Lanesborough Lodge

THE EARLS OF LANESBOROUGH OWNED 7,946 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CAVAN

6,606 ACRES IN COUNTY FERMANAGH, AND 1,845 ACRES IN LEICESTERSHIRE

This family is not sprung from any of the ancient Irish houses of Butler; but from George Butler, of Fenny Drayton, in Cambridgeshire, and of Tewin, in Hertfordshire. This George, living in 1575, son of Edward Butler, was said to be descended from John Butler, living at Waresley, Huntingdonshire, in 1376.

SIR STEPHEN BUTLER, Knight (descended from John Butler, of Waresley, Huntingdonshire, living in 1376),

Settled in Ireland in the reign of JAMES I, being an undertaker in the plantation of Ulster, and having obtained a grant of 2,000 acres of land in County Cavan, erected a baronial castle of great strength. 

He and his co-undertakers of the precinct of Loughtee commenced, according to their agreement, the plantation of a town at Belturbet; and in his time thirty-five houses were erected, all inhabited by British tenants, most of whom were tradesmen, each having a house and garden plot, with four acres of land, and commons for a certain number of cattle.

Sir Stephen, High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1622, married Mary, daughter and co-heir of Gervais Brinsley, of Brinsley, in Nottinghamshire; and dying in 1639, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES BUTLER, of Belturbet; at whose decease, without issue, the estates devolved upon his brother,

STEPHEN BUTLER, MP for Belturbet, 1661-2, who wedded Anne, daughter of Sir James Barry, 1st Baron Barry of Santry, and was succeeded at his decease, in 1662, by his eldest son,

FRANCIS BUTLER (1634-1702), MP for Belturbet [1662-6], 1692-9, who married Judith, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Theophilus Jones, of Osberstown, County Kildare, and was succeeded at his decease by his eldest son,

THE RT HON THEOPHILUS BUTLER (c1669-1723), of Belturbet, County Cavan, MP for County Cavan, 1703-13, Belturbet, 1713-14, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1715, in the dignity of Baron Newtownbutler, with remainder, in default of male issue, to the male descendants of his father, having previously represented County Cavan in parliament and being called to the Privy Council.

His lordship espoused Emilia, elder daughter and co-heir of James Stopford, of Tara, County Meath; but leaving no issue at his decease, the title devolved upon his brother,

BRINSLEY, 2nd Baron (1670-1735), MP for Kells, 1703-13, Belturbet, 1713-24, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Colonel of the Battle-axe guards, who was created, in 1728, Viscount Lanesborough.

His lordship married Catherine, daughter and co-heir of Neville Pooley, of the city of Dublin, by whom he had no less than twenty-three children, five only of whom, however, survived infancy, namely,

HUMPHREY, his successor;
Thomas, Governor of Limerick;
Robert, MP, Captain, Battle-axe Guards;
John, MP for Newcastle;
Judith, m to B J Cramer.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUMPHREY, 2nd Viscount (1700-68), who wedded, in 1726, Mary, daughter and heir of Richard Berry, of Wardenstown, County Westmeath, by whom he had an only son.

His lordship was created, in 1756, EARL OF LANESBOROUGH, and was succeeded by his son,


BRINSLEY, 2nd Earl (1728-79), who wedded, in 1754, Jane, only daughter of Robert, 1st Earl of Belvedere, and had issue,

ROBERT HERBERT, his successor;
Augustus Richard, father of the 5th and 6th Earls;
Mary; Catherine; Charlotte; Caroline; Sophia.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT HERBERT, 3rd Earl (1759-1806), who married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the Rt Hon David La Touche, by whom he had two sons,

BRINSLEY, his successor;
David.

Hid lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

BRINSLEY, 4th Earl (1783-1847), who died unmarried, when the titles reverted to his cousin,

GEORGE JOHN DANVERS, 5th Earl (1794-1866), who wedded firstly, in 1815, Frances Arabella, daughter of Colonel Stephen Francis William Fremantle; and secondly, in 1851, Frederica Emma, daughter of Charles Bishop.

His lordship died without issue, when the titles reverted to his cousin,

JOHN VANSITTART DANVERS, 6th Earl (1839-1905), DL, Captain, Royal Navy, who espoused, in 1864, Anne Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev John Dixon Clark, and had issue,

CHARLES JOHN BRINSLEY, his successor;

HENRY CAVENDISH, 8th Earl;

Francis Almeric;

Brian Danvers;

Winifred Emma.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES JOHN BRINSLEY, 7th Earl (1865-1929), MVO, who married firstly, in 1891, Dorothea Gwladys Ellen More, daughter of Major-General Sir Henry Tombs VC, and had issue,

John Brinsley Danvers, styled Lord Newtownbutler (1893-1912);

Eileen Gwladys; Moyra Elizabeth.

He wedded secondly, in 1922, Dorothy Kate, daughter of James Deane Brand.

His lordship died without male issue, when the titles devolved upon his brother,

HENRY CAVENDISH, 8th Earl (1868-1950), who espoused firstly, in 1894, Isabel, daughter of Ralph Allen Daniell, and had issue, two daughters,

Freda; Hilda Vivien.

He married secondly, in 1917, Lillian, daughter of Sir Anthony Charles Sykes Abdy, 3rd Baronet, of Albins, Essex, and had further issue,

DENIS ANTHONY BRIAN, his successor;

Patrick Henry Stanley Danvers (1920-44).

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

DENIS ANTHONY BRIAN, 9th Earl (1918-98), who wedded firstly, in 1939, Bettyne Ione, only daughter of Sir William Lindsay Everard, and had issue, two daughters,

Georgina Ione; Denyne Gillian Patricia.

He married secondly, in 1995, Patricia Julia, daughter of F W Meston MC, without further issue.

The titles expired following the decease of the 9th Earl in 1998.

LANESBOROUGH LODGE, or Quivvy Lodge, County Cavan, stood very close to the border with County Fermanagh.

It was adjacent to Lord Erne's land at Crom estate.

The Lodge was a two-storey Tudor-Revival house of ca 1810, comprising a main block and a lower, two-storey service wing.

It was extended to the rear in 1846.

There were gables, mullioned windows, and a corbelled oriel.

The house is now derelict and ruinous, having been burnt in 1921.

The importance and scale of the estate is indicated on historic maps by the related structures that are marked, including a yacht house, boat house, boat slips, a landing place, an engine house, various outbuildings, ice-house, and a walled garden.

Though now ruinous, Lanesborough Lodge retains much of its historic character and form.

I have unearthed this entry from a publication of 1852:

Since this justly admired nobleman and his amiable Countess returned to their estates in Cavan, the tenantry have had one unbroken scene of rejoicing. 

Today a large party, numbering upwards of 1,000, dined at Lanesborough Lodge, Belturbet, on the invitation of the Earl and Countess. We will give the particulars in our next. 

It is to be regretted that these reunions are not more frequent generally, as they would tend to break down prejudices and unite landlords and tenants in all struggles for their mutual advantage and the benefit of the common weal. 

There is an old estate school on the way to the Lodge and beyond are the remains of a laundry and the steward's house.

The family also owned Inish Rath Island on Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh.

The island is located north-west of Crom estate.

The Victorian-Tudor style house on the island (above) was built in 1854 by the Hon Henry Cavendish Butler-Danvers (1811-91), a half-brother of the 5th Earl of Lanesborough.

It was subsequently purchased by the Earl of Erne for use as a hunting lodge.

During the early 20th century, the house was used for boating parties etc.

The island went through continuous change of ownership for about thirty years, when it was bought and sold.

At the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles, in 1982, property prices slumped in this border area.

A group of Hare Krishna monks, led by a German follower, Prithu Das, pooled their resources and took out a bank loan to buy Inish Rath, a perfect setting for a Hare Krishna centre.

The Hare Krishna temple was established in the west wing of the house with a magnificent gold altar at one end of the long room and a life size representation of Swami Prabhupada at the other.

Oriental arches frame the windows and polished pine floors add to the overall feeling of light and space.

SWITHLAND HALL, Leicestershire, was held by the family of Danvers until 1796, but after the death of Sir John Danvers (the last male of his line) it passed to his son-in-law, Augustus Richard Butler, 2nd son of the 2nd Earl of Lanesborough, who adopted the surname of Danvers-Butler. The current hall was partially completed in 1834 and finished in 1852 by the 6th Earl. 

The Lanesboroughs owned the following residences:

Other seats ~ Lanesborough Lodge, County Fermanagh; Swithland Hall, Leicestershire.
Town residence ~ 8 Great Stanhope Street, London.

First published in July, 2013.   Lanesborough arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

1st Earl Annesley

THE EARLS ANNESLEY WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DOWN, WITH 24,221 ACRES

This ancient family derives its surname from the Lordship of Annesley, Nottinghamshire, where its ancestor,

RICHARD DE ANNESLEI, was seated at the time of the General Survey in 1079.

From this Richard descended

SIR JOHN ANNESLEY, Knight, of Headington, Oxfordshire, MP for Nottinghamshire during the reigns of EDWARD III and RICHARD II, who wedded Isabel, daughter of Sir Richard Damory, of Headington and Bucknall, Oxfordshire, and sister and co-heiress of Sir John Chandos, one of the Knights of the Garter at the institution of that noble order.

He was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS ANNESLEY MP, of Annesley; from whom descended

ROBERT ANNESLEY (1507-53), of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, who died in the first year of MARY I.

This gentleman wedded Joan, daughter of William Cloville, of Coldhall, in Essex, by whom he had (with three daughters) an only son and heir,

GEORGE ANNESLEY, of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Dove, and had, with three daughters, eight sons, of whom the eldest,

ROBERT ANNESLEY, a naval officer in the reign of ELIZABETH I, and also a captain in Her Majesty's army, raised to suppress the Earl of Desmond's rebellion, after which he became an undertaker in the plantation of Munster.

This gentleman espoused Beatrice, daughter of John Cornwall, of Moor Park, Herefordshire, and was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR FRANCIS ANNESLEY (c1585-1660), 1st Viscount Valentia, who settled in Ireland ca 1606 and, for forty years, filled several of the highest official situations in that kingdom.

Upon the institution of the Order of Baronets by JAMES I, Sir Francis was the second person advanced to that dignity, in 1620; and in the following year, Sir Francis obtained a reversionary grant, dated 1621, of the viscountcy of Valentia at the decease of the then viscount, Sir Henry Power.

He was put, however, into the more immediate position of a peerage, by the title of Baron Mount Norris, County Armagh, having been created in the previous year VISCOUNT VALENTIA, County Kerry.

His lordship wedded firstly, Dorothy, daughter of Sir John Phillips, of Picton Castle, and from this marriage the Earls of Anglesey, the Barons Altham, and the Earls of Mountnorris are descended.

This nobleman wedded secondly, Jane, daughter of Sir John Stanhope, and sister of Philip, 1st Earl of Chesterfield, and had several children, of whom the eldest,

THE HON FRANCIS ANNESLEY (1628-), fixed his abode at Castlewellan, County Down.

He wedded Deborah, daughter of the Most Rev Henry Jones, Lord Bishop of Meath, and was succeeded by his only surviving son,

FRANCIS ANNESLEY (1663-1750), who was appointed, in the reign of WILLIAM III, under an act of parliament, one of the trustees for the sale of estates in Ireland, and was a distinguished member of both the English and Irish parliaments.

He wedded firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Joseph Martin, Knight, of London, by whom he had (with several other sons and two daughters),

FRANCIS, ancestor of Annesley of Bletchingdon;
Henry, d 1728;
Martin, Rector of Frilsham, Berkshire;
John;
James;
WILLIAM, of whom we treat. 

Mr Annesley espoused secondly, in 1732, Elizabeth, daughter of John Cropley, of Rochester; and thirdly, Sarah, only daughter of William Sloane, of Portsmouth, and widow of Sir Richard Fowler Bt, but had no other issue.

His sixth son,

WILLIAM ANNESLEY (1710-70), barrister, MP for Midleton, 1741-58, High Sheriff of County Down, 1751, married, in 1738, the Lady Anne Beresford, eldest daughter of Marcus, 1st Earl of Tyrone, and had, with other issue,

FRANCIS CHARLES, his successor;
Marcus (1743-80);
RICHARD, succeeded his brother;
William (Very Rev), Dean of Down;
Catherine.

Mr Annesley was elevated to the peerage, in 1758, in the dignity of Baron Annesley, of Castlewellan, County Down.

His lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1766, as Viscount Glerawley.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

FRANCIS CHARLES, 2nd Viscount (1740-1802), who was created, in 1789, EARL ANNESLEY, with remainder to his brother Richard.

His lordship wedded, in 1776, Mary, daughter and heiress of Richard Grove, of County Cork; but dying without issue, in 1802, the honours devolved upon his brother,

RICHARD, 2nd Earl (1745-1824), High Sheriff of County Down, 1783, who wedded, in 1771, Anne, only daughter and heiress of Robert Lambert, of Dunlady, near Dundonald, County Down, and had issue,

WILLIAM RICHARD, his heir;
Robert;
Arthur, lieutenant-general;
Francis Charles, Commander RN;
Catherine; Anna Maria.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

WILLIAM RICHARD, 3rd Earl (1772-1838), MP for Downpatrick, 1815-20,  High Sheriff of County Down, 1822, who espoused firstly, in 1803, the Lady Isabella St Lawrence, daughter of WILLIAM, 2ND EARL OF HOWTH, by whom he had an only daughter, MARY.

He married secondly, in 1828, Priscilla Cecilia, second daughter of Hugh Moore, of EGLANTINE, County Down, and had further issue,

WILLIAM RICHARD, his successor;
Hugh, succeeded his brother as 5th Earl;
Robert John;
Arthur;
George;
William Octavius Beresford, father of the 7th Earl.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM RICHARD, 4th Earl (1830-74), MP for Great Grimsby, 1852-7, who died unmarried, when the titles devolved upon his brother,

HUGH, 5th Earl (1831-1908), JP DL, MP for County Cavan, 1857-74, Lieutenant-Colonel, Scots Fusiliers, who wedded firstly, in 1877, Mabel Wilhelmina Frances, daughter of Colonel William Thomas Markham, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his successor;
Mabel Marguerite.

He espoused secondly, on 1892, Priscilla Cecilia, daughter of WILLIAM ARMYTAGE MOORE, and had further issue,

Clare; Constance Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his son and heir,

FRANCIS, 6th Earl (1884-1914), who wedded, in 1909, Evelyn Hester, daughter of Alfred Edward Miller Mundy, though the marriage was without issue, when the family honours reverted to his cousin,

WALTER BERESFORD, 7th Earl (1861-1934), who married firstly, Maud Fleming, daughter of Haynes Bingham Higginson, and had issue,

BERESFORD CECIL BINGHAM, his successor.

He wedded secondly, in 1924, Mabel Frances, daughter of John Burnett.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

BERESFORD CECIL, 8th Earl,

• Beresford Cecil Bingham Annesley, 8th Earl (1894–1957);

• Robert Annesley, 9th Earl (1900–79);

• Patrick Annesley, 10th Earl (1924–2001);

• Philip Harrison Annesley, 11th Earl (1927–2011);

• Michael Robert Annesley, 12th Earl (b 1933).

The heir is the present holder's son Michael Stephen Annesley, styled Viscount Glerawly (b 1957).

The Earls Annesley owned 24,221 acres of land in County Cavan, and 2,489 acres in the Queen's County.

CASTLEWELLAN CASTLE, County Down, is a Scottish-baronial mansion by William Burn, built for the 4th Earl Annesley in 1856, on high ground to the north-east of the lake.

This superb estate melts into the instant and grand perspective of the Mourne mountains, rendering the adjacent village and its environs one of the most magnificent scenes in the county.

The demesne and farm comprise 400 or 500 acres of hill and dale, richly combining artificial ornament, practical utility and natural landscape.

The granodiorite for the walls of the castle was quarried locally in square blocks, the hardest of any stone in the British Isles.

It took the team of stonemasons considerably longer than expected to dress it.

The Castle's windows and door-dressings are of ashlar; while graded slates form the roof.

Castlewellan Castle cost £18,128 to build in 1856, about £1.5 million in today's money.

The castle has many bartizans and window dressings.

The entrance front is on the east side, asymmetrical with the former servants' wing to the right.

The Annesley crest adorns the principal doorway, the wooden doors of which are an estimable 2.36 inches thick.

There are also numerous loopholes, narrow slits about three feet in height with little circular ends, for ventilation and day-light.

The south front of the Castle has a a square tower at one end; and a circular tower at the other.

The demesne has been home to a succession of houses, each associated with various landscape phases.

The first house, built in the 1750s by William, 1st Viscount Glerawly, was located somewhere near the Grange, where the contemporary stable and farm building complex still survives in good repair.

A straight lime avenue close to the Grange survives from the 1750s formal park, while the west portion of the walled garden also belongs to this period.

In the Regency period the old house was succeeded by a new residence on the north shore of the lake, known as ‘Castlewellan Cottage’.

Built by 1st Earl Annesley in the 1790s and demolished ca 1861, the site of this house can be seen today to the south-west of the present castle.

Landscaping and extensive tree planting were carried out in conjunction with this house, while a monumental Gothic temple was built ca 1820 on a site above that which is now occupied by the present Victorian castle.

The temple was demolished in 1856 and the austere Scottish-baronial castle, now the focal point of the park, was built between 1856-59 by the 3rd Earl to designs of William Burn.

In front of the castle are terraces on several levels with steps in the corners to the parkland below and retaining walls in granodiorite.

A conservatory once stood at the north end of the west terrace.

The first stage towards creating Castlewellan’s famous arboretum began in the 1850s, when the area east of the 1750s walled garden was transformed into a walled pleasure-ground, complete with fashionable Victorian-style terracing, flights of steps and pools with dolphins supporting basins.

The layout was regular with a long axis path linking both the old and new enclosed gardens.

A good deal of exotic planting was associated with this pleasure ground, but it was during the 1860s that the major planting was begun by the 5th Earl, who succeeded to the property and title in 1874.

Until his death in 1908, he devoted himself to building up the present tree collection both inside and outside the walled garden.

He also added the conservatories in the garden corner and, in 1884, build the Moorish tower on an elevated spot to the west end of the lake, from which to enjoy views of the mountains.

By the early 20th century there were over 3,000 different species of rare plants from all over the world thriving in the hospitable climate at Castlewellan.

Lord Annesley wrote about the collection in Beautiful Trees and Plants in 1903.

Though scaled down, the collection was maintained and added-to in the early years of the 20th century.

In 1967 the demesne was acquired by the Northern Ireland Government.

The demesne today contains 1,144 acres within its walls.

It lies on the south-facing slopes of the Mourne Mountains, close to the sea, and benefits from a clement climate.

The large lake in the parkland covers 100 acres in extent and is a dramatic and attractive feature, around which the planting has been formulated.

The Forest Service added plantations of forest trees and the site has been open to the public as a forest park since 1969.

The arboretum has been extended to cover 100 acres and the collection enlarged.

It is designated a National Arboretum.

The gate lodge at the Town Gate was built in 1861, to the designs of Burn, as has the gate screen.

At the Drumbuck entrance there are workers cottages by Roberts ca 1860.

The Annesley estates, including land in counties Down and Cavan, were the third largest in County Down, comprising 24,221 acres in 1872.

I have written about their maritime residence at Newcastle, Donard Lodge, HERE.

The Annesley estate comprised 24,000 acres in County Cavan.

The County Down estate originally stretched from Slieve Croob to Slieve Donard, including Castlewellan and Newcastle.

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

First published in June, 2010.

1st Earl Castle Stewart

THE EARLS CASTLE STEWART WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY TYRONE, WITH 32,615 ACRES

This is a branch of the royal house of STUART, springing from ROBERT, DUKE OF ALBANY, third son of ROBERT II, King of Scots.

This cadet (whose elder brother was Andrew, first and last Lord Avandale), was

WALTER STEWART, of Morphie, Aberdeenshire, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Arnot, of Arnot, Fife, and by her had issue, a son,

ALEXANDER STEWART, of Avandale, who had a charter of the lands and barony of Avandale on the resignation of his uncle, Lord Avandale (born 1485-6).

He was one of the lords auditors, 1488, but died before June, 1489, when he was succeeded by his son (by some said to be his brother),

ANDREW STEWART, 1st Lord Avondale, who wedded Margaret, sister of David, 1st Earl of Cassillis, and had issue,

ANDREW, his successor;
Henry, 1st Lord Methven;
James;
Alexander;
William;
Barbara; Agnes; Anne.

His lordship fell at the battle of Flodden, 1513, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ANDREW (c1505-49) succeeding his uncle as 2nd Lord Avondale, who exchanged the title for that of OCHILTREE.

He married Margaret, natural daughter of James, 1st Earl of Arran, and had issue,

ANDREW, his successor;
Walter;
Isobel.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ANDREW (c1521-91), 2nd Lord Ochiltree, who married Agnes Cunningham, and had a son and heir, Andrew Stewart, styled Master of Ochiltree, who predeceased him in 1578, and was succeeded by his grandson,

ANDREW, 3rd Lord Ochiltree (c1560-1629), who, having thus divested himself of that title, was created a peer, in 1619, by the title of Baron Castle Stewart.

His lordship wedded, ca 1587, Margaret, daughter of Sir John Kennedy, of Blairquhan, and had issue,

ANDREW, his successor;
JOHN, 5th Baron;
Robert, ancestor of the EARL CASTLE STEWART;
Margaret, m George Crawford, of Crawfordsburn;
Maria, m John Kennedy, of Cultra;
Anna.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ANDREW, 2nd Baron, who espoused, ca 1604, the Lady Anne Stewart, fifth daughter and co-heiress of John, 5th Earl of Atholl, by which lady he had issue,

ANDREW, 3rd Baron;
JOSIAS, 4th Baron.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ANDREW, 3rd Baron (-1650), who married Joyce, daughter and heiress of Sir Arthur Blundell, by whom he had issue, an only child, MARY, who wedded Henry 5th Earl of Suffolk.

His lordship died without male issue, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,

JOSIAS, 4th Baron (c1637-62), who espoused Anne, daughter of John Madden, of Enfield, Middlesex, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Charles Waterhouse, of Manor Waterhouse, County Fermanagh.

This marriage was without issue, and the family honours reverted to his lordship's uncle,

JOHN, 5th Baron, after whose decease without issue, the title remained in abeyance until 1774, when it was claimed by, and allowed to,

CAPTAIN ROBERT STEWART, de jure 6th Baron, who married Anne, daughter of William Moore, of Garvey, County Tyrone.

He died ca 1685, and was succeeded by his son,

ANDREW, de jure 7th Baron (1672-1715), who wedded Eleanor, daughter of Robert Dallway, of Bellahill, County Antrim, and had issue,

ROBERT, de jure 8th Baron (1700-42), who wedded, in 1722, Margaret, sister and co-heiress of Hugh Edwards, of Castle Gore, County Tyrone, and had issue,

ANDREW THOMAS, 9th Baron (1725-1809), who was created, in 1793, Viscount Castle Stewart, and advanced to an earldom, in 1800, as EARL CASTLE STEWART.

His lordship wedded, in 1781, Sarah, daughter of the Rt Hon Godfrey Lill, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
Andrew;
Caroline; Sarah.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT, 2nd Earl (1784-1854), who espoused, in 1806, Jemima, only daughter of Colonel Robinson, and had issue,

EDWARD, 3rd Earl;
CHARLES ANDREW KNOX, 4th Earl;
Andrew Godfrey, in holy orders, father of 6th Earl.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD, 3rd Earl (1807-57), who married, in 1830, Emmeline, only surviving daughter and heir of Benjamin Bathurst, though the marriage was without issue.

His lordship was succeeded by his brother,

CHARLES ANDREW KNOX, 4th Earl (1810-74), who wedded, in 1835, Charlotte Raffles Drury, only daughter of Acheson Quintin Thompson, of County Louth, and had issue,

HENRY JAMES, his heir;
Mary; Ella Sophia; Alice Maude; Margaretta.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

HENRY JAMES, 5th Earl (1837-1914), High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1870, who espoused, in 1866, Augusta Le Vicomte, daughter of Major William Stewart Richardson-Brady, and had issue, two daughters,

Mary; Muriel Albany.

His lordship died without male issue, and the titles reverted to his cousin,

ANDREW JOHN, as 6th Earl (1841-1921), who married, in 1876, Emma Georgiana Diana, daughter of Major-General Arthur Stevens, and had issue,

Andrew John, Viscount Stuart (1880-1915), killed in action;
Robert Sheffield (1886-1914), killed in action;
ARTHUR, of whom presently;
Charles Patrick;
Katherine Frances.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ARTHUR, 7th Earl (1889-1961), MC, Major, Machine Gun Corps, MP for Harborough, 1929-33, who wedded, in 1920, Eleanor May, daughter of Solomon Robert Guggenheim, and had issue,

David Andrew Noel, Viscount Stuart (1921-42), killed in action;
Robert John Ochiltree, Viscount Stuart (1923-44), died of wounds in action;
ARTHUR PATRICK AVONDALE, of whom hereafter;
Simon Walter Erskine.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ARTHUR PATRICK AVONDALE, 8th Earl (1928-2023), of Stuart Hall, near Stewartstown, County Tyrone, who married firstly, in 1952, Edna, daughter of William Edward Fowler, of Harborne, Birmingham, and had issue,

ANDREW RICHARD CHARLES, his successor;

Bridget Ann.

He wedded secondly, in 2004, Gillian Savill.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

ANDREW RICHARD CHARLES, 9th Earl, born in 1953.

The heir presumptive is the present Earl's paternal cousin, Thomas Harry Erskine Stuart (b 1974).

Former residence ~ Old Lodge, Nutley, East Sussex.

First published in December, 2015.

Tullylagan Manor

THE GREERS OWNED 1,192 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE

SIR JAMES GRIER (c1604-66), Knight, of Capenoch, Dumfriesshire, and Rock Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, fifth son of Sir William Grier, succeeded his brother, John, in Capenoch.

Sir James married Mary, daughter of the Rev John Browne, of Glencairn, first minister after the Reformation, and widow of Thomas Grier, of Bargarg Tower, Dumfriesshire.

His eldest son, 

HENRY GRIER (c1625-c1675), of Rock Hall, and afterwards of Redford, near Grange, County Tyrone, came to Ulster in 1653.

He married, in 1652, Mary Turner, of Northumberland, and had issue,

JAMES;
Robert;
Thomas.

Mr Grier, who joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) ca 1660, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES GREER (1653-1718), of Liscorran, County Armagh, who wedded, in 1678, Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of John Rea, of Liscorran, and had issue,

Henry, ancestor of the GREERS of Grange, Co Tyrone;
JOHN, ancestor of the GREERS of Tullylagan and Seapark, of whom we treat;
Thomas;
James, of Liscorran;
Mary.

The second son,

JOHN GREER (1688-1741), of Grace Hill, County Armagh, and Tullyanaghan, near Lurgan, espoused, in 1717, Mary, daughter of Jeramiah Hanks, of Birr, and widow of John Chambers, of Dublin, and had several children, of whom the second son,

THOMAS GREER (1724-1803), of Rhone Hill, Dungannon, County Tyrone, became, on the extinction of the male line of his elder brother John, the head of the second house of Ulster Greers.

He married, in 1746, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Greer, of Redford, his second cousin, and died at Rhone Hill, leaving issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Robert (1766-1808), died unmarried in USA;
Eleanor; Mary; Jane; Sarah; Ann.

The elder son,

THOMAS GREER (1761-1870), of Rhone Hill, wedded, in 1787, Elizabeth, only child of William Jackson, and had issue,

Thomas, of Tullylagan;
William Jackson, of Rhone Hill, father of THOMAS FERGUS;
John Robert;
Alfred, of Dripsey House, Co Cork;
Sarah; Mary Jackson; Elizabeth; Caroline; Louisa Jane; Priscilla Sophia.

The eldest son,

THOMAS GREER JP (1791-1870), of Tullylagan, married, in 1826, Wilhelmina, daughter of Arthur Ussher JP, of Camphire, County Waterford, and had issue,

FREDERICK, his heir;
Usher;
Martha Usher; Elizabeth Jackson; Wilhelmina Sophia Priscilla.

The eldest son,

FREDERICK GREER JP (1829-1908), of Tullylagan, late Royal Navy, wedded, in 1874,  Cecilia, eldest daughter of SIR NATHANIEL ALEXANDER STAPLES Bt, of Lissan, County Tyrone, by Elizabeth Lindsay his wife, only child of James Head and Cecilia his wife, third daughter of the Hon Robert Lindsay, of Balcarres, and had issue,

THOMAS, of Tullylagan;
Nathaniel Alexander Staples;
Elizabeth Lindsay; Mary Ussher.

The eldest son,

THOMAS GREER JP (1875-1949), of Tullylagan, espoused, in 1907, Constance Clara Annie, daughter of Edward Cochrane Palmer, of Beckfield House, Queen's County, and had issue,

FREDERICK WILLIAM USHER GREER, of Tullylagan, born in 1915, who died unmarried.

TULLYLAGAN MANOR, (formerly New Hamburgh), near Cookstown, County Tyrone, was built ca 1830.

It consists of two storeys over a basement, which was subsequently excavated to become a ground floor.

The house has a three-bay front; a two-bay projecting porch; an eaved roof on bracket cornice.

There is a side wing, originally one storey over a basement.

Frederick Greer inherited Tullylagan following the decease of his father, Thomas, in 1870, though he leased the estate to his cousin, Thomas MacGregor Greer ca 1898.

Thomas MacGregor Greer, the only son of THOMAS GREER, MP for Carrickfergus, was responsible for much of the development of the estate thereafter.

Mr Greer was a talented man who had many diverse interests.

Thomas MacGregor Greer of Seapark near Belfast came, after his marriage to Dorinda Florence Lowry in 1892, to Tullylagan Manor, near Cookstown, which he leased from Thomas Usher Greer. He had two daughters. 

Sylvia married Major Alexander (Pomeroy); Betty married Colonel Percival, Commander at Singapore during the 2nd World War. 

The Greers returned to Seapark after the 1st World War, where Mrs Greer died in February 1930. 

In 1931, Thomas married Miss Leonie Caroline Handcock (Dublin) returning to Tullylagan. Thomas owned one of the first motor cars in this part of Tyrone. He sponsored the work of Harry Ferguson (of Ford Ferguson fame) who often stayed at Tullylagan. 

The ancient church of Desertcreat in the 1930s was beautified by an Oak Reredos, Pulpit, communion table and rails, all of which had been carved by Thomas, also two oak Jacobean chairs and a silver salver. 

Later he donated a reading desk and a lectern made from Austrian Oak. He was Church Warden for 25 years, Parochial nominator, a member of the Diocesan and General Synod, Hon. Treasurer and Secretary and read the lessons throughout the year. 

He had a keen interest in Tullylagan prize pipe band, presenting them with kilts in MacGregor tartan. 

In 1941 the parish of Desertcreat and people of the district were greatly saddened by the death of its most generous benefactor and paid tribute to the great interest that he had taken in the welfare of Church and district during his lifetime.

Mr Greer considered the Manor House inadequately proportioned for a country residence, so rather than risk spoiling the architecture by adding to the house, he decided to excavate the basement.

This was a substantial task at the time, depending heavily on manual labour, with the soil removed from the basement, the house became three-storey.

In the farmyard he installed carpentry facilities and here many fine examples of chairs, tables and other items were produced.

Thomas MacGregor Greer remained in Tullylagan until his death in 1941.

The house is now privately owned.

Other former residence ~ Curglasson, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

First published in January, 2012.

Newtownards Priory

NEWTOWNARDS PRIORY was a medieval Dominican priory founded by the Savage family around 1244 in Newtownards, County Down.

Only the lower parts of the nave and two blocked doors in the south wall (leading to a demolished cloister) survive from the period of the priory's foundation.

The upper parts of the nave date from a 14th-century rebuilding.

The western extension and the north aisle arcade were undertaken by the de Burgh family.

The priory was dissolved in 1541, and was sacked and burned.

It was granted to HUGH MONTGOMERY, who built a house within the ruins, rebuilding the north aisle and adding a tower at the entrance.

The Priory was subsequently consecrated for use as a parish church.

The STEWART family vault lies within the Priory, as does the large tomb of Frederick William Robert, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, KP.

The Colville vault also exists within the ruins.

The Colvilles, about whom I have written, were landlords of Newtownards from 1675 until 1744.

The Colville family traces its origins to Scotland in the 1100s, when Philip de Colville settled there following the Norman Conquest.

The first member of the family to settle in Ulster was  Dr Alexander Colville. He had been a professor of divinity at St Andrews University before coming to the Province in 1630.

Dr Colville may have been invited to Ulster by Bishop Robert Echlin, whose mother was Grissel Colville. He was appointed rector of Skerry in 1634 and built Galgorm Castle near Ballymena.

His son, Sir Robert, joined the army and in 1651 was a Captain. He married four times. He was knighted at some period between 1675 and 1679, and bought the Montgomery estates at Newtownards and Comber.

Sir Robert  rebuilt the ruined Montgomery home, Newtown House, which had been accidentally burned down in 1664. He also built a private chapel at Movilla cemetery.

A relative, Alexander Colville, was brought from Scotland to become Minister at the Presbyterian Church in Newtownards in 1696.

Sir Robert Colville died in 1697, with a memorial at the Priory in Newtownards. His third wife, Rose, died in 1693 and was buried at the Priory.

Their son Hugh died in 1701 aged 25, with a similar memorial.

By 1744, the memorial inscriptions had been removed from the family tomb, described as “...A large Tomb of the Colville Family (to a descendant of which the town now belongs), stands in the North Isle, raised five or six feet above the Floor, but naked of any inscription...”

Hugh Colville's daughter, Alicia Colville (1700-62), sold the estates to Alexander Stewart in 1744 for £42,000.

First published in September, 2013. 

Ocean Buildings

Ocean Buildings (Timothy Ferres, 2024). Click to enlarge.

Ocean Buildings, once known as Pearl Assurance House, is located at numbers 1-3, Donegall Square East, Belfast, on a corner site adjoining Chichester Street.

There were originally three terraced houses here, one of which operated as the Prince George Hotel.

The Ocean Buildings were completed in 1902 at a cost of approximately £27,000, about £2.7 million in today's money.

Marcus Patton, OBE, writing in 1993, described the building as “…splendid asymmetrical … building in red Ballochmoyle sandstone.” 

Ocean Buildings in 1910 (Hogg Collection/NMNI)

The building was designed by Robert Young in Scottish-Baronial Gothic style.

The principal entrance, at the corner, is corbelled out over a miniature rib-vaulted soffit, with three carved heads of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and Queen Alexandra fronting the principal brackets.

Queen Victoria's nose appears to be in need of some attention (!).

The Ocean Buildings were restored in 2025.

King's Castle

THE RUSSELLS OWNED 417 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DOWN

The family of RUSSELL was seated very early in Ireland, in the counties of Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford; and also in counties Dublin, Kildare, Louth, and Meath. The Russells of Killough, County Down, said to be living at Kingston Russell in Dorset, came to Ulster with John De Courcy. It appears by the records that in all these places they held their lands by noble tenure, and occupied the highest rank in society. 

The Ulster branch of the family always bore arms similar to those of the noble house of Bedford; and although the precise connection cannot now be ascertained, there can be no doubt of their having a common origin with that family.

Thomas Russell, feudal baron of Killough, 1316, is supposed to have been fifth in descent from the companion of De Courcy.

GEORGE RUSSELL, of Ballystrew, County Down, wedded, in 1749, Elizabeth Norris, and had issue,

CHARLES RUSSELL (1759-1828), of Killough, County Down, a merchant at Quay Lane, Killough, who married firstly, in 1784, Rose McCoy, and had numerous issue, of whom

ARTHUR, his heir.

He wedded secondly, in 1799, Anne, daughter of Thomas McEvoy, of Drogheda, and had issue.

Mr Russell was succeeded by his son and heir,

ARTHUR RUSSELL (1785-1845), of Seafield House, Killowen, County Down, and of Newry, who espoused, in 1825, Margaret, widow of John Hamill, of Belfast.

His elder son,

Baron Russell of Killowen (Government Art Collection)

THE RT HON CHARLES ARTHUR, BARON RUSSELL OF KILLOWEN (1832-1900), GCMG KB PC QC DL, MP for Dundalk, 1880-85, and for Hackney, 1885-95, who married, in 1858, Ellen, daughter of Dr Joseph Stevenson Mulholland, of Belfast, and had issue,

Arthur Joseph (1859-64);
Charles (Sir), 1st Baronet, designated of Littleworth Corner;
Cyril;
Francis Xavier Joseph, cr. Baron Russell of Killowen;
Bertrand Joseph;
Lilian Frances; Eileen Mary; Mary Gertrude; Lilian; Margaret.

KING'S CASTLE, Ardglass, County Down, is an imposing, early 19th century castellated house, built on a commanding situation in the middle of Ardglass.

The house was possibly erected on the site of an earlier building, though this is today indiscernible.

King's Castle must have been abandoned shortly thereafter, because it was occupied as "a temporary barrack".

By 1845, it was "much dilapidated, and rapidly loosening towards extinction".

The house itself is square and uses black stone in its composition.

One corner has a square tower; while another is octagonal.

The Castle was for sale in 1973, with offers invited in the region of £65,000 (about £750,000 in today's money).

It was then owned by Mr and Mrs Louis Gilmore bought the Castle about 1967, and it has been their intention to convert it into a hotel.

Mr Gilmore, a retired building and civil engineering contractor, had plans drawn up and given planning approval, bit his failing health has prompted him to give up development of the property.

The castle stands in more than six acres of elevated grounds on the highest part of Ardglass and looks across the harbour and out to sea.

During the 19th century it was the home of the Russell family.

The Russells had substantial property in the Ardglass and Killough area and one of them, Charles William Russell (1812-80), became president of St Patrick's College, Maynooth; whose nephew Charles, 1st Baron Russell of Killowen, became Lord Chief Justice of England.

It is believed that the Russells sold King's Castle prior to the First World War.

Since then it has functioned as a hotel, a residence, and a monastery.

The castle contains three reception rooms, ten bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Today the castle operates as a private nursing home.

*****

Charles Russell (1838-91), of King’s Castle, Ardglass, married, in 1876, Frances de Palatiano.

Their third son, Henry Russell, added his maternal grandfather’s surname to become Henry Hartley Russell in the 1920s.

First published in February, 2018. Russell arms courtesy of the NLI.