Tempo Manor

THE EMERSON-TENNENT BARONETS OWNED 2,408 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY FERMANAGH 

The family of EMERSON came originally from Foxton, County Durham.

GEORGE EMERSON, of Ardmore, County Armagh, was succeeded by his son,

WILLIAM EMERSON, a merchant of Belfast, who married Sarah, youngest daughter of William Arbuthnot, of Rockville, County Down (by his cousin, Miss Scott), and had issue,

George;
Arbuthnot;
JAMES, of whom we treat;
Eliza.

The third son,

JAMES EMERSON JP DL (1804-69), wedded Letitia, daughter and co-heiress of William Tennent, of Tempo, County Fermanagh, a banker in Belfast, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Eleanor; Edith; Sarah.

Mr Emerson, MP for Belfast, 1832-5, Lisburn, 1852, assumed, upon his marriage, the additional surname of TENNENT.

Mr Emerson-Tennent, Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, was created a baronet in 1867, designated of Tempo Manor, County Fermanagh.

He was succeeded by his son,

SIR WILLIAM EMERSON-TENNENT, 2nd Baronet (1835-76), of Tempo Manor, County Fermanagh, and The lodge, County Antrim, who married and had issue,

ETHEL SARAH, m  SIR ARTHUR HUBERT CHARLES LANGHAM, Bt;
Edith Letitia Anna (1876-1953).

Sir William died without male issue, when the baronetcy expired.

Family of Tennent

THE FAMILY of TENNENT, originally DANAND, or TENAND, was of respectability in Scotland, and the principal branch resided at Glasgow.

WILLIAM TENNENT (1759-1832), of Hercules Lane (now Royal Avenue), Belfast, and TEMPO MANOR, son of the Rev John Tennent (1727-1808), of Roseyards, County Antrim,

Served as an apprentice with John Campbell, a Belfast merchant and banker; joined Belfast Chamber of Commerce, 1783, and was junior manager in the New Sugar House in Waring Street.

He eventually became a partner in this business, and he held partnerships in the distilling firm of John Porter & Co. and the Belfast Insurance Co; was co-founder, in 1809, of the Commercial Bank, and he worked in the bank until it became Belfast Banking Co. in 1827; was on the Board of the Spring Water Commissioners and the Belfast Banking Company, and was manager of the Belfast Academical Institution and Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce.

After the rebellion of 1798, he was arrested on suspicion of belonging to the United Irishmen, and imprisoned in Scotland for two years; returned to Belfast and in 1814, purchased the village and demesne of Tempo, County Fermanagh; bequeathed property to the Presbyterian Church, and died in the cholera epidemic.

The Hon John Bew has broadcast a very good documentary about him, entitled Belfast's Richest Radical.

Mural plaque in memory of William Tennent at Rosemary Street
Presbyterian Church, Belfast(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Mr Tennent's only daughter and heiress,

MISS LETITIA TENNENT, of Tempo Manor, married James Emerson, later Emerson-Tennent.

Photo Credit: Belfast City Hall

Sir James Emerson-Tennent was MP for Belfast, 1832-45 (his full-length portrait hangs in the Reception Hall of Belfast City Hall); Joint Secretary to the India Board, 1841-45; Colonial Secretary in Ceylon, 1845-49; Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade, 1852-67 (and usually regarded as the inventor of competitive examination for the Civil Service).

He was an author of major books on Greece, Ceylon, natural history, antiquities, etc; friend of Dickens and other literary and artistic people; and builder of Tempo Manor in County Fermanagh (to the designs of Sir Charles Lanyon), 1861-69.

Emerson-Tennent was knighted in 1845, and was created a baronet on his retirement from the Board of Trade in 1867.

The 1st Baronet survived for a mere two years after receiving his baronetcy.

The title became extinct on the death of his son, Sir William, 2nd Baronet, in 1876, aged 41.

Sir William had an only daughter,

ETHEL SARAH EMERSON-TENNENT,  who married, in 1893, Sir Herbert Charles Arthur Langham, 13th Baronet.

The Emerson Tennent Papers are held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

TEMPO MANOR, County Fermanagh, is between Enniskillen and Fivemiletown.

The original manor was an old castle of the Maguires.

The estate was acquired in 1815 by William Tennent, a Belfast banker, whose daughter and heiress was the wife of Sir James Emerson-Tennent Bt MP, an illustrious politician, colonial administrator and writer.

A new house, incorporating part of the old castle, was built in 1863 in a rather curious Victorian-Jacobean style.

There are curvilinear gables; and rectangular, round-headed, plate-glass windows, some with entablatures crowned with strap-work.

The house is of two storeys, the upper storey being an attic in the high-pitched roof.

One end has a turret with a belfry and spire.

Tempo Manor passed by marriage to the Langham Baronets.

The present demesne comprises 300 acres of parkland and woodland.

The part-walled 17th century demesne, also edged by the Tempo River, is adjacent to the village of Tempo. There are fine stands of mature trees in the shelter belts and woodland.

The park was said to have been the setting for Maria Edgeworth’s novel, Castle Rackrent.

Mature exotics are in evidence.

A winding avenue of open grass and woodland leads past a lough to the present mansion, which incorporates part of the old Maguire house on the site and is successfully juxtaposed with contemporary terraced lawns.

These dip down to a small lough, which is surrounded by a romantic garden at the core of the demesne.

It is a notable example of an informal-style ‘Robinsonian’ garden that was fashionable in the early part of the 20th century.

The view from the house is of the lough, an island ‘Tempo Dessell’, and surrounding planting of flowering shrubs, enhanced by evergreen trees beyond.

There is a walk meandering round the lough, part of which has an embanked rockery.

Although not fully maintained, the rockery is an important and rare survival in Ulster.

The coach-house dates back to the Maguire ownership of the property.

The two gate lodges are of the same era as the Lanyon house.

Former seats ~ Francfort, County Sligo; Tempo Manor, County Fermanagh; The Lodge, County Antrim. Former London residence ~ 25 Duke Street.

Photo credits: Sir John Langham Bt.   First published in September, 2010. Emerson-Tennent arms courtesy of the NLI.,

Tyrella House

THE MONTGOMERYS, OF TYRELLA, OWNED 3,005 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DOWN

The ancient and distinguished family of MONTGOMERY was powerful in Normandy, and had the title of Comte before the time of Rollo, the Dane, Duke of Normandy. The present chief is the Earl of Eglinton.

THE REV HUGH MONTGOMERY (1754-1815), of Grey Abbey, County Down, son of WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, married, in 1782, Emilia, youngest daughter of Bernard, 1st Viscount Bangor (by his wife, the Lady Anne Bligh, daughter of John, Earl of Darnley), and had issue,

William, his heir;
Hugh Bernard, army officer;
Edward (Rev), Rector of Portaferry;
ARTHUR HILL, of whom presently;
John Charles, Barrister;
Francis Octavius, army officer;
George Augustus Frederick Sandys, Lieutenant RN;
Anne Catherine; Emilia Georgiana Susanna.

The Rev Hugh Montgomery, a clergyman of the established church, and Sovereign Grand Commander of the Order of the Fleur-de-Lys, 1800-15, resided constantly at the Abbey, made considerable improvements there, and extended his landed possessions by purchase.

His fourth son,

ARTHUR HILL MONTGOMERY JP DL (1794-1867), of Tyrella House, County Down, wedded, in 1825, the Lady Matilda Anne Parker, daughter of Thomas, 5th Earl of Macclesfield, and had issue,

HUGH PARKER, his heir;

Arthur Hill Sandys.

The elder son,

MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH PARKER MONTGOMERY (1829-1901), of Tyrella House, and Winchester, Hampshire, died unmarried.

Tyrella House (Image: Northern Ireland Tourist Board)

TYRELLA is a parish in the barony of LECALE, 5½ miles south-east of Clough, and 4½ east of Dundrum, County Down.

The parish is situated on the north shore of Dundrum Bay and, excepting a few acres of sand hills along the shore, is land of good quality.

The topographical dictionary of Ireland, 1837, remarks:-

"Tyrella House, the handsome residence of A H Montgomery, is beautifully situated in a richly planted demesne of 300 acres, commanding extensive views over the bay, with the noble range of the Mourne Mountains in the background, and containing within its limits the site and cemetery of the ancient parish church."

Tyrella House (Image: Northern Ireland Tourist Board)

The Register of Parks, Gardens and Demesne of Special Historic Interest in Northern Ireland remarks that 

"Due to its close proximity to the sea, the plantations, which have remained largely unchanged in layout since at least 1800, are focussed in larger woodland blocks with few of the usual isolated parkland trees, clumps and belts."

"Without these woodlands the house would be very exposed to the winds, yet there is evidence that there was a house here by 1755 when it is clearly depicted on Kennedy's County Down map of that year." 

"Earlier, in 1744 Walter Harris refers to 'Tereda, a small village, the lands about which, being now the estate of Mr. Banks of Belfast, formerly of the Hamilton's of Tullamore'."

"Most likely this is a reference to Thomas Banks, a prominent Belfast citizen, but following his death in 1746 the lease reverted back to George Hamilton (1698-1770), whose father Hugh had bought this townland in the 1720s on the occasion of the latter marriage."

"It seems probable that he had built a house here, perhaps in the 1730s, but the buildings architect would indicate that the present house was built by his son, also called George Hamilton (1734- 96), probably in the 1780s, at which time the landscape park was most likely planted."

"On his death in 1796 the property passed to his nephew, the Rev George Hamilton, and it was around his death (d 1833) that the demesne was first depicted on OS maps; the outline of the plantations shown on that map remain largely unaltered."

Tyrella Demesne (Historic OS Map of ca 1830)

"The main area of woodland, as one might expect, lies just south of the house, proving shelter against the salt breezes and the second lies south of the walled garden to provide protection for the garden produce; much of the latter is now denuded with no sign of any replanting."

"The walled garden, north-west of the house, is contemporary with the creation of the parkland, that is to say it was built around the 1780s, and unusually takes the form of an oval half-moon (2.35 acres/0.95ha) ..." 

"There is a drive from the farmyard, which is adjacent to the east, to a cart entrance in the north."

"Today this entrance is used to gain access to a house built in 1987 with its ornamental garden built in the west part of the walled garden."

"There are glasshouses and a potting shed."

"The glasshouse that lies beside the main house facing the west lawn was built in the Edwardian era, around 1904, and was restored in 2011."

"The park has three entrances off the Clanmaghery Road."

Tyrella House (from a  picture post card)

"When George Hamilton died in 1796, he bequeathed Tyrella to his nephew, the Rev George Hamilton (d 1833), who probably built the low rubble wall along side the road to the north and east and remains largely intact."

"He may also have built much of the house as we know it today as the building does in parts have a Regency appearance, notably the main (south-facing) hipped roof two-storey square block, which has a four bay front, incorporating Wyatt-windows and a shallow projecting three window bay on the west side."

"In 1808 George inherited another estate, Hampton Hall, Balbriggan, County Dublin, from his late brother, Alexander."

"By the mid-1820s he had ran into money difficulties and in 1824 was forced to mortgage the Dublin property; it was probably at this point that he sold Tyrella, for by at least 1834 it was in the possession of Arthur Hill Montgomery."

"Arthur died in 1867 and his widow, Matilda, is recorded as living there until 1876, with her son, Hugh Parker Montgomery."

"In 1878 the distillery owner JAMES CRAIG, of Craigavon House, Belfast, acquired it as a summer residence."

"His son, Major Clarence Craig (d 1938), an elder brother of Sir James Craig (1871-1940), 1st Viscount Craigavon ... enlarged the house, presumably with help from his brother the architect Vincent Craig (1869-1925), remodelling parts of the house rere, where the building's west side has a distinctly Edwardian feel with several large mullioned and transomed windows and some roundels with small square panes, whilst glasshouse is also of this date."

"Members of the Craig family undoubtably must have visited the Japan-British Exhibition in the White City, London, in 1910 - the largest international exposition of the Empire of Japan, because like many other country houses owners in the decade following 1910, the Craigs created a Japanese Garden at Tyrella."

"Major Craig retained the property until 1921, when William J Neill, a coal merchant, assumed ownership."

"Mr Neill was still there in 1929, but by 1937 the house may have been vacant, for at this date the Belfast Tuberculosis Committee were considering purchasing the property for use as a sanatorium."

"John Corbett [High Sheriff of County Down, 1967] acquired the property in 1949, and it remains with his descendant."

David Corbett was High Sheriff of County Down in 2010.

The Duke of Edinburgh

His Royal Highness THE PRINCE EDWARD ANTONY RICHARD LOUIS, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, and Viscount Severn, KG, KT, GCVO, is 62 today.

• Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
• Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thisle
• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have two children: James, styled Earl of Wessex, and the Lady Louise Windsor.

His Royal Highness, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, was created Duke of Edinburgh by His Majesty The King on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

The Prince Edward was appointed an Extra Knight  of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle by The King on his sixtieth birthday.

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.

By 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.