Lane-Fox Estate

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

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

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

He was succeeded by his son,

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

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

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

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

The youngest son,

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

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

The third son,  

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

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

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

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

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

Mr Fox was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GEORGE, his heir;
Frederica Elizabeth.

Mr Lane-Fox was succeeded by his only son,

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

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

The younger son,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their London residence was at 12 Albemarle Street.

*****

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

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

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

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

In 1724, the Lanesborough title became extinct.

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

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

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

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

First published in March, 2013. 

The Talbot Baronetcy

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

This branch of the illustrious house of SHREWSBURY springs from

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bishop's youngest son,

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

CHARLES HENRY, his heir;
William (Rev).

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

Indiana;
Henrietta Maria.

General Talbot was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

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

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

Sir Charles was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

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

Mary Anne, of Belfast;
Georgiana, of Belfast.

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

*****

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

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

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

The 1st Baronet bought the Mickleham estate in 1779.

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

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

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

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

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

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

She was buried with him.

Former London residence ~ 21 Grosvenor Square.

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

Castle Durrow

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

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

The Irish branch was founded by

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

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

Sir George was succeeded by his eldest son, 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sir William's nephew,

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

He was succeeded by his elder son,

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

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

He was succeeded by his only surviving son,

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

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

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

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

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

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

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

HENRY, his successor;
Caroline; Susannah Sophia.

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

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

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

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

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

His lordship was succeeded by his next brother,

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

Lucy Adelaide Frances; Adelaide Caroline.

His lordship was succeeded by his brother,

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

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

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

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

DESMOND LLOWARCH EDWARD, his successor;
Eileen Augusta Sybil.

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

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

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

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

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

The Flower family assumed residency of Castle Durrow in 1716.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First published in October, 2012. 

Dean's Hill

THE ARMSTRONGS OWNED 2,279 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ARMAGH 

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG married Jane Garver, of Edgeworthstown, County Longford, and had issue,

John, of Great Forrest, County Dublin, dsp;

Richard, dsp;

EDWARD, of whom hereafter;

Jane; Anne.

The third son,

EDWARD ARMSTRONG, of 31, Grange Lane, Dublin, married, in 1760, Grace Jones, said to have been descended from Colonel Michael Jones, Commander-in-Chief of the parliamentary forces in Leinster, and Governor of Dublin, 1649, and had issue,

WILLIAM JONES, his heir;

Hugh;

Edward.

The eldest son,

THE REV WILLIAM JONES ARMSTRONG, Rector of Termonfeckin, County Louth, wedded, in 1786, Margaret, third daughter of Alderman John Tew, Lord Mayor of Dublin (by Margaret Maxwell his wife, grandniece of John, 1st Baron Farnham), and granddaughter of Alderman David Tew, Lord Mayor of the same city in 1752, and had issue,

WILLIAM JONES, his heir;

John Tew;

Thomas Knox, JP, of Fellows Hall;

Helen; Anne; Diana Jane.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM JONES ARMSTRONG JP DL (1794-1872), of KILLYLEA, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1840, espoused, in 1842, Frances Elizabeth, Lady McCreagh, widow of Colonel Sir Michael McCreagh CB KCH, and only daughter of Captain Christopher Wilson, of the 22nd Foot, and had issue,

WILLIAM FORTESCUE, 7th Hussars (1843-71);

HENRY BRUCE, of whom hereafter.

Mr Armstrong assumed, in 1868, the name and arms of WRIGHT under the will of Lady (Frances Elizabeth) Wright-Wilson.

His younger son,

THE RT HON HENRY BRUCE WRIGHT-ARMSTRONG JP DL (1844-1943), of Killylea and Dean's Hill, both in County Armagh, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1875, and of County Longford, 1894, married, in 1883, Margaret, daughter of William Leader, of Rossnalee, County Cork, and had issue,

WILLIAM FORTESCUE, his heir;
Michael Richard Leader;
Henry Maxwell;
James Robert Bargrave, High Sheriff of Co Armagh, 1960;
Christopher Wyborne;
Frances Margaret Alice; Dorothea Gertrude; Margaret Helen Elizabeth.

Mr Wright-Armstrong was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM FORTESCUE ARMSTRONG DSO MC (1885-1928), who wedded, in 1920, Madeleine Marthe Emilie Marie, daughter of Marie Joseph Georges Ferdinand Toucas, and had issue, an only child,

MICHAEL HENRY ARMSTRONG MBE DL (1924-82), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1965, who wedded, in 1954, Kathleen Mary Perceval, daughter of James Bargrave Robert Armstrong (by his wife, the Hon Kathleen Marion Napier), and had issue,

EDWARD JAMES MAXWELL, b 1958;
Robert William Fortescue, b 1960;
Anne Helen Madeleine; Florence Kathleen Margaret; Jane Elizabeth Alice.

Major Armstrong was born in France, 1924; Royal Irish Fusiliers; Chairman, Ulster Young Unionist Council, 1950; DL, 1952; County Councillor and Vice-Chairman, 1955-73; Ulster Special Constabulary, 1957-70; Trustee, Ulster Folk Museum, 1958-73; Irish Guards, Regular Army Reserve of Officers; District Commandant for Armagh, 1961-70; Trustee of the Ulster Museum, 1962; High Sheriff, 1965; Vice-Chairman, Craigavon Development Commission, 1965-73; MBE, 1970; Honorary Secretary, Ulster Unionist Council, 1970-74; Ulster Defence Regiment, 2nd County Armagh Battalion.

His elder son,

EDWARD JAMES ARMSTRONG, wedded, in 1991, Jill J O'Dowd, and has issue,

WILLIAM EDWARD, b 1993;
Henry Cornelius, b 1998;
Madeleine Margaret, b 1995.

DEAN’S HILL, College Hill, is a Georgian house in the city of Armagh built ca 1772-4.

It was originally erected for the Very Rev Hugh Hamilton, Dean of Armagh; and altered in 1887.

A wing was added in 1896. 

The Armstrong family have lived at Dean's Hill since they bought it from the Representative Church Body of the Church of Ireland in 1888.

A stone gatehouse on the road draws visitors up the long, gently curving driveway leading through green, daffodil-strewn fields, with mature trees and a large Cedar of Lebanon in the rambling garden.

Dean's Hill sits on an elevated site.

There are views for a great distance, as far as the Sperrins, from the north front entrance.

This house and the Observatory are both associated with the palace in inception and, as such, are smaller examples of Georgian landscaping.  

The austere classical buildings are on high ground set in lawns, with sweeping approaches and well disposed trees that give shelter and allow for vistas. 

The Dean’s Hill avenue is flanked by fine limes.

A row of yew trees, a wisteria, glasshouse and a box- edged border have been introduced near the house during the 19th century. 

The partially walled garden has an orchard, kitchen garden and vinery. 

There was a large elm tree that succumbed to disease, but a notable laburnum is thought to be very old. 

The gate lodge is ca 1845 and the original 18th century gates have gone due to road re-alignment in recent years.

Fellows Hall

FELLOWS HALL, near Killylea, is "a Victorian Italianate re-building of a house of 1762, itself a re-building of a 17th century house."

It comprises two storeys over a basement, with a five-bay front, round-headed windows with keystones on the upper storey. 

There is a tripartite doorway with a triple window above it; and a bracket cornice. 

Fellows Hall demesne was established in the 17th century and parts of the present house date from 1664 (including the farm).

Nothing typical of a 17th century layout is in existence.

The curving avenue is lined with mature oak and beech and there is a belt of woodland on a ridge to the north of the house. 

There is a maintained ornamental garden, with a very attractive circle of box-edged rose beds and a herbaceous border.

A hedged cultivated productive garden takes the place of a walled garden.

A derelict gate lodge survives.

Fellows Hall passed through marriage from the Maxwell family (Barons Farnham) to the Armstrong and Stronge families; thereafter to the McClintock family. 

Killylea, and Dean's Hill are both in County Armagh.

First published in February, 2012.  Armstrong arms courtesy of the NLI.

Kinahan of Castle Upton

DANIEL KINAHAN (1756-1827), of Roebuck Park, County Dublin, and 11, Merrion Square, Dublin, married, in 1791, Martha (d 1800), daughter of George Paine, of Dublin, and had issue,

George, of Roebuck Park;
JOHN, of whom presently;
Daniel, a barrister; father of George Henry Kinahan;
Robert Henry, High Sheriff of Dublin City, 1851, Lord Mayor of Dublin, 1853;
Prudentia; Martha.

He wedded secondly, in 1805, Julia Carr.

Mr Kinahan's second son,

THE REV JOHN KINAHAN (1792-1866), Rector of Knockbreda, County Down, espoused, in 1823, Emily, daughter of John George, and had issue,

Daniel George, died unmarried;

John;

FREDERICK, of whom hereafter;
William Robert Lawrence (Rev);
Richard George (1837-1911), Vice-Admiral;
Henry;
Charles James;
Robert;
Emily; Julia; Elizabeth Jane; Mary; Maria Louisa; Katherine; Roseanna; Amelia; Frances Richarda.

The third son,

FREDERICK KINAHAN (1830-1901), of Low Wood, Belfast, founder and chairman of Lyle & Kinahan, wine merchants, married, in 1865, Marian, daughter of Colonel Edmund Hannay, of Ballylough, County Antrim, and had issue,

John;

James;

Frederick William;

Charles Albert;

Robert Hannay;

HENRY, of whom presently;

Mary Emily; Marion Agnes; Emily Louisa; Violet Eva; Beatrice; Florence Annie; Constance Helen.

The sixth son,

HENRY KINAHAN (1879-1958), of 476, Antrim Road, Belfast, a barrister and company director, wedded, in 1914, Blanche Ulaleni, only child of the Rt Rev Charles Thornton Primrose Grierson, Lord Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore, and had issue,

Charles Henry Grierson;

ROBERT GEORGE CALDWELL, of whom we treat;

Marion Blanche Ismay.

The younger son,

SIR ROBERT (ROBIN) GEORGE CALDWELL KINAHAN ERD (1916-97), Knight, of CASTLE UPTON, Templepatrick, County Antrim, High Sheriff of Belfast, 1956, Lord Mayor of Belfast, 1959-61, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1969, Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast, 1985-91, married, in 1950, Coralie Isabel, younger daughter of Captain Charles de Burgh DSO RN, of Seaforde Lodge, County Down, and had issue,

Daniel (Danny) de Burgh, born 1958;

Henry Tristram, born 1964;

Coralie Jane Louise; Emma Caroline; Vivienne Pamela. 

Altinaghree Castle

THE OGILBYS OWNED 7,050 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE

WILLIAM OBILBY JP (1808-73), of Altinaghree Castle, Donemana, County Tyrone, reputedly a scion of OGILBY OF ARDNARGLE AND PELLIPAR, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1873, married, in 1851, Adelaide Charlotte, daughter of the Hon and Rev Charles Douglas (brother of George Sholto, 17th Earl of Morton), by his first wife, the Lady Isabella Gore, daughter of Arthur Saunders, 2nd Earl of Arran, and had issue,

CLAUD WILLIAM LESLIE, his heir;

JAMES DOUGLAS, succeeded his brother;
William Charles (1855-6);
Adelaide Charlotte; Isabella Caroline; Beatrice Emma Elizabeth; Louisa; Edith Sophia.

Mr Ogilby was succeeded by his eldest son,

CLAUD WILLIAM LESLIE OGILBY (1851-94), who wedded, in 1875, Bessie Henrietta, daughter of Captain William Grant Douglas, in a childless marriage.

Mr Ogilby was succeeded by his brother,

JAMES DOUGLAS OGILBY (1853-1925), who espoused, in 1884, Mary Jane Jameson (d 1894) at Donagheady parish church, County Tyrone, though the marriage was without issue.

ALTINAGHREE CASTLE, near Donemana, County Tyrone, is a Victorian mansion built by William Ogilby ca 1860, though abandoned about thirty years later.

Despite its short existence, nevertheless, it was associated with two significant figures in natural history, and survives in the folk memory of the locality.

A house first appears on the location about 1853, captioned ‘Liscloon House’.

By the third edition, this has been replaced by a different structure, captioned ‘Altinaghree Castle’, surrounded by a wall.

‘Liscloon Cottages’ and a ‘Lodge’ are also shown nearby.

On the fourth edition the castle is shown in ruins.

Aidan Devlin has produced an interesting video clip of the mansion (above).

Buildings listed include stables, a garden house, stables, granary, cow house, steaming house and piggery.

In 1861, Annual Revisions note, ‘This house is throwing down. Mr Ogilby is building a very fine new house, value when completed’.

William Ogilby married Adelaide Charlotte Douglas, daughter of the Rev Charles Douglas of Earls Gift in 1851.

He died in 1873, not long after completing Altinaghree Castle, when it then passed to his son Claude William Leslie Ogilby who is listed as the occupier in 1876.

Claude also married a Douglas, Bessie Henrietta, daughter of Captain William Grant Douglas, in 1875.

However, from 1888, when the house is listed as ‘vacant’ and leased from the Trustees of Claude W Ogilby, the building deteriorates and decreases in value.

In 1889, when the house is first described as a castle.

In 1892 it was described as ‘dilapidated’ and the value is reduced to £5.

Samuel Eaton becomes the lessor in 1905.

A note of 1909 reads, ‘floors and windows gone, a ruin;’ and in 1910 it is deleted from the record altogether, although the gate lodge continues to be occupied.

The Strabane Weekly News of 4th January, 1975, reports on some of the local stories surrounding the castle, which was built entirely of cut stone and surrounded by a wall of the same type.

The stones were brought by horse and cart from Dungiven, County Londonderry.

Stonecutters from the Barons Court Estate were employed at the castle.

Masons were paid one shilling per day, and labourers, 10d.

According to the Natural Stone Database, the stones used are local Dalriadan schist and Barony Glen sandstone.

When finished, its banqueting room was said to be unequalled throughout the county.

Ogilby was known locally simply as a successful farmer and proprietor who entertained on a lavish scale, bringing in cooks from Belfast and Dublin for his banquets, although it is not clear whether it is the older or the younger Ogilby that is remembered in this way.

The Ogilby’s second son, James, is remembered locally as falling in love with a factory girl that he met when returning from a hunt meeting at Donemana.

Folklore has it that, following his family’s opposition to their marriage, James vanished from the area in 1875.

He returned, however, seven years later, in 1882, to marry his sweetheart who had waited for him.

The older son, Claude, died at the early age of 43, but apparently left the house six years before his death.

The fact that his affairs were in the hands of trustees suggests that he was bankrupt.

A contemporary newspaper article implies that the upkeep of a large castle had perhaps proved overwhelming, following Gladstone’s land reforms.

Hugh Dixon writes that the castle

"Would have been regarded as wildly unfashionable by many contemporaries.
It looks more like the sort of castellated factory which Pugin derides than the naturally planned, colourfully designed country houses then in vogue under Ruskin’s influence." 

"It is no surprise to me that it had a very short active life – dinner at 3pm was definitely a very late hangover from Georgian times."

Jeremy Williams writes that

The architect responsible is unrecorded, but there are many parallels with the Londonderry Apprentice Boys’ Hall of 1873 by J. G. Ferguson before bomb damage—the same segmental mullioned windows and shallow oriels, Ferguson is more admired today for his industrial architecture, and, despite its appellation, Altnachree is more castellated mill than castle.

The Victorian mansion was referred to as a "castle" for the first time in 1872, a year before Claud William Ogilvy’s inheritance at the age of twenty-three.

Entered through a porte-cochere on the side along the axis of the central corridor, with the three main rooms strung out along the garden front.

Main staircase set into triple-arched composition, but taking up the minimum of space, all like an office block.

Four-storey towers in the centre of each front; three floors elsewhere.

Today only a shell survives in a denuded park.

The mansion was said to be splendidly appointed and had a banqueting room.

It is constructed from cut stone.

Altinaghree was abandoned in 1885, a mere twenty years after its construction.

It cannot be listed because it is roofless.
  
First published in February, 2014.  Ogilby arms courtesy of the NLI.

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.