of the original fixtures and fittings in the house were sold or removed at this time.

The house, having lost its land, and now existing on only 26 acres, went through a series of owners.

It was, at this stage, in need of major restoration as the roof had deteriorated badly with serous water damage evident throughout the house.

It also lacked modern wiring, plumbing and heating.

The sheer scale of the great mansion, at over 36,000 sq feet, made it impractical as a family home for anybody but the seriously rich.

The current owners purchased it in December 2004.

They set about converting it into a Country House Hotel and planning permission was obtained for this.

The immediate requirement was to repair the roof and make it watertight.

Investigations revealed that the roof in the wing and most of the floors were completely beyond repair, as the roof trusses were rotten and some had been cut in a manner that left the roof liable to collapse.

The Turner conservatory had lost its original glass and the metal work was seriously corroded.

The timber supporting beams in the spectacular entrance hall had also rotted and it was in danger of falling in.

These all had to be replaced also.

A specialist iron working firm from Germany was brought in to repair the conservatory and some new castings to replace those corroded beyond use were sourced in the UK.

Specialist roofers from Austria replaced the wing roof structure.

Bangor Blue slates were used.

The external render on the house had failed and had to be removed and replaced using, as originally, lime plaster.

New Roman cement decorative reveals also had to be cast.

The decorative plasterwork inside the house had to be extensively repaired.

Extensive fire protection works were undertaken.

Three generations of old plumbing and electrics, often surface mounted, were removed and the house completely rewired and re-plumbed.

A new waste treatment plant was installed.

A specialist engineering firm designed the new heating system which includes underfloor heating in the basement to minimise the visual impact of radiators and some elements of the original system are used to duct hot air into the hall.

There are many legends about the house locally most notably that both Napoleon and  T E Lawrence (of Arabia) were conceived here (clearly not true in the case of Napoleon, as the house was not built until 1840 and he had died in 1821!).

The link that Lawrence of Arabia has to the house is that his father was married to one of Mr Boyd-Rochfort’s daughters - Edith - but who also had five illegitimate sons by Miss Sarah Lawrence his children’s Governess.

One of these was T E Lawrence of Arabia.

It is not recorded where he was actually conceived, but he was born in Wales.

Many of the original drawings of the house were lost in the destruction of the RAI archive in 1916, but an extensive file is held by the Irish National Architectural archive in Merrion Square in Dublin, and some of the estate papers and deeds are held by the National Library of Ireland.

First published in July, 2011.

Cairnburn: 1903

Norwood Tower

A FANCIFUL DAY-TRIP FROM BELFAST IN 1903

I have just come from the magnificent new City Hall being built in Donegall Square, Belfast.

The old Linen Hall has been razed to the ground and the magnificent new civic building is taking shape very nicely indeed.

The coronation of our new King, Edward the Seventh, has taken place.

Old Queen Victoria rests in peace.

I've taken a Hansom cab to an up-and-coming district near Belfast called Strandtown.

I'm visiting the Ewarts at their fine new residence, Glenmachan.

Glenmachan House

The cab driver is taking me via a semi-circular road to a junction with Cairnburn Road, and I alight there in order that I may stroll the rest of the way.

These country roads are narrow: another cab passed us as it turned up the drive of Norwood Tower, the Hendersons' rambling Tudor-Revival mansion, and my cab-driver had to slow right down to avoid it!

Norwood Tower has two gate-lodges, each about a quarter of a mile apart.

The first lodge we passed on this circular road was a little beyond the entrance to Clonaver House, the Hendersons' former dower house, which now belongs to James Girdwood; while the second lodge was almost opposite Ardvarna House.

The Henderson grounds are extensive and extend to the top of Circular Road.

It is said that they own fifty acres.

The gate lodges are both battlemented, while the house, set in a landscaped park, is dominated by a lofty, castellated tower.

Passing Norwood, I notice a gardener working in the grounds with a scythe; and a paddock with a number of horses grazing.

On the left-hand side of the road, the first gate-lodge belongs to Ardnagreena House, home to the solicitor, Charles Black; and further along, we pass Ballymisert House's gate lodge.

Ballymisert, I am told, belongs to the tea merchant, Masterson.

My cab reaches the top of the hill, and we veer left as we pass yet another gate lodge for Garranard House which belongs to William Patterson, who is the proprietor of a flourishing ironmongery business.

At last I have arrived at the junction with Cairnburn Road.

I pay the cabbie a few shillings ~ daylight robbery! ~ and begin my stroll.

There are fields to the right; Glenfurlough House to the left, where James Taylor, the linen merchant, lives.

A few minutes' walk further along, I pass the red-brick labourers' cottages which belong to Glenfurlough.

These workers' cottages are beside a steep decline, where there is a pretty glen.

I cross the old bridge, surrounded by woodland and the song of birds.

From here the lane ascends and cuts through more woodland.

At the top of the road, there is a cross-roads, where the old Holywood Road traverses Cairnburn Road.

I pause and observe: the woodland and the roads are so narrow with no traffic at all, except one solitary horse and cart.

I catch a glimpse of some workers' cottages on the other side of the Holywood Road.

Immediately ahead is my destination: Glenmachan, seat of my friends, the Ewarts, standing in thirty-three acres of grounds.

First published in December, 2009.