1st Earl of Mount Alexander

ADAM MONTGOMERY (c1517-c1576), 4th Laird of Braidstaine (great-grandson of Robert Montgomery, brother of Alexander, 2nd Lord Montgomerie, father of Hugh, 1st Earl of Eglinton) wedded the eldest daughter of Colquhoun of Luss, and was father of

ADAM, his heir;
Robert, ancestor of MONTGOMERY OF GREY ABBEY.

The elder son,

ADAM MONTGOMERY (1540-1602), 5th Laird, espoused the daughter of John Montgomery, of Hessilhead, and had four sons,

HUGH, of whom hereafter;
George (Rt Rev), Lord Bishop of Meath;
Patrick, colonel in the army;
John.

The eldest son,

SIR HUGH MONTGOMERY, 6th Laird (1560-1636), settled in Ulster, and was elevated to peerage, in 1622, in the dignity of VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY, of the Great Ards, County Down.

He married firstly, in 1587, Elizabeth, second daughter of John Shaw, Laird of Greenock; and secondly, Sarah, daughter of William, Lord Herries, and widow of John, 1st Earl of Wigtown.

By the latter he had no issue, but by the former he had issue,

HUGH, his successor;
James (Sir), ancestor of Montgomery of Rosemount;
George, ancestor of Montgomery of Ballylesson;
Mary; Jean.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH, 2nd Viscount (1597-1642), colonel in the royalist army during the rebellion of 1641, who wedded, in 1623, the Lady Jean Alexander, daughter of William, 1st Earl of Stirling, Secretary of State for Scotland.

His lordship died at Newtownards, County Down, and was succeeded by his son,

HUGH, 3rd Viscount (c1625-63), a gallant royalist during the civil war, and consequently a severe sufferer in those times of confiscation and oppression.

His lordship survived, however, to witness the Stuart Restoration, and was created, in 1661, EARL OF MOUNT ALEXANDER.

He espoused firstly, in 1648, Mary, eldest sister of Henry, 1st Earl of Drogheda, and had issue,

HUGH, his successor;
HENRY, succeeded his brother as 3rd Earl;
Jean, died unmarried, 1673.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1660, Catherine, daughter of Arthur, 2nd Viscount Ranelagh.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,
 
HUGH, 2nd Earl (1651-1717), Master of the Ordnance, Brigadier-General in the army, who wedded firstly, in 1662, the Lady Catharine Dillon, eldest daughter of Carey, 5th Earl of Roscommon; and secondly, Eleanor, daughter of Maurice, 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge; but died without surviving issue, and was succeeded by his brother,

HENRY, 3rd Earl (c1652-1731), who espoused Mary, eldest daughter of William, 12th Baron Howth, and had issue,

HUGH, 4th Earl (c1680-1745), of Howth, County Dublin, who married, in 1703, Elinor, daughter of Sir Patrick Barnewall, 3rd Baronet; but dying without issue, he was succeeded by his brother,

THOMAS, 5th Earl (c1675-1757), High Sheriff of County Down, 1726, who wedded, in 1725, Marie Angélique Madeleine de la Cherois, daughter of Daniel de la Cherois, of Lisbon, Portugal (by his wife Anne Crommelin, daughter of Louis Crommelin); but died without issue, when the honours became extinct.

Lady Mount Alexander survived her husband, and when she died the remnants of the great estate went to her cousins, SAMUEL DE LA CHEROIS, of Donaghadee, and NICHOLAS CROMMELIN, of Carrowdore Castle, County Down.

Grey Abbey House

THE MONTGOMERYS have been of great antiquity and historical importance in Ulster and the Ards Peninsula.

Sir Hugh Montgomery (1560-1636), 1st Viscount, founded Newtownards. He built the manor house of Mount Alexander, outside Comber, for his eldest son, Hugh, and daughter-in-law, Lady Jean Alexander, daughter of William, 1st Earl of Stirling.

In 1679, the manor and lordship of Mount Alexander (two thirds of the original estate) were sold to Sir Robert Colville for £9,780 (about £1.7 million in 2024).

The Montgomerys retained the house, farm buildings and a few townlands.

Mount Alexander Castle was said to be a "heap of ruins" in 1837.

The name, Grey Abbey, which is also that of the adjacent village, derives from the late 12th century Cistercian Abbey at the site.

The ruins of the abbey can be seen from Grey Abbey House. 

The manorial demesne, long known as Rosemount, was established in the early 17th century and the present house was built during the early 1760s.

Originally the property of the Clandeboye O’Neills, Grey Abbey was granted in 1607 to Sir Hugh Montgomery.

William Montgomery is descended from the younger brother (Sir James) of the 1st Earl of Mount Alexander, who was given the Grey Abbey estates which remain, in part, with the family today. 

The present family is, therefore, of the same family though not directly descended from him. 

In mid-Victorian times, the Montgomerys owned land in the Ards Peninsula extending to some 5,000 acres.

They also owned the Tyrella Estate in County Down - it having come into the family through the marriage of William Montgomery to Suzanne Jelly in 1749.

Mount Alexander arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published in November, 2010.

Castlecomer House

THE WANDESFORDES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY KILKENNY, WITH 22,232 ACRES

This family was of great antiquity in Yorkshire.

JOHN DE WANDESFORDE, of Westwick, near Ripon, married, in 1368, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Henry de Musters, Knight, of Kirklington, Yorkshire, and widow of Alexander Mowbray.

He died in 1396, and was direct ancestor of

THOMAS WANDESFORDE, of Kirklington, in 1503, who wedded Margaret, daughter of Henry Pudsey.

He died in 1518, having had four sons and two daughters,

CHRISTOPHER, his heir;
William;
Michael;
John (Rev);
Ellen; Elizabeth.

The eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER WANDESFORD, of Kirklington, espoused Anne, daughter of John Norton, and died in 1540, having had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Christopher.

The elder son,

FRANCIS WANDESFORD, of Kirklington, married Anne, elder daughter and co-heir of John Fulthorpe, of Hipswell, and had by her (who wedded secondly, Christopher, younger son of Ralph, Earl of Westmorland),

CHRISTOPHER (Sir);
John;
Jane.

Mr Wandesford died in 1559, and was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR CHRISTOPHER WANDESFORD, Knight, of Kirklington, who received the honour of knighthood, 1586, and served as Sheriff of Yorkshire, 1578.

He espoused Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Bowes, of Streatlam, and dying in 1590, was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR GEORGE WANDESFORD, Knight (1573-1612), of Kirklington, knighted by JAMES I, 1607, who wedded firstly, Catherine, daughter and co-heir of Ralph Hansby, of Beverley, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, his successor;
John;
Michael (Very Rev);
Anne.

Sir George espoused secondly, Mary, daughter of Robert Pamplin, and had a daughter, Margaret, and a son, WILLIAM WANDESFORDE, Citizen of London, to whom, and his heirs, his eldest brother, in 1637, gave £20 per annum, issuing out of the manor of Castlecomer, and payable upon Strongbow's tomb in Christ Church, Dublin.

Sir George was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER WANDESFORD (1592-1640), being upon close habits of intimacy and friendship with Sir Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, accompanied that eminent and ill-fated nobleman into Ireland when he was constituted Chief Governor of that kingdom, was sworn of the Privy Council, and was appointed Master of the Rolls.

Mr Wandesford was one of the Lords Justices in 1636 and 1639; and was appointed, in 1640, Lord Deputy; but the fate of his friend Lord Strafford had so deep an effect upon him, that he died in that year.

He married, in 1614, Alice, daughter of Sir Hewet Osborne, of Kiveton, Yorkshire, and had issue,

GEORGE, his heir;
CHRISTOPHER, successor to his brother;
John;
Catherine; Alice.

Mr Wandesford was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE WANDESFORD (1623-51), of Kirklington, who dsp and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR CHRISTOPHER WANDESFORD (1628-87), of Kirklington, who was created a baronet in 1662, designated  of Kirklington, Yorkshire.

He married, in 1651, Eleanor, daughter of Sir John Lowther Bt, of Lowther Hall, Westmorland, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, his heir;
George;
Charles;
Mary; Eleanor; Catherine; Elizabeth; Alice; Frances; Christiana.

Sir Christopher, MP for Ripon, was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR CHRISTOPHER WANDESFORD (1656-1707), who was sworn of the Privy Council by WILLIAM III, and again, in 1702, by Queen ANNE, who elevated him to the peerage, in 1706, in the dignities of Baron Wandesforde and VISCOUNT CASTLECOMER.

He wedded, in 1683, Elizabeth, daughter of George Montagu, of Horton, Northamptonshire, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, 2nd Viscount;
GEORGE, 4th Viscount;
John;
Richard;
Henrietta.

His lordship died in London, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER, 2nd Viscount (1684-1719), MP for Morpeth, 1710, and for Rippon, 1714.

In the latter year he was sworn of the Privy Council to GEORGE I, and the next year appointed Governor of County Kilkenny.

In 1717, he was constituted Secretary-at-War.

His lordship wedded, in 1715, Frances, daughter of Thomas, 1st Lord Pelham, and sister to Thomas, Duke of Newcastle, and had an only child,

CHRISTOPHER, 3rd Viscount (1717-36), who died in London of the smallpox, unmarried, and was succeeded by his uncle,

GEORGE, 4th Viscount (1687-51),

• Christopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount (1684–1719)
• Christopher Wandesford, 3rd Viscount (1717–36)
• George Wandesford, 4th Viscount (1687–1751)
• John Wandesford, 5th Viscount (1725–84) (created Earl Wandesford in 1758).

The 1st EARL OF WANDESFORD died in 1784, and his son having predeceased him, all his honours, including the baronetcy, became extinct, and his estates upon his only daughter,

THE LADY ANNE WANDESFORDE, who espoused, in 1769, John Butler, to whom the EARLDOM OF ORMONDE was restored by the House of Lords, 1791, as 17th Earl of Ormonde and 10th Earl of Ossory.

Her fourth, but second surviving son,

THE HON CHARLES HARWARD BUTLER-CLARKE-SOUTHWELL-WANDESFORDE (1780-1860), of Castlecomer and Kirklington, inherited his mother's estates, and assumed, in 1820, the additional surname of CLARKE after Butler; and, in 1830, the additional surnames of SOUTHWELL-WANDESFORDE after Butler-Clarke.

He espoused, in 1812, the Lady Sarah Butler, daughter of Henry Thomas, 2nd Earl of Carrick, and had issue,

John, dspvp;
HENRY BUTLER-CLARKE-SOUTHWELL-WANDESFORDE, died unmarried;
Walter, father of CHARLES;
SARAH, of Castlecomer and Kirklington.

The Hon Charles Harward Butler C S Wandesforde was succeeded by his grandson,

CHARLES BUTLER-CLARKE-SOUTHWELL-WANDESFORDE, of Castlecomer and Kirklington, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1879, who died unmarried, 1881, and was succeeded by his aunt,

SARAH PRIOR-WANDESFORDE (1814-92), of Castlecomer, Kirklington, Hipswell, and Hudswell, Yorkshire, who married, in 1836, the Rev John Prior, of Mount Dillon, County Dublin, Rector of Kirklington, Yorkshire, son of the Rev Dr Thomas Prior, Vice-Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, and had issue,

Charles Butler, father of RICHARD HENRY PRIOR-WANDESFORDE;
Henry Wallis;
Sarah Butler; Sophia Elizabeth.

Mrs Prior-Wandesforde succeeded to the Castlecomer and Kirklington estates on the death of her nephew, 1881, and in accordance with the provisions contained in her father's will, assumed, in 1882, for herself and her issue the additional surname and arms of WANDESFORDE.

She was succeeded by her grandson,

RICHARD HENRY PRIOR-WANDESFORDE JP DL (1870-), of Castlecomer and Kirklington Hall, Hipswell, and Hudswell, Yorkshire, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1894, who wedded, in 1896, Florence Jackson von Schwartz, daughter of the Rev Ferdinand Pryor, Rector of Dartmouth, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER BUTLER, b 1896;
Ferdinand Charles Richard, b 1897;
Richard Cambridge, b 1902;
Vera; Florence Doreen.

*****

During Lady Ormonde’s time on the estate, the coal mines were mainly run by master miners who leased the land and employed teams of about fifty men to operate them.

Her son, Charles Harward Butler-Clarke-Southwell-Wandesforde, took a great interest in the running of the estate and in the welfare of his tenants and attempted to reduce the role of "middle men" by reducing rents and providing assistance.

He even helped some of his tenants to emigrate.

He was succeeded by his daughter Sarah, who married John Prior.

She outlived all her children and was succeeded by her grandson Richard Henry who inherited the estates and assumed the Wandesforde name in 1892.

When Captain Richard Henry Prior-Wandesforde inherited the estate in the late 19th Century, the family owned thousands of acres of woodland in the area.

In previous years, the mines had been operated by master miners who leased the mines from the Wandesforde family, but ‘the Captain’ took personal control of the mines.

He introduced many improvements in the mine workings including overhead ropeways to transport the coal to the Deerpark railway depot.

He also established the Castlecomer Basket Factory, the Castlecomer Agricultural Bank and the Colliery Co-operative Society and built a number of housing schemes for the mine workers.

Captain Prior-Wandesforde took personal control of the coal mines and invested his own money in upgrading and modernising the mine workings.

CASTLECOMER HOUSE in County Kilkenny, the family seat, was originally built in 1638.

It was burned down during the battle of Castlecomer in 1798.

A larger house was built in its place, in 1802,  during the time of Lady Ormonde.

It was a very large 18th and 19th century mansion consisting of a square, two-storey main block with fronts of five bays; a slightly lower three-storey wing of great length.

There was a battlemented parapet on the main wing and block; rectangular sash windows, mostly astragals; and an enclosed Gothic porch.

Most of the building was demolished in 1975 as it was no longer in use and had fallen into disrepair.

Nothing now remains of the house.

Castlecomer Discovery Park is situated on grounds that once formed part of the Wandesforde family estate.

The Visitor Centre is located in what was originally the farm yard and kitchen gardens of the estate.

The stables and many of the farm buildings have been restored and now house the craft units and the education facilities.

The original walled garden is now home to a small herd of Fallow and Sika Deer and a flock of Jacob Sheep.

First published in December, 2011.  Prior-Wandesforde arms courtesy of the NLI.

The Bruce Baronets

THE BRUCE BARONETS, OF DOWNHILL, WERE THE LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY, WITH 20,801 ACRES

PATRICK BRUCE, of Newton, Stirlingshire, younger brother of Sir William Bruce, 1st Baronet, of Stenhouse, left issue, two sons, viz.

William, of Newton ;

MICHAEL, of whom presently.

The second son,

THE REV MICHAEL BRUCE (1635-93), who settled as a presbyterian minister at Killinchy, County Down, wedded, in 1659, Jean, daughter of Robert Bruce, of Kinnaird, and sister of Colonel Robert Bruce, of the Life Guards, who fell at Worcester, 1650.

The Rev Michael Bruce was driven, with other ministers, thence into Scotland by Colonel Venables and the parliamentarians, for his fidelity to the King. He returned to Killinchy, however, in 1669, after undergoing great hardships, and a long imprisonment in England and Scotland, and died in 1693.

He left a son,

THE REV JAMES BRUCE, Minister of Killyleagh, County Down, who espoused, in 1685, Margaret, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel James Traill, of Tolychin, County Down, by Mary his wife, daughter of James Hamilton, Viscount Claneboye, and died in 1726, leaving ten children, of whom,

Michael, his heir; ancestor of BRUCE OF BENBURB;
PATRICK, of whom we treat;
William;
Hans;
Mary; Eleanor; Magdalen.

The second son,

THE REV PATRICK BRUCE (1692-1732), Minister of Drumbo, County Down, removed for a time to Scotland, and afterwards succeeded his father as Minister of Killyleagh.

He wedded, in 1718, Margaret, daughter of James Hamilton, of Ladyland, Ayrshire, and had several children, of whom the eldest son,

JAMES BRUCE (1720-83), of Killyleagh, married, in 1762, Henrietta, youngest daughter of the Hon and Rev Dr Henry Hervey Aston Bruce (fourth son of John, 1st Earl of Bristol, by Catherine, sister and heiress of Sir Thomas Aston Bt), and had issue, 

HENRY HERVEY ASTON, his heir;
Stewart, cr baronet, 1812;
Frideswide, m, 1781, to Daniel Mussenden, of Larchfield.

Mr Bruce was succeeded by his elder son,

THE REV HENRY HERVEY ASTON BRUCE (1752-1822), of Downhill, County Londonderry, who was created a baronet in 1804, designated of Downhill, County Londonderry.

Sir Henry espoused, in 1786, Letitia, daughter of the Rev Dr Henry Barnard, and had surviving issue,

Frederick Hervey, b 1787, died unmarried;
JAMES ROBERTSON, of whom presently;
Henry William (Sir), KCB, Admiral;
Stewart Crawford.

Sir Henry was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JAMES ROBERTSON BRUCE, 2nd Baronet (1788-1836), who married, in 1819, Ellen, youngest daughter of Robert Bamford Hesketh, and had issue,

HENRY HERVEY, his successor;
Robert;
Lloyd Stewart;
Louisa Elizabeth Margaret.

Sir James's eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR HENRY HERVEY BRUCE, 3rd Baronet (1820-1909), espoused, in 1842, Marianne Margaret, daughter of Sir Juckes Granville Juckes Clifton Bt, and had issue,

HERVEY JUCKES LLOYD, his heir;
James Andrew Thomas (Sir), KCMG.

Sir Henry was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERVEY JUCKES LLOYD BRUCE JP DL, 4th Baronet (1843-1919), High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1903, Lieutenant-Colonel, Coldstream Guards, who married, in 1872, Ellen Maud, daughter of Percy Ricardo, and had issue,

HERVEY RONALD, his heir;
Percy Robert, Lieutenant-Colonel;
William;
Henry James.

Sir Hervey was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERVEY RONALD BRUCE JP DL, 5th Baronet (1872-1924), Captain, Irish Guards, who wedded firstly, in 1903, Ruth Isabel, daughter of Haughton Charles Okeover; and secondly, in 1916, Margaret Florence, daughter of the Rev Robert Jackson, and had issue,

HERVEY JOHN WILLIAM, his heir;
Ronald Cecil Juckes;
Beryl Margaret Gwladys.

Sir Hervey was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERVEY JOHN WILLIAM BRUCE, 6th Baronet (1919-71), who wedded, in 1949, Crista Irene Valentine, daughter of Chandos de Paravicini, and had issue,

HERVEY JAMES HUGH, his heir;
Lauretta Chinty.

Sir Hervey died in 1971 as the result of a motor accident, and was succeeded by his only son,

SIR HERVEY JAMES HUGH BRUCE-CLIFTON, 7th Baronet (1952-2010), Major, Grenadier Guards, who married firstly, in 1979, Charlotte Sara Jane, daughter of John Temple Gore, and had issue,

HERVEY HAMISH PETER, his heir;
Laura Crista.

He wedded secondly, in 1992, Joanna, daughter of Frank Pope, and had further issue, two sons.

Sir Hervey added the surname of CLIFTON in 1997, by Royal Licence.

He was succeeded by his son,

SIR HERVEY HAMISH PETER BRUCE-CLIFTON, 8th Baronet (b 1986), who succeeded to the title in 2010.

He is believed to live in South Africa.

DOWNHILL HOUSE, near Castlerock, County Londonderry, was built by the Rt Rev Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Lord Bishop of Derry.

After the Earl Bishop's death in 1803, the estate passed to his cousin, the Rev Henry Bruce, who had acted as steward of the estate during his lordship's absences.

The Rev Henry Bruce's sister was Frideswide Mussenden, for whom Mussenden Temple was built, and which became a memorial after her death.

A centaur greeted visitors to the mansion house.

First published in December, 2010.

Springhill House

THE LENOX-CONYNGHAMS OWNED 2,526 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY

COLONEL WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, of Ayrshire, was settled in the townland of Ballydrum, in which Springhill is situated, in 1609.

Spring Hill was conveyed by the Salters' Company to the Conyngham family in 1657. The property indenture was between Colonel Cunningham and Henry Finch, an alderman of Londonderry, arranging "the town, village, hamlet, place, balliboe or parcel of land called Ballydrum [Springhill] in the parish of Ardtra [Ardtrae]" - 350 acres in all, for the sum of £200. The Lenoxes settled in Derry during the reign of JAMES I.

William Cunningham (Image: National Trust Springhill)

Colonel Cunningham's son,

WILLIAM CONYNGHAM, known as "Good Will", espoused Ann, daughter of Arthur Upton, of Castle Norton (later CASTLE UPTON), County Antrim, by his wife Dorothy, daughter of Colonel Michael Beresford, of Coleraine.

He was obliged, in a marriage document or settlement, "to build a convenient house of lime and stone, two stories high ... with necessary office houses ..." etc for his bride.

William "Good Will" Conyngham died in 1721, and was succeeded by his nephew,

GEORGE BUTLE, of Spring Hill (son of David Butle, Sovereign of Belfast, 1702-4), who assumed the additional name of CONYNGHAM.

He married, in 1721, Anne, daughter of Dr Upton Peacocke, of Cultra, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
DAVID, successor to his brother;
John, died unmarried, 1775;
Anne, m in 1745, Clotworthy Lenox, of Londonderry; mother of GEORGE.

George Butle Conyngham (Image: The National Trust)

Mr Conyngham died in 1765, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM CONYNGHAM (1723-84), of Spring Hill, who entered the Army and served with great distinction with his regiment, the Black Horse, on the Continent, though on the death of his father he returned.

He wedded, in 1775, Jane, only daughter of James Hamilton, of Brown Hall, County Donegal, and widow of John Hamilton, of Castlefin, in the same county.

Mr Conyngham, MP for Dundalk, 1776-84, died without issue in 1784, and was succeeded by his brother,

DAVID CONYNGHAM, who also dsp, when, according to the will of WILLIAM CONYNGHAM, the estates devolved upon his nephew,

GEORGE LENOX (1752-1816), of Spring Hill, who adopted the surname of CONYNGHAM.

He espoused firstly, in 1779, Jane, eldest daughter of Jane Conyngham, by her first marriage with John Hamilton, of Castlefin, and had an only son,

WILLIAM LENOX, of whom hereafter.

Mr Lenox-Conyngham wedded secondly, in 1794, Olivia, fourth daughter of William Irvine, of Castle Irvine, County Fermanagh, and had issue,

George, chief clerk in the Foreign Secretary's Office, father of 4TH VISCOUNTESS DONERAILE;
Sophia, m the Hon A G Stuart, of Co Tyrone;
Anna, m C A Nicholson, of Balrath, Co Meath;
Harriett; Eliza.

The only son by the first marriage,

WILLIAM LENOX-CONYNGHAM JP DL (1792-1858), of Spring Hill, High Sheriff of Londonderry, 1828, and of Tyrone, 1818, espoused, in 1817, Charlotte Melosina, daughter of the Rt Hon John Staples, of Lissan, and had issue,

WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, his heir;
John Staples Molesworth, 1831-51;
Harriett Rebecca Frances; Jane Hamilton; Charlotte Melosina.

The eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM LENOX-CONYNGHAM KCB JP DL (1824-1906), of Spring Hill, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1859, and of Tyrone, 1868, Honorary Colonel, Londonderry Militia, married, in 1856, Laura Calvert, daughter of George Arbuthnot, of Elderslie, Surrey, and had issue,

WILLIAM ARBUTHNOT, his heir;
George Hugh;
John Staples Molesworth;
Arthur Beresford;
George Ponsonby;
Edward Fraser;
Hubert Maxwell, DSO, Lieutenant-Colonel;
Elizabeth Mary; Charlotte Melosina; Laura Eleanor; Harriet Alice Katherine.

Sir William was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM ARBUTHNOT LENOX-CONYNGHAM OBE JP DL (1857-1938), of Spring Hill, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1909, Lieutenant-Colonel, Worcestershire Regiment, who wedded, in 1899, Mina Ethel, younger daughter and co-heir of James Corry Jones Lowry, of ROCKDALE, County Tyrone, and had issue,

WILLIAM LOWRY, his heir;
James Desmond, b 1905;
(Wilhelmina) Diana, b 1902.

William Arbuthnot Lenox-Conyngham (Image: The National Trust)

The elder son,

WILLIAM LOWRY LENOX-CONYNGHAM JP (1903-57), of Spring Hill, Captain, Royal Artillery, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, 1940-57, County Commandant, Ulster Special Constabulary, died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother,

JAMES DESMOND LENOX-CONYNGHAM OBE JP DL (1905-71).

When William Arbuthnot Lenox-Conyngham died in 1938, the estate passed to his elder son, Captain William Lowry Lenox-Conyngham, who led the local Home Guard during the 2nd World War as a result of being invalided out of the National Defence Corps in 1940.

Realising that the finances of the family were now in terminal decline and recognising that neither he, nor his brother, had any children to carry on the line, Mr Lenox-Conyngham entered into negotiations with the National Trust in 1956 with a view to handing over the house.

This had followed a chance meeting with Nancy, Countess of Enniskillen, who had presented Florence Court to the Trust the previous year. In the event, he signed his will bequeathing the house and estate to the National Trust only three days before his death in 1957. 

Family of Lenox

The family of LENOX settled in Londonderry during the reign of JAMES I.

JAMES LENOX (c1651-1723), who distinguished himself during the siege of Derry, sat in parliament for that city from 1703-13.

James Lenox MP (Image: The National Trust)

He was father of

JOHN LENOX, of the city of Londonderry, who wedded, at Castle Upton, 1707, Rebecca Upton, and had issue three sons, of whom the second son,

CLOTWORTHY LENOX, of the city of Londonderry, wedded, in 1745, Anne, daughter of George Conyngham, of Spring Hill, and had, with other issue, a son,

GEORGE LENOX, successor to his uncle, William Conyngham, and father of WILLIAM LENOX-

SPRINGHILL HOUSE, near Moneymore, County Londonderry, is a fine demesne for the well preserved mansion of ca 1680, acquired by the National Trust in 1957.

William Conynghan, who had land in Counties Armagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, purchased 350 acres in the townland of Ballindrum in 1666.

His son, "Good Will" Conyngham, built the first house at Springhill, which remains the core of the present house,

a convenient dwelling house of lime and stone, two stories high, with necessary office houses, gardens and orchards.

Tree-ring dating of the attic roof timbers suggest a date of ca 1697, and the detached wings forming the forecourt date from the same decade.

This late 17th century house comprised seven bays, one room deep, with the spiral stair and the two detached wings forming the forecourt.

Colonel William Conyngham inherited the property in 1765 and renovated the house, creating the gun-room, providing the decoration in the hall.

He added the wings with the canted bays, that to the south-west being a new dining room; and probably added the new grand staircase.

In 1788, George Lenox-Conyngham inherited the estate.

His son added the present dining-room in 1820; while the former dining-room became the present drawing-room.

The fireplace in the new dining-room, said to have been imported by the Earl Bishop (a friend of the family and who visited and stayed at Springhill), must have been in another room of the house before its present position; or else it was purchased later.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs describe Springhill when William Lenox-Conyngham was in residence:-

The house, which is rather low and old fashioned in its appearance, is said to have been built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, though it bears no characteristic of the architecture of that age. It is two storey and from each end a wing extends forwards forming three sides of a sort of court ….. the ornamental and pleasure grounds are extensive and well laid out, as is also the garden. The house was built in 1658 by Colonel William Conyngham, the wings about the year 1780”.

There are notable mature trees, including some said to have survived from the ancient forests of the area. Sampson wrote in 1802 of the

… finest trees in this county (Londonderry) … sweet chestnuts, yews, silver firs, stone pines, balm of Gilead, firs, beech, oak, ash, with many other varieties of forest trees and shrubs, have arrived on this favourite spot on the highest state of beauty, size and station.

Straight avenues reflect the formal layout typical of parks of the 17th century.

The south-eastern beech avenue is shown on the map of 1722.

It was felled in the 1970s and replanted as a beech walk in 1984.

It leads gently uphill to a tower, which was possibly a windmill stump transformed into a garden folly in 1791.

The north-east front comprised orchards at that time and now there are lawns.

There is a deep shelter belt on the west side of the demesne.

Former outbuildings near the house have been used as a series of ‘walled gardens’ and have been prettily planted up since the 1970s.

The wall of the barn to the north-west supports a Macartney rose, the original plant of which was said to have been planted by the 1st Earl Macartney, having been brought by him from China in the late 18th century.

The traditional walled garden, dating from the late 18th century, appears to be used as allotments today.

A note in a NT pamphlet describes its usage as a traditional fruit, vegetable and flower garden, the layout of which was altered in the 20th century to take glasshouses and fruit trees.

There are two gate lodges: one of ca 1790 and a later one of ca 1845.

First published in February, 2012.  Lenox-Cunningham arms courtesy of the NLI.

Londonderry Antiquities

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837

REMAINS of its ancient inhabitants of every period are scattered over the county.

There is a cromlech at Slaghtmanus, another at Lettershandoney, a third at Slaghtaverty, and others at Ballynascreen: some had been surrounded by a circle of upright stones.

There are remains of sepulchral mounts or tumuli at Mullagh Cross, and a vast tumulus is seen at Dovine [sic], between Limavady and Coleraine, besides several of smaller dimensions.

Numerous cairns are met with in every quarter, especially on the summits of the mountains.

Near Dungiven is a very remarkable sepulchral pillar.

Dungiven Standing Stone (Hogg Collection/NMNI)

Raths or Danish forts are likewise scattered in chains in every direction, each being generally within sight of two others: the most remarkable is that called the Giant's Sconce, between the districts of Limavady and Coleraine.

Ditches enclosing spaces of from half a rood to several acres are also discernible contiguous to these forts.

There is a curious mound surrounded with a moat on the road from Springhill to Lough Neagh; and another, of larger size, at Dungorkin.

Ancient entrenchments of different character are seen at Prospect, and between Gortnagasan [sic] and Cahery.

Various coins, pins, rings, and forks have been found about a moat near Lough Neagh, and, among other ancient instruments, quern stones have often been discovered.

Hatchets made of hard basalt, spears of grey granite, and barbed arrowheads of flint are very frequently found.

Sometimes gold and silver coins, fibulae, and gorgets, with other ornaments, are dug up, but these are rare.

There are many artificial caverns, which seem to have been designed for the concealment of goods, of for the refuge of families in case of sudden attack: the sides are built of common land stones without cement, and the roof is composed of flags, or long stones, but the vault is seldom high enough for the passage of a man in a stooping posture; they consist sometimes of different galleries, and the mouth was most usually concealed by a rock or grassy sod.

Besides the remains of monastic institutions in the city of Londonderry, 17 others appear to have existed within the limits of the county; there are still remains of those situated respectively at Camus, Errigal, Tamlaghtfinlagan, Donnybrewer, and Dungiven, at the last of which are the most interesting of all the ecclesiastical ruins.

Banagher Old Church (Wikipedia)

Near the old church of Banagher is a monastic building almost entire.

There are few castles of Irish erection.

Ballyreagh, on a rocky cliff overhanging the sea, is said to have belonged to one of the MacQuillans; and a castle which stood near the church of Ballyaghran [Agherton] is reported to have been the abode of the chief of that sept.

There were several English castles, with bawns and flankers, built by the London companies, one at least in every proportion of allotment, but they are all in ruins, except Bellaghy, which is still occupied.

Isle O'Valla: 2013

Garden Front, facing Strangford Lough (Timothy Ferres, 2013)

I took these photographs of ISLE O'VALLA HOUSE in June, 2013.

The house lies between the village of Strangford, County Down, to the north, and Cloghy Rocks to the south.

South Elevation (Timothy Ferres, 2013)

This historic house has, to my mind, considerable potential as holiday apartments, a guest-house or even a private home.

East Elevation (Timothy Ferres, 2013)

There are old outbuildings, including terraced cottages, to the west and north of the house.

First published in June, 2013.

Wilson's Court

Wilson's Court ca 1810 (Green Collection/NMNI)

WILSON'S COURT, Belfast, runs from 29, High Street, to 24, Ann Street.

Could Wilson's Court have been named after one Samuel Wilson, a printer, who was based near the stone bridge at Bridge Street in 1733? Hugh Gaine (1726-1807) served his apprenticeship in 1740 under Messrs Wilson and Magee.

Wilson's Court ca 1830 (historic OS map)

Today there is little of interest in the entry, apart from a hoist bay on the first floor of the Mermaid Inn.

This bay has sheeted doors and an eight-pane sash window above it.

Decades ago, when I worked in the city centre, I accompanied a colleague to the Mermaid for lunch and a drink during lunch-hour. I recall a cosy little pub, popular with office workers and punters who had been to the turf accountant's further along the entry.

Hoist bay and sash window (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

Marcus Patton, OBE, in his Central Belfast: A Historical Gazetteer, thinks that these features might indicate one of Belfast's earliest surviving domestic buildings.

1908 Street Directory (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

The premises of the inn are thought to date from ca 1800.

High Street entrance to Wilson's Court in 1916  "Rainbow Hotel"
etched on glass notice (Hogg Collection/NMNI). CLICK TO ENLARGE

In 1860 the premises operated as the Rainbow Hotel and Tavern; Hugh Rafferty was the proprietor.

The first edition of the Northern Star was published at Wilson's Court in 1792.