The Wooster Style

Any readers who zealously or otherwise follow the Belmont narrative shall doubtless be aware of my regard for Sir P G Wodehouse's fictional character Bertie Wooster, and his valet Jeeves.

The 1980s television series Jeeves & Wooster portrays Bertie as sartorially subtle and generally understated (when Jeeves lays his clothing out for him at the end of the bed).

In town Bertie invariably wears subtle grey or dark blue chalk-stripe, double-breasted, three-piece suits.

Although the shirts appear white, they are far more subtle than pure white.

On closer inspection, they have feint stripes of vague greys, or a colour that matches the suit.

The ties, too, are hard to describe, because they are usually patterned, though the pattern is quiet, unfussy, and complements the other clothing.

Breast pocket handkerchiefs or pocket squares are invariably white.

The hats and gloves, and the Albert Strap all make distinctive individual accessories.

In the country Bertie generally wears shades of brown or green: country tweed jackets, sleeveless, v-neck jumpers, cable-knit perhaps; woollen patterned ties; flat caps.

Apparel like this may well be unpopular today, though to my mind true Fashion is timeless.

So Bertie's apparel is generally never loud or bold; always quiet and unfussy.

Unless, of course, he chooses to disregard Jeeves's counsel.

Franklin Maxims: IX

WOULD YOU LIVE WITH EASE, DO WHAT YOU OUGHT, NOT WHAT YOU PLEASE

First published in June, 2020.

Ardress Revisited

Ensor arms

On Sunday, July 7th, 2024, I paid another visit to the delightful National Trust property of Ardress in the orchard county of Armagh.

There weren't many visitors there during my four-hour sojourn.

In the hall of the house hangs what seems to be an embroidered coat-of-arms of the Ensor family; I asked the guide if I could photograph it, given that I had no images of the family's armorial bearings.

South front, Ardress House (Timothy Ferres, 2024)

Ardress is one of the Trust's most charming properties, comprising a very manageable 100 acres, including lovely woodland walks, apple orchards, a historic farmyard complete with hens, old machinery, and, not least, the house itself.

Ardress was originally a farmhouse: over three centuries ago it was a relatively modest five-bay farm dwelling, built by a family called Clarke.

The Clarkes are thought to have come to Ulster with other planters in the retinue of Sir Anthony Cope Bt.

Sarah Clarke, of Ardress, married George Ensor in 1760.

I took a tour of the house at noon; followed by a guided tour of the farmyard.

South front, Ardress House, 1960 (National Trust)

Whereas the east entrance front is the handsomest part of the house, the sunny south front is improved by curved walls at each side; the one to the right concealing the dummy screen wall of the front (eastern) entrance façade.

A little conservatory used to lean against this curved wall until the property was purchased by the Trust in 1960 from Charles Howard Ensor.

A back porch, a bathroom block, and the said conservatory were subsequently removed by the National Trust.

Ravensdale Park

THE BARONS CLERMONT WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LOUTH, WITH 20,369 ACRES

This family deduces its pedigree from common ancestors with the EARLS FORTESCUE, viz. remotely, Sir Richard le Forte, a Norman knight, in the train of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR; and, more remotely, Lord Chief Justice Fortescue.

The first of its members that settled in Ireland,

SIR FAITHFUL FORTESCUE (c1581-1666), Knight, removed to that kingdom early in the reign of JAMES I, and commanded an infantry regiment there.

Sir Faithful obtained large possessions in Ireland, amongst which was Dromiskin Castle, County Louth.

He wedded Anne, daughter of Garret, 1st Viscount Moore, of Drogheda, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR THOMAS FORTESCUE (c1620-1710), Knight, Governor of Carrickfergus Castle, who espoused firstly, Sydney, daughter of Colonel William Kinsmill; and secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Ferdinand Carey, and had issue,

WILLIAM;
Chichester.

Sir Thomas was succeeded by his grandson,

THOMAS FORTESCUE (1683-1769), MP for Dundalk, 1727-60, who married Elizabeth, daughter of James Hamilton, and sister of James, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, and had issue,

James, father of WILLIAM, 2nd VISCOUNT CLERMONT;
WILLIAM HENRY, of whom hereafter;
Margaret; Charlotte.

Mr Fortescue's younger son,

THE RT HON WILLIAM HENRY FORTESCUE (1722-1806), MP for County Louth, 1745-60, Monaghan, 1761-70, was sworn of the Privy Council, 1764, and appointed Postmaster-General.

Mr Fortescue was elevated to the peerage, in 1770, in the dignity of Baron Clermont, of Clermont, County louth.

His lordship was created, in 1776, BARON and VISCOUNT CLERMONT, with remainder to his brother, the Rt Hon James Fortescue, of Ravensdale Park, County Louth, MP for that county.

His lordship was further advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1777, as EARL OF CLERMONT, but without the reversionary grant.

He was installed as a Knight Founder of the Order of St Patrick (KP) in 1795.

His lordship espoused Frances, eldest daughter of Colonel John Murray, County Monaghan; but dying without issue, in 1806, the earldom expired, while the other honours devolved, according to the limitation, upon his nephew,

WILLIAM CHARLES FORTESCUE, 2nd Viscount (1764-1829), only surviving son of his deceased brother, mentioned above, by Mary Henrietta, eldest daughter of Thomas Orby Hunter, of Crowland Abbey, Lincolnshire.

His lordship died at Ravensdale Park, County Louth, unmarried, when the viscountcy expired.

The title was revived, however, in 1852, when his kinsman,  

THOMAS FORTESCUE, was created BARON CLERMONT (2nd & 3rd creation).

• Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont (1815-87)
• Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford, 2nd Baron Clermont (1823-98) (brother).

RAVENSDALE PARK, near Dundalk, County Louth, was a large, rather austere, early Victorian house built of granite with a plain, irregular aspect.

A lofty Italianate campanile with an open belvedere atop dominated the mansion.

Ravensdale was built for Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont, the architect being Thomas Duff of Newry.

It was partly two and partly three storeys, though mainly the same height, with an eaved roof.

The garden front was remarkably long, being ten bays.

There was another front of five bays with a domed octagon at one corner.

Ravensdale became the home of Lord Clermont's younger brother and successor, the politician Chichester Fortescue, 1st and last Lord Carlingford (who married the famous Frances, Countess Waldegrave).

It was sold to Sir Daniel Dixon Bt, father of 1st Lord Glentoran; then sold again to Lord Arran.

Ravendale was sold, yet again, in 1920, and was burnt shortly afterwards.

Much of the former estate is now a forest park; while the Ravensdale Equestrian and Trekking Centre operates from the demesne.

Ravensdale Forest is part of the former demesne.

First Published in May, 2011.   Clermont arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Magherintemple House

THE CASEMENTS OWNED 3,312 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

This family came over to Ulster from Ramsey, Isle of Man, early in the 18th century.

HUGH CASEMENT (c1720-97), of Bessvale, Ballinderry, County Antrim, married, in 1740, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev George Higginson, Rector of Ballinderry, and had issue,

George, surgeon RN; father of Maj-Gen Sir William Casement KCB;
ROGER, of whom presently;
Thomas;
Higginson;
Mary; Eleanor; Jane.

Maj-Gen Sir William Casement KCB (Image: National Army Museum)

The second son,

ROGER CASEMENT (c1756-1832), of Harryville, County Antrim, wedded firstly, Catherine, daughter of the Rev Joseph Cosnahan, of Peel, Isle of Man, and had issue,

William;
John;
George;
Hugh, grandfather of (Sir) Roger David Casement CMG;
Julius;
Roger;
THOMAS, of whom presently;
Robert (Rev);
Francis;
Cornelius;
Elizabeth; Catherine; Elinor; Rosetta.

He espoused secondly, in 1819, Margaret, daughter of Andrew McQuilty, and had, with further issue,

Roger;
George, of Fenagh, Co Antrim, barrister;
JOHN, succeeded his half-brother;
Julius;
Margaret; Elizabeth; Ann.

Mr Casement's seventh son,

THOMAS CASEMENT JP (1799-1874), of Ballee House, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1874, married, in 1848, Dorinda Deborah, daughter of Thomas Abbot JP, of Mount Bellew, County Galway, and left an only daughter and heiress,

CATHERINE COSNAHAN CASEMENT, of Ballee House, who wedded, in 1869, COLONEL ELDRED THOMAS POTTINGER, Royal Artillery.

Thomas Casement's half brother,

JOHN CASEMENT JP (1825-1902), of Magherintemple, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1881, married firstly, in 1849, Charlotte, daughter of Brabazon Newcomen, of Camla House, County Rosscommon, and had issue,

ROGER, of whom presently;
Brabazon Newcomen, MD.
John, Rear-Admiral.

Mr Casement wedded secondly, in 1859, Charlotte, daughter of Alexander Miller, of Ballycastle.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROGER CASEMENT JP DL (1850-1928), of Magherintemple, who married, in 1877, Susanna, daughter of James Beatty, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Francis, Maj-Gen, DSO; father of FRANCIS CHARLES CASEMENT;
Roger Hugh;
Robert James;
Edgar Reginald.

The eldest son,

JOHN CASEMENT DSO DL (1880-1944), of Magherintemple, Captain, Royal Navy, married, in 1916, ANNA BEATRICE, daughter of John Frederick William Hodges, of Glenravel, County Antrim, though the marriage was without male issue.

His widow,

ANNA BEATRICE, MRS CASEMENT OBE (1887-1975), inherited Magherintemple for her lifetime, with reversion to her nephew,

FRANCIS CHARLES CASEMENT JP DL (1920-76), of Magherintemple, Major, Royal Artillery, who wedded, in 1942, Lesley, daughter of Captain Cecil Richard Brown, and had issue,

Hugh Francis, b 1947;
Patrick John, b 1951;
Robert Charles, b 1953;
Sarah Lindesay; Anne Louisa; Susan Catherine.

*****

Patrick Casement, OBE, was Chairman of the National Trust's  Northern Ireland Committee, 2000-2010. 

He is a zoology graduate from Oxford and holds a masters degree in Ecology; farms a large beef and sheep farm; has previously served on the Northern Ireland Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside. 

MAGHERINTEMPLE HOUSE, near Ballycastle, County Antrim, was built ca 1875 in the Scottish-Baronial style, the seat of the Casement family.

Mr Roger Casement (Sir Roger Casement CMG) was a member of this family.

Magherintemple House (Image: Twitter)

An earlier, quite modest, house called Churchfield was described in 1835 as being a plain two storey dwelling, the property of the Casement family from 1790.

It was considerably enlarged in 1874-75 for John Casement, adding an austere Scottish-baronial block in Ballyvoy stone with gate lodge in matching style.

The grimness of the architecture is, to some degree, offset by the good high position of the house and its splendid views.

The gardens are maintained.

There is a walled garden on a slope, with a bog garden at the bottom.

The walled garden is fully planted up with vegetables, fruit and ornamental plants.

The present layout dates from 1973.

There are both woodland and shelter trees.

The gate lodge replaced an earlier lodge located on the opposite side of the gates.

Two small stone figures that are placed in the rockery in the garden are said to have come from Culfeightrin Church.

Magherintemple gate lodge is available for rent.

First published in December, 2010.

Franklin Maxims: VIII

AN HONEST MAN WILL RECEIVE NEITHER MONEY NOR PRAISE, THAT IS NOT HIS DUE.

First published in May, 2020.

Talbot of Carton

The Castle and Lordship of Malahide, on the sea coast, near Dublin, was possessed by the family of Talbot from a period contemporary with the first introduction of English government into Ireland, and at this moment they furnish an instance unusually rare, of a baronial estate having continued for upwards of 650 years in the male heirs and name of him on whom it had been originally conferred by HENRY II.

It is remarkable, too, that of the ancient seigniorial estates in Ireland, whose lords were vested with the dignity of parliamentary barons, not one can be traced to have been held directly and immediately under the crown but the lordship of Malahide.

In this respect Malahide seems to have been unique in Ireland, and its lords, pursuant to the nature of their original tenure and the terms of their royal charters, never rendered homage, suit, or service to any but the crown; nor acknowledged any superior but the King alone.

Richard de Talbot, who is mentioned in the Domesday Book, was the common ancestor of the Lords of Malahide, and of the Earls of Shrewsbury; and in consequence of the well-known affinity of those two branches, the family in Ireland, by ancient entails and settlements, made the members of the house of Shrewsbury next heirs in remainder to their Irish estates.

SIR THOMAS TALBOT, Knight, of Malahide, County Dublin (representative of the ancient and eminent family of Talbot, of Malahide), had a grant, in 1529, of livery of all of his father's estates in several counties in Ireland.

Sir Thomas, in 1532, being sued in the Exchequer for not executing the office of High Sheriff of County Dublin, pleaded the patent granted to his grandfather by EDWARD IV, exonerating him and his heirs from such offices, and declared that he would not act as High Sheriff; whereupon the proceedings were discontinued.

By Catherine his wife he had three sons, of whom WILLIAM TALBOT succeeded at Malahide; and

ROBERT TALBOT was father of

WILLIAM TALBOT, Recorder of Dublin ca 1603, who acquired the estate of CARTON, County Kildare, and was created a baronet, in 1623, designated of Carton, County Kildare.

Sir William married Alison, daughter of John Netterville, of Castleton, County Meath, and had issue, sixteen children, including

ROBERT, his successor;

Peter (Most Rev), RC Archbishop of Dublin;

Richard, created Earl of Tyrconnell;

Margaret; Frances; Eleanor; Mary.

The first house on record at Carton was during the 17th century, when Sir William Talbot, Recorder of Dublin ca 1603, was given a lease of the lands by the 14th Earl of Kildare, and is thought to have built a house. The house and lands were forfeited to the crown in 1691; and sold, in 1703, to Lieutenant-General Richard Ingoldsby, Master-General of the Ordnance.

Sir William died in 1634, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ROBERT TALBOT, 2nd Baronet (c1610-70), of Carton, who wedded Grace, daughter of GEORGE, 1ST BARON BALTIMORE, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;

Frances; Mary.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his only son,

SIR WILLIAM TALBOT, 3rd Baronet (c1643-91), who espoused, in 1683, the Lady Anne Nugent, daughter of Richard, 2nd Earl of Westmeath; the marriage was, however, without issue.

Following the demise of his royal master, JAMES II, Sir William was attainted, his lands and titles forfeited.

First published in June, 2022.  Talbot arms courtesy of European Heraldry.