Dromore, County Down

Arms of the Bishopric of Dromore

On Sunday, August 7th, 2022, I paid a visit to Dromore, a small town and cathedral city in County Down.

Dromore, in the barony of Lower Iveagh, standing on the River Lagan, is close to Royal Hillsborough in the same county.

An abbey was reputedly established here, in the 6th century, by St Colman, and to have been constituted the cathedral or seat of a bishopric, of which St Colman was made the first bishop.

This abbey had acquired extensive possessions by the 10th century, and was frequently plundered by the Danes; and, moreover, suffered materially from the continued feuds of the powerful septs of the O'Neills, Magennises, and Macartans.

At the Reformation the cathedral was in ruins, and remained thus till 1610, when JAMES I re-founded the see by letters patent, rebuilt the cathedral, and accorded the bishop extensive landed possessions in this and several adjoining parishes.

An episcopal palace was begun by Bishop Buckworth, but previously to its completion the Irish Rebellion of 1641 broke out, and the cathedral, the unfinished palace, and the town were entirely destroyed by the parliamentarian forces. 

Arms of the Bishopric of Down,
Connor, and Dromore

From this time the town was in ruins until the Restoration, when CHARLES II gave the see in commendam to the notable prelate Jeremy Taylor, with Down and Connor, by whom the present church, which is also parochial, was built on the site of the ruined cathedral.

Beneath the communion table in the cathedral is a vault in which Dr Taylor and two of his successors are interred.

Bishop Percy's remains are deposited in a vault in the transept added to the cathedral, as are those of Mrs Percy.

The first Protestant blood of the Revolution was shed in the vicinity of the town; and WILLIAM III marched through on the 24th June, 1690, en route to the field of the Boyne.

Market Square, Dromore (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Dromore comprises a central square, and radiating streets; and though nominally a city, it's really a rural market town.

Market Square, Dromore (W A Green/NMNI)

The market-house, located in the Square, is a substantial building; while the cathedral and parish church is comparatively small and unpretentious, not cruciform.

The episcopal residence, adjoining the town, was erected in the time of Bishop Bernard; and the woods around it were planted by Bishop Percy, on the model, it is claimed, of those of The Leastowes, seat of William Shenstone.

High Cross of Dromore (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The High Cross, standing outside the wall of the cathedral today, was formerly in the market square until it was broken up in the 17th century.

High Cross (W A Green/NMNI)

This ancient cross was repaired and removed to its present position in 1887; and an inscription on its shaft reads:

"The ancient historical cross of Dromore. Erected and restored after many years of neglect by public subscription to which the board of public works were contributor under the auspices of the town commissioners of Dromore co. Down 21 D 1887."

During my trip to Dromore I attended divine worship at the Cathedral, where I met the Dean; Sara McCorkell; and other parishioners afterwards.

Memorial to 8th Earl of Clanwilliam (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The interior has a number of memorials on the walls, including those of the Vaughan family, of Quilly, and the Earls of Clanwilliam, of Gill Hall and Montalto.

Memorial to 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

In the graveyard is the tomb of the Vaughans, just below the High Cross.

Vaughan family tomb (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

NOT far from the cathedral are the ruins of an early 17th century castle built by William Worsley, of Hallan, Nottinghamshire, brother-in-law to Dr John Todd, Lord Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore from 1607-12.

Dromore Castle (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Worsley erected the castle for Bishop Todd's protection, being one of the conditions on which a considerable extent of the see lands was alienated to Worsley, and which led to the Act for restraining bishops from leasing lands beyond a term of twenty-one years.

Dromore Castle interior (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The castle comprises a square tower, three storeys in height; the first floor being about eight feet above ground floor level.

The Castle, Dromore (W A Green/NMNI)

Narrow slits are on the surviving walls.

First published in August, 2022.

Pomeroy

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837

POMEROY, a parish, in the barony of Dungannon, County Tyrone, 7¼ miles from Dungannon, on the road to Omagh.

The district was granted by JAMES I to Sir Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland, and soon after was created a manor, under the name of Manor Chichester.

It was then altogether an extensive forest, some of the oaks of which, when cut down several years since, measured 29 feet in circumference.

During the unsettled period of 1641 it was nearly stripped of its timber, and for many years after remained in a neglected state, until 1770, when the Rev James Lowry undertook its management: he planted a great portion of the demesne, which now exhibits some very fine timber, and bequeathed a sum to erect the present mansion.

In the demesne, which consists of 556 acres, is a small lake, the borders of which resemble in shape the coast of Ireland, on a scale of about one foot to a mile.

Near it is a very abundant spring of water, strongly impregnated with carbonic acid gas.

Pomeroy from The Diamond  (Image: Donaghmore Historical Society)

The village, which is small and meanly built, on the summit of a hill, consists of a square and long street, the roadway of which having been cut down in order to diminish to ascent, has placed the houses on each side in an unsightly and even dangerous situation.

Pomeroy from The Diamond (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

The eastern and southern parts of the parish are fertile and well cultivated; the western, which forms part of the Altmore mountain, and comprises nearly 3,000 acres, is uncultivated mountain and bog.

Granite, basalt, quartz, limestone, freestone, clay-slate, iron-stone and coal have been found within its limits.

The principal seats are Pomeroy House, the fine residence of R W Lowry; Mulnagore Lodge, of Mrs Stafford; Drummond Lodge, of J Suter; and the Glebe, of the Rev Thomas Twigg.

The parish was erected in 1775, by an Order of Council, at the application of Lord Primate Robinson, by severing 41 townlands from that of Donaghmore: it is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Lord Primate.

The Glebe House, built in 1786, at an expense of £414 [about £54,000 in 2024], supplied by Primate Robinson, and enlarged in 1793 at a cost of £322 by the then incumbent, has a glebe of 560 statute acres.

The church, built in 1775 on a site three miles from the village, is a handsome edifice, yet, though spacious, it does not afford sufficient accommodation for the congregation during the summer months.

*****

POMEROY is the highest village in County Tyrone.

Central Bar, Pomeroy (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

Facing Altadesert parish church, opposite The Diamond, the Central Bar is celebrated locally as an establishment where a ghost is said to have haunted an attic at the beginning of the 20th century until the parish priest exorcised it.

The parish priest is said to have persuaded the rowdy spirit to enter a bottle, which was hastily corked and bricked into a wall in the back yard.

Synnot of Ballymoyer

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

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

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

WALTER, ancestor of SYNNOT OF BALLYTRAMON;
PIERCE.

The younger son,

PIERCE SYNNOT, of Ballytramon, was father of 

DAVID SYNNOT, of Ballytramon, whose son,

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

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

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

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

The youngest son,

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

His son,

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

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

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

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

His eldest son,

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

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

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

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

The younger son, 

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

MARCUS, his heir;
Walter.

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

Richard Walter.

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

The demesne was noted as being very ornate.

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

The eldest son and heir,

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

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

Mr Synnot was succeeded by his eldest son, 

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

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

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

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

Mr Synnot was succeeded by his only son, 

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

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

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

The elder son,

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

Family of Hart

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

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

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

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

His elder son,

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

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

MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR FITZROY HART-SYNNOT CB CMG.

*****

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

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

The estate is now open to the public.

First published in February, 2012.

Crawfordsburn Park

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

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

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

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

His descendant,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The only daughter,


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family of Sharman

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

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

The eldest son,

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

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

Crawfordsburn House

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

The Irish Builder publication in 1904 invited tenders for the

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

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

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

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

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

In 1933, a valuer described the building as

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

Banim says, in 1892, it had,

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

Crawfordsburn is now a Country Park.

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

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

1st Marquess of Hertford

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

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

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

his eldest son by his second wife,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

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

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

FRANCIS CHARLES, his successor.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

RICHARD, his successor;
Henry;
Francis Maria.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

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

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

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

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

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

First published in December, 2019.

His Majesty's Wedding Day

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

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

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

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

The Years of my Pilgrimage

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

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

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

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

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

It shall be an antique in several years' time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First published in October, 2020.