Mount Trenchard House

THE SPRING-RICES, BARONS MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON, WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LIMERICK, WITH 6,445 ACRES

EDWARD RICE, of Dingle, County Kerry, during the reign of HENRY VIII, married Anne, daughter of John Wall, of County Limerick, and was father of

ROBERT RICE, of Dingle, who wedded Julia, daughter of Sir James Whyte, Knight, of Cashel, County Tipperary, and was father of

STEPHEN RICE, of Dingle, MP for Kerry, 1613, who made a deed of settlement of his estates, 1619, and died in 1623.

He espoused Helena, daughter of Thomas Trant, of Cahirtrant, County Kerry, and had two sons, JAMES, MP for Dingle, 1635, from whom descended the RT HON THOMAS SPRING-RICE MP, of Mount Trenchard, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon; and

DOMINICK RICE, MP for Dingle, 1635, who married Alice, daughter of James Hussey, Baron of Galtrim, from which marriage descended

THE RT HON SIR STEPHEN RICE (1637-1715), Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and a supporter of JAMES II, who wedded Mary, daughter of Thomas FitzGerald, of County Limerick, and had issue,

THOMAS;
EDWARD, of whom we treat.

Sir Stephen's elder son,

THOMAS RICE, of Mount Trenchard, wedded Mary, daughter of Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry, and had issue, a son,

STEPHEN EDWARD RICE, of Mount Trenchard, who married, in 1785, Catherine, only child and heir of Thomas Spring, of Castlemaine, County Kerry, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Mary; Catherine Ann.

Mr Rice died in 1831, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS SPRING-RICE (1790-1866), of Brandon, County Kerry, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1835-39, who wedded firstly, in 1811, the Lady Theodosia Pery, second daughter of Edmund, 1st Earl of Limerick, and had issue,

STEPHEN EDMUND, his successor;
Charles William Thomas, father of SIR CECIL SPRING-RICE GCMG GCVO;
Edmund Henry;
Aubrey Richard;
William Cecil;
Mary Alicia Pery; Theodosia Alicia Ellen F Charlotte; Catherine Anne Lucy.

Mr Spring-Rice was elevated to the peerage, in 1839, in the dignity of BARON MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON, of Brandon, County Kerry.

My his first wife he had issue,

STEPHEN EDMOND, his successor;
Charles William Thomas;
Edmond Henry Francis Louis;
Aubrey Richard;
William Cecil;
Theodosia Alicia Ellen F Charlotte; Mary Alicia Pery; Catherine Anne Lucy.

His lordship's eldest son,

THE HON STEPHEN EDMOND SPRING-RICE (1814-65), of Mount Trenchard, espoused, in 1839, Ellen Mary, daughter of William Frere, and had issue,

THOMAS, 2nd Baron;
FRANCIS, 4th Baron;
Aileen; Lucy; Theodosia; Mary; Alice; Frederica; Catherine Ellen; Amy.

The Hon Stephen Edmond Spring-Rice predeceased his father, and was succeeded by his elder son,

THOMAS, 2nd Baron (1849-1926), KP, of Mount Trenchard, who married, in 1875, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the Most Rev and Rt Hon Samuel Butcher, Lord Bishop of Meath, and had issue,

Stephen Edmond (1877-1900);
THOMAS AUBREY, 3rd Baron;
Mary Ellen (1880-1924), of Mount Trenchard.

His lordship was succeeded by his younger son,

THOMAS AUBREY, 3rd Baron (1883-1934), CMG, MVO, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his uncle,

FRANCIS, 4th Baron (1852-1937), Commander RN, who espoused firstly, in 1882, Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Sir Peter George FitzGerald, 1st Baronet, 19th Knight of Kerry, and had issue,

Francis Peter, died in infancy;

CHARLES, his successor.

He wedded secondly, in 1935, Julia Emma Isabella, widow of Stephen Edward Spring-Rice, CB.

His lordship was succeeded by his only surviving son,

CHARLES, 5th Baron (1887-1946), who married, in 1925, Emilie Frances de Kosenko, and had issue,

GERALD, his successor;

Michael;

Joan.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

GERALD, 6th Baron (1926-2013), who wedded, in 1949, Anne, only daughter of Colonel Guy James Brownlow, DSO, DL, of Ballywhite, near Portaferry, County Down, and had issue,

CHARLES JAMES, his successor;

Elinor and Angela, born in 1950.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

CHARLES JAMES, 7th Baron, born in 1953.

The heir presumptive is the present holder's uncle, the Hon Michael Spring Rice (b 1935).

The heir presumptive's heir apparent is his son, Jonathan Spring Rice (b 1964).

The heir presumptive's heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, Jamie Alexander Spring Rice (b 2003).

MOUNT TRENCHARD HOUSE, near Foynes, County Limerick, is a late-Georgian house of three storeys over a basement, with two curved bows on its entrance front, which overlooks the River Shannon estuary.

There is a wide curved bow in the centre of its garden front, too.

One side of the house has a two-storey Victorian wing, which is almost as high as the main block; while the other side has a one bay, three storey addition and a lower two-storey wing.

Solas Mount Trenchard (Image: Booking.com)

Mount Trenchard was occupied by the Irish Army in 1944.

When the 5th Baron Monteagle of Brandon died in 1946, the estate was sold.

Lady Holland lived there for several years.

In 1954, the Sisters of Mercy acquired the estate and ran it as a private school for girls.

They extended the complex to include inter alia a large 1960s dormitory block, classrooms and a church.

Mount Trenchard House became the preserve of the nuns and continued in use as a dwelling.

Subsequent owners acquired the estate in 1996 and began restoring Mount Trenchard House for use as a centre for holistic medicine.

One aspect of the conservation plan was to restore the historic approach to the house which was originally from the south side (in the second half of the 19th century the house had been re-oriented to the north).

This involved changes to the present grounds and paths and woodlands, on the recommendation of the architects leading the project, the owners appointed me to advise them on the forestry and arboriculture aspects of the woodland, heritage, veteran/ancient and champion trees on the estate.

Mount Trenchard is currently used by an agency of the Irish government as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.

First published in January, 2013. Monteagle of Brandon coat of arms: By Robin S. Taylor - Own work, with crest elements by Sodacan, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81026788.

Tollymore Park: 1846

Click to Enlarge

THE PARLIAMENTARY GAZETTEER OF IRELAND, DATED 1846, PROVIDES A FITTING DESCRIPTION OF THE GRANDEUR OF TOLLYMORE PARK, ANCESTRAL SEAT OF THE EARLS OF RODEN

TOLLYMORE PARK, or TULLAMORE PARK, the superb demesne of the Earl of Roden, in the parish of Kilcoo, barony of Upper Iveagh, County Down, is situated on the rivulet Shimna, at the north-west base of Slieve Donard, adjacent to the south side of the village of Bryansford.

The mansion is a plain though commodious building; yet the demesne, in consequence partly of its artificial decorations, but chiefly of its natural character, is one of the most magnificently picturesque in the British dominions.

Its woods extend about two miles along the base of Slieve Donard, and contain some of the finest larch in the Kingdom.

"Tullamore Park," observe Mr and Mrs Hall, "is a place which Nature had prepared to receive the improvements of art." 

"It is situated in the midst of most sublime scenery, with the wide expanse of ocean open before it; yet nowhere do the trees grow with greater luxuriance."

"Through this delicious spot rush the assembled mountain rivulets, creating in their passage cascades of every variety of force and form." 

"It is scarcely possible to imagine a scene where natural beauties and advantages have been turned to more valuable account by judgment, skill, and taste, than this which lies at the foot of Slieve Donard, and almost on the brink of the ocean."

"Entering the grand gate," says Mr Atkinson, "we proceeded by a row of excellent offices, with a tower, clock, and spire, to inspect the demesne."

"The lofty mountains of Mourne, with Slieve Donard in the rear of this grand group, and an extensive green mountain, richly planted, that skirts the lawn, bear full upon your view as you enter the grand gate."

"In your descent from this gate to the lawn, you not only pass by the spire and offices attached to the house, but also a small pleasure garden; and after moving twenty or thirty paces towards the lawn, a landscape inconceivably grand presents itself."

"In your approach through the gate, you are entertained with a grand mountain view through a defile; but here, to the majesty of the Mourne Mountains, which overhang the landscape in front, and the planted mountain of more modest altitude that bounds the lawn, with a most interesting cottage on its declivity, are added the variegated beauties of an open country, and the entire rich and picturesque group of features that characterize the home view."

"Among the former may be included, as of prime importance to the general scene, the Irish Channel on the left-hand, with Felix Magennis's famous castle on the seashore."

"Among the latter, the woody hills and glens of the demesne, extending to the right in front of the lawn; the interesting cottage on the declivity of the planted mountain; and on the lawn itself, a beautiful MONUMENT erected to the memory of the Hon James Jocelyn RN, second son of the late Earl of Roden."

"Tullamore Park is reputed to contain 1,200 Irish acres; and we may truly say that such a combination of wood and water, of lofty mountains with lowly valleys, and of all which is necessary to fill the vastness of the imagination with an impression of the grandeur and beauty of a perfect scene, we have seldom witnessed in our travels through this country."

First published in March, 2020.

Ardkeen

Ardkeen Parish Church (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

I have recently been studying the history of Hollymount demesne, and cognizant that Charles Savage (1745-79), of Ardkeen, County Down, married Ann Price, of Hollymount, my appetite was whetted to the extent that on the 16th January, 2022, I drove to Ardkeen on the Ards Peninsula in order to explore that historic site.

If you happen to know the Ards Peninsula, Ardkeen is not far from a public house called the Saltwater Brig; nor is it very far from the town of Portaferry.

Parking is difficult; I managed, however, to find a space on the grass adjacent to bed-and-breakfast accommodation called Ardkeen House.

Thence I crossed the busy road and found a metal gate tucked behind an overgrown hedge, the way to the small peninsula of Ardkeen.

One can walk along the shore for most of the way.

"ARDKEEN" (I'm quoting from the topographical dictionary of 1837), "a parish, in the barony of Ards, County Down, three miles from Portaferry."

"This place derives its name, originally ARD-COYNE, from its situation on the shores of a lake, which was formerly called Lough Coyne."

"It was one of the most important strongholds of the ancient Irish, who made it a place of refuge from the violence and rapacity of the Danes, and had a large and well-fortified camp protected on three sides by the sea, with extensive pastures in the rear for their cattle."

"On this point of land, jutting into the lough and forming a fertile peninsula nearly surrounded by every tide, Raymond Savage, one of the followers of De Courcy, erected a strong castle in 1196, which became the chief residence of that family, whose descendants throughout the whole of the insurrection remained firmly attached to the English monarchs."

"The church is situated on the peninsula and at the extreme western boundary of the parish; it is a small ancient edifice, and contains several monuments to the family of Savage, its original founders."

"A school of 76 boys and 84 girls is supported by Colonel and Lady Harriet Forde, who contribute £84 per annum; there are also a Sunday school and a private school."

"The only remains of the castle are the foundations; the fosses are tolerably perfect, and some of the gardens and orchards may be traced."

I was fortunate enough to encounter a local resident walking his dog.

We chatted for some time, and he expressed his passion for Ardkeen.

Remains of a Building at Ardkeen (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

He took me across the field, strewn with stones and some pieces of old red brick, to a spot that, he believed, may have been what remained of the former Savage dwelling house, or "Dorn House."

Historic Map of Ardkeen ca 1830

I've seen a map of the location in 1830, and there were several ruins there, so I'm not entirely convinced that the remaining corner section was the dwelling-house - it might have been.

Image from "the Savages of Ulster," by G Armstrong-Savage.  Click to Enlarge

Thence I walked over the gently rising slope, overlooking Strangford Lough, to see what seemed to be the remains of a pier.

Remains of a pier or landing-stage: Seneschal's Port (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

On a map dated about 1900, this feature is described as Seneschal's Port.

Remains of Ardkeen Castle (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

At the summit of the hill stood what was left of Ardkeen Castle.

The Historic Heritage government department has written a lot about Ardkeen.

From the top of the hill I scrambled down and made a bee-line for the ancient parish church of St Mary, roofless, surrounded by its graveyard.

Savage Tomb (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Clearly a considerable number of people are buried in the graveyard encircling the church, including the tomb of some members of the Savage family.

I gather that a number of Savages were interred within the church, and that their grave-stones were relocated when the church was de-consecrated (if that's the term).

Self seated beside St Mary's Church

I lunched in the sunshine, leaning against the church wall; which really was heavenly, overlooking a little bay with rolling hills in the distance.

Church Interior (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The interior of the church is quite bare, though interesting to see the features remaining therein.

Small Lancet Opening in Church (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Exterior Sandstone Eaves Cornice (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

"During the 1750s (I'm quoting from the highly informative government heritage website about Ardkeen), Francis Savage [died 1770], whose family had lived at the adjacent tower house on Castle Hill during the middle ages and who (with his father Hugh) had built the new family residence of the ‘Dorn’ house a few hundred yards north of the church, decided to restore the church to serve as a private (Protestant) chapel for the Savage family of Ardkeen and their friends." 

"The building remained in use until shortly after 1839 when in consequence of being unroofed by the Great Wind and further damaged in a subsequent storm, the site was abandoned."

"It was replaced by a new parish church, built in Kirkistown in 1847."

Grave-Stone of G F Savage-Armstrong (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

If readers are interested in learning more about the history of the Savages of Ardkeen, I strongly recommend perusal of The Ancient and Noble Family of the Savages of the Ards, compiled by George Francis Savage-Armstrong (buried beside the parish church of Ardkeen).

Entrance to Ardkeen Church (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

11 Wellington Place, Belfast

11 Wellington Place (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

11, Wellington Place, Belfast, has rather an interesting history.

Today it fast approaches its bicentenary, having been completed in 1830 with five other town-houses, forming a terrace.

Of the six, numbers seven, nine, and eleven survive.

The terrace was erected by the Belfast business man and, indeed, amateur architect, Adam McClean.

This Georgian property comprises four storeys and three bays.

Behind today's dour grey paint at first floor level the bricks are red.

Portico, 11 Wellington Place (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

The entrance boasts an Ionic portico.

The first recorded occupant of number eleven was Thomas Ferguson, who lived here for about 12 years; followed by a physician, Dr Robert Stephenson, who resided in the house until 1869.

Greek key pattern featuring above porch (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

Dr Stephenson purchased number 11 from the McClean Estate.

When he died in 1869, the house passed to his nephew, David McCance (who himself lived at the adjacent number 9).

Partial view of 11 Wellington Place,
to the left (Image: Hogg Collection/NMNI)

A dental surgeon, Dr Richard Barnett, was residing at number eleven in 1877.

Residential ownership seemed to cease by 1898, when the property had been bought by Alex McCullough,  and occupied by Ellen Brady, who converted it into the Royal Hotel, with no less than 22 rooms.

The Royal Hotel ceased trading by 1914, when the property was converted into commercial premises; and a shop-front was fitted.

The ground floor operated as a florist's shop and nursery, Frank E Smith and Co.

By 1918, the ground floor had become an emporium known as "Edison House," which sold "Cycles, Household Utensils, Phonographs, Gramophones, Pathéphones, and Records; Books, Filters, Mangles, Oil Stoves, Doall Mop Wringer, Bissell Carpet Sweepers and Palestine Olivewood Goods."

This general store lasted for 12 years, and in 1930 Jane Hackney carried out business in the premises.

In 1954, the Carlton lounge bar and grill moved from their original premises in Donegall Place, and remained till at least 1993.

Today an Indian restaurant operates on the ground floor.

Lane-Fox Estate

THE LANE-FOXES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LEITRIM, WITH 18,850 ACRES

The family of FOX, which is of ancient descent, ranked amongst the most influential and opulent in the north of England.

WILLIAM FOX, living in the reign of EDWARD IV, acquired by marriage with Sybil, daughter of John de Grete, the lands of Grete, Yardley, Worcestershire.

He was succeeded by his son,

JOHN FOX, of Grete, living in 1523, father, by Alice his wife, of

JOHN FOX, of Grete, who married and was father of

THOMAS FOX, of Grete, who, by his wife, had issue,

Richard, of Mosely;
Thomas, of Yardley;
John, of King's Norton;
Henry, of Yardley;
EDMUND, of whom we treat;
Joan; Dorothy.

The youngest son,

EDMUND FOX, of Birmingham, wedded Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Hugh Grossbrooke, and had issue,

Richard, died without issue;
Edward;
JOSEPH, of whom hereafter;
Thomas, of the Inner Temple;
Timothy, in holy orders.

The third son,  

JOSEPH FOX, born in 1617, held a major's commission in the army serving in Ireland.

He married Thomasine, widow of Sir Henry Pierce Bt and daughter of Henry, 2nd Lord Blayney, by Jane his wife, daughter of Gerald, Viscount Drogheda, by whom he had issue, with four daughters, a son and successor,

HENRY FOX, who espoused firstly, Jane, daughter of Robert Oliver, of Clonodfoy, and had several sons, who all died young.

He married secondly, in 1691, THE HON FRANCES LANE, daughter of Sir George Lane, of Tulsk, County Roscommon (Secretary of State in Ireland, created Viscount Lanesborough), and sister and heiress of James, Viscount Lanesborough, who died in 1724, by whom he had issue,

Henry, died young;
GEORGE, heir to his father;
James, ancestor of the Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, CBE;
Sackville;
Denny Henrietta; Jane; Frances; Anne.

Mr Fox was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE FOX (c1697-1773), MP for the City of York, who inherited by will the great estates of Lord Lanesborough, and assumed, by act of parliament, in 1750, in accordance with the testator's injunction, the additional surname and arms of LANE.

He wedded, in 1731, Harriet, daughter and sole heiress of the Rt Hon Robert Benson, Lord Bingley; and was created, on the extinction of his father-in-law's peerage, 1762, BARON BINGLEY (second creation), of Bingley, Yorkshire.

By this lady, with whom he acquired £100,000 (ca £21.6 million today), and £7,000 a year, he had an only son, 

THE HON ROBERT FOX-LANE (1732-68), who wedded, in 1761, the Lady Brigit Henley, eldest daughter of Robert, Earl of Northington, Lord Chancellor of England; but predeceased his father, without issue, in 1768.

His lordship, having survived his only child, devised his great estates in England and Ireland to his nephew,

JAMES FOX-LANE (1756-1821), of Bramham Park, Yorkshire, MP for Horsham, who wedded, in 1789, Mercia Lucy, youngest daughter of George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers, and had issue,

GEORGE, his heir;
William Pitt;
Sackville;
Thomas Lascelles;
Marcia Bridget.

Mr Fox Lane left his very extensive estates strictly entailed upon his eldest son,  

GEORGE LANE-FOX (1793-1848), of Bramham Park, MP for Beverley, who wedded, in 1814, Georgiana Henrietta, daughter of Edward Percy Buckley, of Minestead Lodge, Hampshire, and had issue,

GEORGE, his heir;
Frederica Elizabeth.

Mr Lane-Fox was succeeded by his only son,

GEORGE LANE-FOX (1816-96), of Bramham Park, High Sheriff of County Leitrim, 1846, who wedded, in 1837, Georgiana Henrietta, daughter of Edward Percy Buckley, by the Lady Georgiana West, his wife, daughter of John, Earl De La Warr, and had issue,

George Sackville Frederick (1838-1918);
James Thomas Richard;
Kathleen Mary; Caroline Alexina.

The younger son,

JAMES THOMAS RICHARD LANE-FOX (1841-1906), was father of

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL THE RT HON GEORGE RICHARD LANE-FOX (1870-1947), who married, in 1903, Agnes, daughter of 2nd Viscount Halifax.

The combination of her wealth, his determination and the compulsory purchase of the family's Irish estates, allowed George to honour a promise he had made to his grandfather, The Squire, to rebuild the House.  The family reoccupied in 1907.

George was wounded in the First World War, serving with the Yorkshire Hussars, a regiment he later commanded.  He had been elected to Parliament in 1906 and held several government posts including Secretary of State for Mines in 

In 1933, he was created BARON BINGLEY (third creation); however, he had four daughters and, on his death, the title again became extinct.

THE FAMILY continues to live at their ancestral home, Bramham Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, where their estate comprised 15,000 acres.

The Lane-Foxes had estates in Yorkshire, Dorset, and The Court, near Lanesborough, in Ireland.

Their London residence was at 12 Albemarle Street.

*****

IN 1666, GEORGE LANE (1620-83) was granted lands in counties Dublin, Meath, Kilkenny, Longford, Waterford and Cork.

This George was the son of Richard Lane, of Tulsk, County Roscommon, and was created Viscount Lanesborough in 1676.

He acquired lands in the baronies of Roscommon and Ballintober, County Roscommon, and in County Longford, in 1678 and 1679 respectively.

These grants were further augmented by the purchase of the Duke of Buckingham's Irish estates in 1710.

In 1724, the Lanesborough title became extinct.

The Lanesborough estates in England and Ireland were inherited by the 2nd Viscount's sister, who was married to Henry Fox.

Though the Longford and Roscommon properties were sold to Luke White in 1819, the Lane-Fox family continued to hold substantial property in both counties Leitrim and Waterford.

For the most part they were absentee landlords, their estates being managed by a succession of stewards, including Joshua Kell, who was a member of the Grand Jury for Leitrim, in 1851.

The family sold the bulk of their remaining estates to the Irish Land Commission in the early years of the 20th century.

First published in March, 2013. 

The Talbot Baronetcy

This eminent and historic family deduces its descent from a period antecedent to the Conquest; the first person of note, however, upon record is Richard de Talbot, mentioned in the Domesday Book as holding nine hides of land from Walter Giffard, Earl of Buckingham.

This branch of the illustrious house of SHREWSBURY springs from

THE HON SIR GILBERT TALBOT KG (1452-c1517), of Grafton, Worcestershire, third son of John, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter to James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormonde, from whom lineally descended,

WILLIAM TALBOT (1619-86), of Stourton Castle, Staffordshire, who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Doughty, of Kinver, Staffordshire, and of Whittington in the same county.

He died in 1686, and left, with two daughters, Frances and Catherine, an only son,

THE RT REV WILLIAM TALBOT (1658-1730), of Stourton Castle, who was nominated Dean of Worcester in 1691, and consecrated Lord Bishop of Oxford, 1699, with permission to hold his deanery in commendam.

Rt Rev William Talbot, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, 1715-21
(Image: Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre)

In 1715, his lordship was translated to the see of Salisbury; and thence, in 1722, to the bishopric of Durham.

Dr Talbot left, by his second wife, Catherine, second daughter of Mr Alderman King, of the city of London, three sons,

Charles, created, 1733, BARON TALBOT;
Edward (Ven), Archdeacon of Berkshire;
SHERRINGTON, of whom presently.

The Bishop's youngest son,

MAJOR-GENERAL SHERRINGTON TALBOT (c1699-c1763), of Stourton Castle, espoused firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Medgett, and had issue,

CHARLES HENRY, his heir;
William (Rev).

He married secondly, Eleanor, daughter of William Hickford Dixton, of Gloucestershire; and thirdly, Charlotte, daughter of Thomas Freeman, of Antigua, and had issue, two daughters,

Indiana;
Henrietta Maria.

General Talbot was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES HENRY TALBOT (1720-98), of Mickleham, Surrey, and Belfast, County Antrim, who was created a baronet in 1790, designated of Mickleham, Surrey, and of Belfast, County Antrim.

Sir Charles married, in 1749, Anne, only child of Thomas Hassel, of St Pancras, London, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
GEORGE, succeeded his brother;
Amelia Anne; Catherine Jane; Charlotte Mary; Anne Elizabeth.

Sir Charles was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR CHARLES TALBOT, 2nd Baronet (1751-1812), MP, of Mickleham, and Chart Park, Dorking, Surrey; at whose decease, unmarried, the title devolved upon his brother,

SIR GEORGE TALBOT, 3rd Baronet (1761-1850), of Belfast, who married, in 1787, Anna, daughter of the Rev Thomas Preston, of Swainston, and had issue, two daughters,

Mary Anne, of Belfast;
Georgiana, of Belfast.

The baronetcy expired on the decease of the 3rd Baronet.

*****

SIR CHARLES HENRY TALBOT, 1st Baronet, "repaired occasionally to Ireland, for the purpose of improving the estates of some of the great landowners there, in which capacity he at once acquired wealth and reputation."

He became agent and election manager to the 5th Earl of Donegall, over whom he was said to exercise an ascendancy amounting to ‘perfect dominion’.

His baronetcy was conferred in 1790 as a means of attaching to government the four Members returned to the Irish house of commons in Lord Donegall’s interest.

The 1st Baronet bought the Mickleham estate in 1779.

His family held the manor till 1871, when the Misses Talbot sold it to Mr R H Mackworth Praed.

Talbot Street in Belfast, developed for Lord Donegall in the 1780s, is believed to have been named after the 1st Baronet.

He served as one of the Barons of the Cinque Ports, having succeeded Lord Hawkesbury.

Anne, the only child of Thomas Hassell, had married Charles Henry Talbot, grandson of William Talbot, Bishop of Durham, at the Temple Church.

The 1st Baronet was buried in Old St Pancras Churchyard.

He bequeathed his property in Gresse Street, Gresse Street Mews, Black Horse Yard, Rathbone Place and Little Mortimer Street to his widow, Lady Talbot, who died in 1810, aged 80.

She was buried with him.

Former London residence ~ 21 Grosvenor Square.

Talbot arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published in December, 2010. 

Castle Durrow

THE VISCOUNTS ASHBROOK WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTIES KILKENNY AND OFFALY, WITH 16,768 ACRES

The family of FLORE, or FLOWER, formerly seated at Oakham, Rutland, represented that county in parliament during the reign of RICHARD II, in the person of ROGER FLORE MP, Speaker of the House of Commons during the time of HENRY VI, who died in 1427.

The Irish branch was founded by

SIR GEORGE FLOWER, Knight, who, in ELIZABETH I's reign, embracing a military life, was a very active and brave officer against the rebels in Ireland, having command of 100 foot-soldiers in the old army.

In 1601, he was Sergeant-Major of Her Majesty's army; and thereafter was knighted and appointed Governor and Constable of Waterford Fort, 1627; and soon after died.

Sir George was succeeded by his eldest son, 

THE RT HON SIR WILLIAM FLOWER (c1600-c1682), Knight,  also a military man in active service under Lieutenant-General Michael Jones, Governor of Dublin, during the Irish rebellion in 1641, and subsequently one of the Privy Council of CHARLES II.

Sir William was born at Whitwell, Rutland, in 1600. During the Irish rebellion, he was seized, in 1648, with other officers, on suspicion of affection to the Marquess of Ormonde (Lord Ormonde was their former general at that time, upon his return to the Kingdom), where they were sent prisoners to England. 

Sir William lived to see the restoration of CHARLES II, to whose first Parliament, in 1661, he was returned as Member for St Canice (Irishtown).

He was made captain of a company of foot and afterwards lieutenant-colonel to GEORGE II's Regiment of Guards, in Ireland.

He was appointed, in 1662, one of the trustees for "Satisfying the Arrears of the Commissioned Officers" who served His Majesty in Ireland before the 5th June, 1649.

He wedded firstly, Frances, daughter of Walter Weldon, of St John's Bower, County Kildare, and widow of William Savage, by whom he had four children; and secondly, a wife about whom little is known.

Sir William's nephew,

THOMAS FLOWER, of Durrow, County Kilkenny (son of John Flower), married, firstly, in 1683, Mary, fourth daughter of Sir John Temple, Attorney-General for Ireland, by whom he had one son, WILLIAM; and secondly, Miss Jeffries, by whom he had two other children, Jeffreys and Catherine.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM FLOWER (1685-1746), of Durrow, MP for County Kilkenny, 1715-27, Portarlington, 1727-33, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1731, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1733, in the dignity of Baron Castle Durrow, of Castle Durrow, County Kilkenny.

His lordship espoused Edith, daughter of the Hon Toby Caulfeild, and had two sons and two daughters.

He was succeeded by his only surviving son,

HENRY, 2nd Baron, who was created, in 1751, VISCOUNT ASHBROOK.

His lordship married Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant-General William Tatton, and dying in 1752, left, with two daughters, a son and successor,

WILLIAM, 2nd Viscount (1744-80), who wedded, in 1766, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Ridge, by whom he had two sons and four daughters,

WILLIAM, his successor;
HENRY JEFFREY, 4th Viscount;
Harriet; Caroline; Sophia; Elizabeth.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Viscount (1767-1802), at whose decease, unmarried, the honours devolved upon his brother,

HENRY JEFFREY, 4th Viscount (1776-1847), who espoused firstly, in 1802, Susannah, only daughter and heiress of the Rev William Maximilian Freind, and granddaughter and heiress of THOMAS WALKER, of Woodstock, by whom he had issue,

HENRY, his successor;
Caroline; Susannah Sophia.

He married secondly, in 1812, Emily Theophila, daughter of Sir Thomas Metcalfe Bt, and had, by that lady, one surviving daughter, Charlotte Augusta.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

HENRY JEFFREY, 5th Viscount (1806-71), High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1834, who wedded, in 1828, Frances, daughter of the Ven Sir John Robinson Bt, Archdeacon of Armagh, and had issue,

HENRY JEFFREY, his successor;
WILLIAM SPENCER, 7th Viscount;
ROBERT THOMAS, 8th Viscount;
Mary Sophia; two other daughters.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY JEFFREY, 6th Viscount (1829-82), DL, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1856, who espoused, in 1860, Emily, daughter of John Frederick Abingdon, and had issue, an only child, WILLIAM SPENCER (1875-82).

His lordship was succeeded by his next brother,

WILLIAM SPENCER, 7th Viscount (1830-1906), DL, who married, in 1861, Augusta Madeline Henrietta, daughter of George Marton, and had issue, two daughters,

Lucy Adelaide Frances; Adelaide Caroline.

His lordship was succeeded by his brother,

ROBERT THOMAS, 8th Viscount (1836-1919), who wedded, in 1866, Gertrude Sophia, daughter of the Rev Sewell Hamilton, and had issue,

LLOWARCH ROBERT, his successor;
Reginald Henry;
Frances Mary; Eva Constance Gertrude; Gertrude.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

LLOWARCH ROBERT, 9th Viscount (1870-1936), DL, who espoused, in 1899, Gladys Lucille Beatrice, daughter of General Sir George Wentworth Alexander Higginson, and had issue,

DESMOND LLOWARCH EDWARD, his successor;
Eileen Augusta Sybil.

Desmond Llowarch Edward Flower, 10th Viscount (1905–95);
Michael Llowarch Warburton Flower, 11th Viscount (b 1935).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon Rowland Francis Warburton Flower (b 1975). 

The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son Benjamin Warburton Flower (b 2006).

CASTLE DURROW, near Durrow, County Laois, is an early 18th century mansion, with a high-pitched roof and tall chimney-stacks.

It was constructed by Colonel William Flower MP, later 1st Lord Castle Durrow. Colonel Flower commenced with the construction of the manor in 1712.

The Flower family assumed residency of Castle Durrow in 1716.

The house consists of two storeys with a dormered attic in the roof; nine bays, of which the front is divided into three groups of three bays by huge Doric pilasters, formerly crowned with urns (now erected on the porch).

Later generations of the Ashbrooks adorned the house with 18th century plasterwork and 19th century stained-glass.

There is a notable castellated entrance gate in the square of the town of Durrow.

Castle Durrow was sold by the 9th Viscount in 1922.

Subsequently, the property was sold to a Mr Maher of Freshford, County Kilkenny, who was primarily interested in the rich timber reserves of the estate.

By 1928 the old hard wood forests of Durrow were scarce.

Eventually the Irish Land Commission divided up the arable portions of the property, and the forestry department took over many of the woods for further plantation.

During this time Castle Durrow was vacant for a few years.

In 1929, with the Bishop’s approval, the parish of Durrow acquired the estate for the purchase price of £1,800 and Castle Durrow was transformed into a school, St Fintan’s College and Convent.

Peter and Shelley Stokes bought the castle in 1998 and transformed it into a hotel.

Other former seat ~ Beaumont Lodge, Old Windsor, Berkshire.
Present seat ~ Arley Hall, Cheshire.

First published in October, 2012.