Commercial Buildings, Belfast

Commercial Buildings: Engraved for Smyth's Belfast Directory (Hogg Collection/ NMNI)

"WHERE the Commercial Buildings now stand, there were, in the year 1800, a row of low cottages, thatched with straw. This has been affirmed by respectable persons who saw them. They have been mentioned the names of those who lived, or had their places of business, in them; these were Thomas McCabe, Valentine Joyce, Russell, and others."

Thus wrote George Benn, the Belfast historian, in 1880.

The United Irishman Samuel Neilson (1761-1803) is said to have occupied one of the cottages.

Commercial Buildings are located at the corner of Waring Street and Bridge Street in Belfast.

Construction of the Buildings began on St Patrick's Day, 1819, when the foundation stone was laid by GEORGE, 2ND MARQUESS OF DONEGALL KP.

Commercial Buildings from Donegall Street painted by W A Maguire ca 1830-30 (NMNI)

The designer was John McCutcheon, the architect who oversaw the erection of Royal Belfast Academical Institution five years previously, in 1814.

The building is said to have cost £20,000 to build, equivalent to about £2 million in 2021.

Commercial Buildings remain in splendid condition to this day, doubtless due to its construction with Dublin granite.

The ground-floor stonework is rusticated, with arched window apertures.

Decorative feature (Timothy Ferres. 2022)

There is a pair of Doric porches in the Waring Street elevation, which clearly terminates the vista from Donegall Street.

The most prominent features of this elevation are eight large Ionic columns, paired at each end.

Directly above these columns is a date stone inscribed with the Roman numerals "MDCCCXX."

(Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The Historic Buildings database of the Northern Ireland Department of Communities has already written a comprehensive document about Commercial Buildings, including the fact that the Northern Whig newspaper acquired the property and operated there from 1919 until 1963.

Marcus Patton, OBE, in his Historical Gazetteer of Belfast (1993), also includes the Commercial Buildings on pages 326-7.

Bridge Street façade in 1942 (Belfast Telegraph/NMNI

High Street and Bridge Street suffered catastrophic damage caused by bombing during the Blitz in 1941; and as a consequence of this the Bridge Street elevation of Commercial Buildings was virtually destroyed.

The Waring Street frontage, however, remained largely unscathed.

Prospect from Donegall Street in 2022 (Timothy Ferres)

The historic buildings database remarks:

"With the closure of the news-press in 1963, the former Northern Whig headquarters was reconverted into commercial office space; the structure was listed in 1975. Utilised as office space for over three decades the Northern Whig was purchased by the Botanic Inns in 1997 who converted the majority of the building into a licensed restaurant and bar called ‘The Northern Whig;’ a portion of the upper floor continues to be utilised as office space."

Castle Upton

THE VISCOUNTS TEMPLETOWN WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY ANTRIM, WITH 11,924 ACRES

The family of UPTON was seated at Upton, Cornwall, about the time of the Conquest.

ARTHUR UPTON, of L'Upton, or Lupton, Brixham, Devon, elder brother of the Chevalier John Upton, Knight of Malta, and grandson of John Upton, of Lupton, by Joan his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Wincomb Raleigh, Knight.

John Upton, of L'Upton, was fourth in descent from John Upton (and Agnes his wife, sister and heir of John Peniles, of L'Upton), younger son of John Upton, of Trelaske, Cornwall.

The aforesaid Arthur Upton married Gertrude, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, of Filleigh, Devon, and had, with other issue,

John, (1590-1641), of Lupton, MP for Dartmouth;
HENRY, of whom hereafter.

The younger son,

HENRY UPTON (1592-1642), a Captain in the army of the Earl of Essex, fixed his abode in County Antrim, and was returned to parliament for Carrickfergus in 1634.

Captain Upton married, in 1628, Mary, daughter of Sir Hugh Clotworthy, Knight, and sister 1st Viscount Massereene, by whom he had four sons and three daughters, and was succeeded by the eldest son,

ARTHUR UPTON (1633-1706), of Castle Upton, MP for Carrickfergus for a series of forty years, who wedded Dorothy, daughter of Michael Beresford, of Coleraine, and was succeeded by his fourth, but eldest surviving son,

CLOTWORTHY UPTON (1660-1725), of Castle Upton, MP for Newtownards, 1695-1703, Antrim County, 1703-16, who, raising a party of men, joined the standard of WILLIAM III at the siege of Limerick, and was taken prisoner there, after entering the breach sword in hand, and almost alone, his followers, nearly to a man, being cut to pieces.

Mr Upton married firstly, Mary, only daughter of Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, Margaret, daughter of William Stewart, of Killymoon, County Tyrone, who died also without issue; and thirdly, Jane, daughter of John Ormsby, of Athlacca (by whom he had an only daughter, ELZABETH, who wedded the Rt Hon Hercules Landford Rowley, and was created a peeress of the realm, as Baroness Langford).

Mr Upton was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN UPTON, of Castle Upton, MP for Antrim County, 1725-7, a military officer, who distinguished himself at the storming of the citadel of Liège, and at the battle of Almansa, under Lord Galway; where, for his spirited conduct, he obtained the command of a regiment, upon the fall of Colonel Killigrew.

Colonel Upton wedded, in 1711, Mary, only daughter of Dr Francis Upton, of London, by whom he had three sons and five daughters.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR UPTON, of Castle Upton, MP for Antrim Borough, 1692, Deputy Governor of County Antrim, who married firstly, Sophia, daughter of Michael Ward; and secondly, Sarah, daughter of Pole Cosby, of Stradbally; but dying without issue, in 1768, the estates devolved upon his brother,

FRANCIS UPTON, a naval officer; at whose decease, unmarried, they passed to a younger brother,

CLOTWORTHY UPTON (1721-85), who espoused, in 1769, Elizabeth, daughter of Shuckburgh Boughton, of Poston Court, Herefordshire, and had issue,

JOHN HENRY, his successor;
Fulke Greville;
Arthur Percy, CB, Lieutenant-General in the army;
Elizabeth Albinia, m 1st Marquess of Bristol.

Mr Upton was elevated to the peerage, in 1776, in the dignity of of Baron Templetown, of Templetown, County Antrim.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN HENRY, 2nd Baron (1771-1846), who married, in 1796, the Lady Mary Montagu, only daughter of John, 5th Earl of Sandwich, and had issue,

HENRY MONTAGU, his successor;
GEORGE FREDERICK, succeeded his brother;
Arthur;
Edward John, father of the 4th Viscount;
Mary Wilhelmina.

His lordship was created a viscount, in 1806, as VISCOUNT TEMPLETOWN, of County Antrim.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY MONTAGU, 2nd Viscount (1799-1863), who died unmarried, when the titles devolved upon his brother,

George, 3rd Viscount Templetown GCB (Defence Academy of the UK)

GEORGE FREDERICK, 3rd Viscount (1802-90), GCB, of Castle Upton, a General in the Army, MP for County Antrim, 1859-63, who married, in 1850, Susan, daughter of Field-Marshal Sir Alexander Woodford GCB; the marriage, however, was without issue, when the titles reverted to his lordship's nephew,

HENRY EDWARD MONTAGU DORINGTON CLOTWORTHY, 4th Viscount (1853-1939), GCB, who wedded, in 1883, the Lady Evelyn Georgina Finch-Hatton, daughter of George, 10th Earl of Winchilsea, and had issue,

Eric Edward Montagu, killed in action, 1915;

HENRY AUGUSTUS GEORGE MOUNTJOY HENEAGE, his successor;

Margaret Evelyn.

His lordship was succeeded by his surviving son,

HENRY AUGUSTUS GEORGE MOUNTJOY HENEAGE, 5th Viscount (1894-1981), who married firstly, in 1916, Alleyne, daughter of Captain Henry Lewes Conran RN, of Gordon Downs, Queensland, Australia, and had issue,

HENRY ERIC PATRICK MOUNJOY SPALDING (1917-57), dsp;
Alleyne Evelyn Maureen Louisa.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1975, Margaret Violet Louisa, widow of Sir Lionel George Arthur Cust.

On the decease of the 5th Viscount the titles expired.

The ancestral seat of the Templetown family was Castle Upton, Templepatrick, County Antrim. 

CASTLE UPTON demesne, beside Templepatrick, County Antrim, is near the half-way point on the main road from Antrim to Belfast.

The demesne lies on the north side of the village; and the house contains numerous features which are of historical and architectural import.

The Anglo-Norman style flanker towers now form part of the main house of 1612; which, in turn, occupies the site of a 13th century priory of the Knights of St John (Hospitallers) - monks who joined the Last Crusade, sailing from Carrickfergus in County Antrim.

The said monks were expelled from Templepatrick during the Reformation; and the Knights' vaulted refectory was reconstructed, when the mansion was extended by Robert Adam in 1783 for the 1st Viscount Templetown.

Castle Upton House today is essentially a plantation castle built at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries by Sir Robert and Sir Henry Norton Bt, who named it Castle Norton.

The castle was sold in 1625 to Captain Henry Upton, who promptly re-named it Castle Upton.

From 1783 Clotworthy Upton, 1st Baron Templetown, and his son (later 1st Viscount Templetown) employed Robert Adam to modernize the interior and give the exterior a "castle air".

Adam raised and machiolated the pair of round towers from the original castle and gave them high, conical roofs, adding a wing with another tower.

Adam also designed a Classical mausoleum in the church-yard and a splendid castellated stable range, in 1789.

In 1837 Edward Blore was employed by the 2nd Viscount to redesign the Castle, inserting mullioned windows and eradicating most of Adams' interiors; raising and panelling the hall; and refurbishing the main reception rooms in a restrained Elizabethan style, with fretted ceilings.

The Castle was sold by the Upton family early in the 20th century; and the subsequent owner re-roofed the main building, an act which ruined Adam's romantic skyline.

Adam's additional wing was allowed to fall into ruin.

In 1963, the 300-acre estate was purchased by Sir Robin Kinahan who, with Lady Kinahan, restored the Castle most sympathetically.

Their most notable achievement was the rebuilding of the ruined Adam wing, which now contains an elegant ballroom; and an Italian marble chimney-piece formerly at DOWNHILL CASTLE in County Londonderry.

The demesne itself is now diminished, with trees near the house, a small artificial lake and lawns where a 19th century formal garden was once laid out.

The walled garden is used as a field. Robert Adam’s stable block is approached via a contemporary gate lodge of 1820.

The impressive village entrance to the house is by Edward Blore (1837) and has a gate lodge hidden behind it.

Sir Robin and Lady Kinahan's son, Danny Kinahan, and his family, lived in the house until it was placed on the market in 2016.

I have met the late Sir Robin several times: When he was Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast at ceremonies in the Ulster Hall; and as chairman of the board of Belfast Cathedral. I recall him well. A true gentleman indeed.

Castle Upton was purchased in 2019 by Terry Hughes.

Other residence ~ The Holme, Balmaclennan, Castle Douglas.

First published in March, 2010.   

Duckett's Grove

THE DUCKETTS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CARLOW, WITH 4,923 ACRES

THOMAS DUCKETT, who first settled in Ireland, and purchased, 1695, Kneestown and other estates in County Carlow, from Thomas Crosthwaite, of Cockermouth, Cumberland, is stated, by Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms, to have been the son of JAMES DUCKETT, of Grayrigg, Westmorland, by his third wife Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Walker, of Workington, Cumberland.

James Duckett, of Grayrigg, was tenth in descent from JOHN DUCKETT, of Grayrigg, during the reign of RICHARD II (1377), who obtained that estate by his marriage with Margaret, daughter and heir of Willian de Windesore, Lord of the Manor of Grayrigg, in Westmorland.

John Duckett, of Grayrigg, was son of HUGH DUCKETT, of Fillingham, Lincolnshire, during the time of JOHN and HENRY III. This descent is elaborately given in a pedigree certified by Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms, in 1842.

The first settler in Ireland,

THOMAS DUCKETT, of Kneestown, County Carlow, married Judith, daughter and heir of Pierce Power, of Killowen, County Waterford, and was father of

THOMAS DUCKETT, of Phillipstown (which he purchased from the Earl of Ormond), who married, in 1687, Jane, daughter of John Bunce, of Berkshire, and had, with other issue, a son,

JOHN DUCKETT, of Phillipstown, and Newton, County Kildare, who wedded Jane, daughter of Thomas Devonsher.

The fourth son,

JONAS DUCKETT (1720-97), of Duckett's Grove, County Carlow, married Hannah, daughter of William Alloway, of Dublin, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
John;
Thomas;
Jonas;
Frederick;
Mary Alloway; Hannah; Jane.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM DUCKETT, of Duckett's Grove, born in 1761, wedded, in 1790, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Dawson Coates, of Dawson Court, banker in Dublin, and had issue,

JOHN DAWSON, his heir;
William;
Joseph Fade;
Thomas Jonas;
Elizabeth; Elizabeth Dawson.

The eldest son,

JOHN DAWSON DUCKETT (1791-1866), of Duckett's Grove, County Carlow, and Newtown, County Kildare, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1819, wedded, in 1819, Sarah Summers, daughter of William Hutchinson, of Timoney, County Tipperary, and had issue,

WILLIAM;
John Dawson;
Eliza Dawson;
Anne, m, in 1856, HARDY EUSTACE;
Sarah; Victoria Henrietta.

Mr Duckett was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM DUCKETT JP DL (1822-1908), of Duckett's Grove, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1854, Queen's County, 1881,  who wedded firstly, in 1868, Anna Maria (dsp 1894), third daughter of Thomas Harrison Morony JP, of Milltown House, County Clare.

Mr Duckett espoused secondly, in 1895, Marie Georgina, eldest daughter of Captain R G Cumming, and widow of T Thompson JP, of Ford Lodge, County Cavan.

He dsp in 1908, when the family estate devolved upon his nephew, Colonel John James Hardy Rowland Eustace, who assumed the additional arms and surname of DUCKETT. 

JOHN JAMES HARDY ROWLAND EUSTACE-DUCKETT JP (1859-1924), of Castlemore and Hardymount, County Carlow, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1895, Colonel, 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, wedded, in 1895, Gertrude Amelia, daughter of Algernon Charles Heber Percy, of Hodnet Hall, Shropshire, and had issue,

Hardy Rowland Algernon (1896-7);
OLIVER HARDY;
Rowland Hugh, b 1902;
Elizabeth Gertrude; Doris Anna; Diana.

The eldest surviving son,

(OLIVER) HARDY EUSTACE-DUCKETT, espoused, in 1926, Barbara Kathleen,  daughter of Major William Charles Hall, and had issue,

Hardy, died in infancy;
Olive; Kathleen; 

*****

WILLIAM DUCKETT JP DL (see above).

Following William Duckett's death in 1908, his widow Maria continued to live at Duckett's Grove until 1916, when she abandoned the estate.

DUCKETT'S GROVE, near Carlow, County Carlow, was formerly at the centre of a 12,000-acre estate that dominated the landscape of the county for over 300 years.

It was built in 1830 for William Duckett.

It was designed in a castellated Gothic-Revival style by Thomas A Cobden ca 1825.

The mansion house incorporates numerous towers and turrets of varying shapes – round, square and octagonal.

One tall, octagonal turret rises from the structure.

Duckett’s Grove is elaborately ornamented with oriels and niches containing statues.

Several statues on pedestals surrounded the building and lined the approaches.

The house itself is situated in the townland of Rainstown, between Carlow and Tullow; but the estate comprised several large townlands and parts of others.

Following the departure of the Ducketts, the estate was managed by an agent until 1921; then by local farmers; and later by the Irish Land Commission.

The division of the lands was completed by 1930.

Duckett’s Grove was destroyed by fire in 1933, the cause never having been determined.

In September, 2005, Carlow County Council acquired Duckett’s Grove and commenced the restoration of two inter-connecting walled gardens.

It was officially opened in September, 2007, for use as a public park.

The first of the gardens, the Upper Walled Garden, has been planted with historical varieties of shrub roses and a collection of Chinese and Japanese peonies.

The second garden, the Lower Walled Garden, which was once the site of the family's old orchard, now contains a variety of fruits, including figs and historical varieties of Irish apples.

The borders were planted to contain a variety of shrubs and perennials.

First published in February, 2013.  Eustace-Duckett arms courtesy of the NLI.

The Bateson-Harvey Baronetcy

THE BATESON-HARVEY BARONETS OWNED 7,485 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM, 1,394 ACRES IN SOMERSET, 2,013 IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, 195 IN DORSET, AND 1 ACRE IN BERKSHIRE

This family and that of BATESON, of Belvoir Park, Newtownbreda, County Down, derive from a common ancestor, namely,

ROBERT BATESON, of Lancashire, who died in 1663, leaving an only son,

ROBERT BATESON, father of THOMAS, from whom the Belvoir Park family, and of

RICHARD BATESON, of Londonderry, who wedded firstly, Sarah, daughter of _____ McClintock, and had a son,

Thomas, father of ROBERT, 2nd Baronet.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Harvey, of Londonderry, and sister and heir of David Harvey, of London, by whom, with several other children, he had,

ROBERT BATESON, of Killoquin, County Antrim, who assumed, in 1788, the additional arms and surname of HARVEY.

Mr Bateson-Harvey was created a baronet in 1789, designated of Killoquin, County Antrim.

Sir Robert died without male issue, in 1825, and was succeeded, according to the special remainder, by the son of his deceased half-brother,

SIR ROBERT BATESON, 2nd Baronet (c1793-1870), JP DL, of Killoquin, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1822, who married, in 1819, Eliza, second daughter of Anthony Hammond, of Hutton Bonville, Yorkshire, though the marriage was without issue.

A baronetcy was created in 1868 for Robert Bateson Harvey MP, of Langley Park, Slough, Buckinghamshire, son of Robert Harvey and his wife Jane Jemima Collins daughter of J R Collins of Hatchcourt Somerset.

His father was an illegitimate son of Sir Robert Bateson-Harvey, 1st Baronet.

SIR ROBERT BATESON HARVEY, 1st Baronet (1825-87), of Langley Park, married firstly, in 1855, Diana Jane, daughter of the Ven. Stephen Creke, and had issue,

ROBERT GRENVILLE, his successor;

Charles Bateson (1859-1900);

Caroline; Diana Genevieve.

He wedded secondly, in 1874, Magdalene Breadalbane, daughter of Sir John Pringle Bt.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR ROBERT GRENVILLE HARVEY, 2nd Baronet (1856-1931), who espoused, in 1893, Emily Blanche, daughter of Montolieu Fox Oliphant Murray, 1st Viscount Elibank, and had issue,

Irene Alice Gertrude; 

Diana Blanche;

Caroline Magdalen.

Sir Robert died without male issue, when the title expired.

The Bateson-Harveys were seated were Killoquin, County Antrim, and Langley Park, Buckinghamshire.

Langley Park

In 1788, the 4th Duke of Marlborough sold Langley Park, Buckinghamshire, to Robert Bateson-Harvey.

In 1866, the Temple was replaced with a now-demolished tower built in his memory.

Towards the end of the 19th Century and early 20th Century, considerable garden projects were undertaken at Langley which focused on three areas; the gardens around the Mansion House, the Pinetum (Arboretum) and the rhododendron collection at Temple Gardens. This included 160 tonnes of peat being brought to the gardens from Scotland by a specially chartered train.

At the outbreak of the 1st World War, the cavalry unit, 2nd King Edward’s Horse, was given permission to use Langley Park for training, and later the mansion was used as a hospital and recuperation unit for their officers injured in battle.

In 1935, the Pageant of England was held in Langley Park to celebrate King George V’s silver jubilee, with Lady Harvey playing ELIZABETH I.

In 1938, legislation was passed which enabled County Councils to purchase land to help control the outward sprawl of London.

Buckinghamshire County Council proposed to purchase Langley Park, but the 2nd World War intervened.

During the War the Mansion was the headquarters of the Southern Home Guard and in 1944 Polish units preparing for D-Day used the park as a training ground.

After peace was declared in 1945, Buckinghamshire County Council finally purchased the estate.

By 1959, the Harvey Memorial Tower was deemed to be unsafe and was demolished upon the order of the County Architect, Mr Fred Pooley.

Regrettably I have no information relating to the Killoquin estate, except that it was in the vicinity of Rasharkin, County Antrim.

I'd be grateful if any readers have any further information.

First published in December, 2010. 

Termon House

The Alexanders of Termon were kinsmen of the Alexanders, Earls of Caledon.

THE REV SAMUEL ALEXANDER (1808-89), Rector of Termonmaguirc, County Tyrone, 1851-56, married, in 1839, Charlotte Frances, daughter of the Rev Charles Cobbe Beresford (son of the Rt Hon John de la Poer Beresford), and had issue,

John Adam (1854-1907);

CHARLES MURRAY, of whom we treat;

Henry George Samuel;

Amelia Henrietta; Charlotte Frances Selina; Frances Sophia.

The second son,

CHARLES MURRAY ALEXANDER JP (1845-1902), of Termon House, Carrickmore, County Tyrone, and Enagh, County Londonderry, Colonel, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, wedded, in 1888, Mary Anna Catherine, daughter of Robert William Lowry, of Pomeroy House, County Tyrone, and had issue,

CHARLES ADAM MURRAY, his heir;

Charlotte Frances; Mary Anna Catherine Letitia; Emily Geale Hester Lowry.

Colonel Alexander's son and heir,

CHARLES ADAM MURRAY ALEXANDER MC JP DL (1889-1958), of Termon House, and Pomeroy House, both in County Tyrone, married, in 1918, Gladys Sylvia MacGregor, daughter of Major Thomas MacGregor Greer, and had issue,

Evelyn Ruth Dorinda Mary;

Margaret Sylvia Daphne.

Termon House (Image: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society)

TERMON HOUSE, Carrickmore, County Tyrone, is a late-Georgian mansion of 1815.

It comprises three storeys, and was built as a glebe house for the Rev Charles Cobbe Beresford.

Termon: rear elevation (Image: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society)

This glebe house, which served as the rectory and vicarage for the parish of Termonmaguirc, was in the diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Marquess of Waterford.

It cost £3,293 to build in 1815, equivalent to about £243,000 in 2024.

Termon House's entrance front comprises three bays, with a projecting porch; while the rear elevation has four bays, with two large windows on the ground floor.

Termon ca 1900 (Image: historic OS map).  Click to enlarge.

Following the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1869, Termon was inherited by the Rector's youngest daughter, Charlotte Frances Beresford (1812-90), wife of the Rev Samuel Alexander. 

The Alexanders sold Termon in the mid-1980s.

Is Termon House vacant or derelict today and when was it last inhabited?

First published in 2024.  Alexander arms courtesy of the NLI.

Russborough House

THE EARLS OF MILLTOWN OWNED 427 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WICKLOW, 1,898 ACRES IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, 300 ACRES IN COUNTY DUBLIN, AND 287 ACRES IN THE KING'S COUNTY

This family was anciently seated at Whitfield, Northamptonshire, from whom descended

HUGH LEESON (1620-1700), son of William Leesone, of Culworth, Northamptonshire, who, having been engaged as a military officer in Ireland, 1680, settled there during the reign of CHARLES I.

Mr Leeson made an advantageous marriage to the daughter of one of Dublin's leading aldermen, marrying, in 1673, Rebecca, daughter of Alderman Richard Tighe, Mayor of Dublin.

Having retired from the army, he acquired Lot Five, South St Stephen’s Green (Leeson’s Walk).

Mr Leeson became an eminent brewer and property developer.

He was buried about 1700, and was succeeded in his commercial pursuits by his second son,

JOSEPH LEESON (1660-1741), of Dublin, who wedded, in 1695, Margaret, daughter and co-heir of Alderman Andrew Brice, Sheriff of Dublin, and left (with four other daughters),

JOSEPH, his heir;
Anne, m to Hugh Henry;
Martha, m to Richard Cooke;
Joyce, m to Sir Robert Blackwood, 1st Baronet. 

Mr Leeson left a very considerable inheritance to his son, estimated at £50,000 (£100 million in 2014) plus £6,000 per annum (£1.2 million in 2014).

Joseph Leeson (1660-1741) Image: National Library of Ireland

The only son,

JOSEPH LEESON (1701-83), MP for Rathcormack, 1743-56, who, was elevated to the peerage, in 1756, in the dignity of Baron Russborough.

His lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1760, as Viscount Russborough, of Russellstown, County Wicklow.

Joseph, 1st Earl of Milltown

He was further advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1763, as EARL OF MILLTOWN.

His lordship married firstly, in 1729, Cecilia, daughter of Francis Leigh, and had issue,

JOSEPH, his successor;
BRICE, succeeded his brother;
Mary, m the 2nd Earl of Mayo.

He wedded secondly, in 1738, Anne, daughter of Nathaniel Preston, by whom he had a daughter,

Anne.

The 1st Earl espoused thirdly, in 1768, Elizabeth, daughter of the Very Rev William French, Dean of Armagh, and had further issue,

William;
Robert;
Cecilia; Florence Arabella.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son

Joseph, 2nd Earl of Milltown

JOSEPH, 2nd Earl (1730-1801), MP for Thomastown, 1757-61, who died unmarried, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,

BRICE, 3rd Earl (1735-1807), who wedded, in 1765, Maria, daughter of John Graydon, of Dublin, and had issue,

Joseph (1766-1800), father of JOSEPH, 4th Earl;
John;
Robert.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

JOSEPH, 4th Earl (1799-1866), KP, 1841, who married, in 1828, Barbara, second daughter and co-heir of Sir Joshua Colles Meredyth Bt, of Greenhills, County Kildare, and had issue,

JOSEPH HENRY, his successor;
EDWARD NUGENT, succeeded his brother;
HENRY, succeeded his brother;
Barbara Emily Maria; Cecilia Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOSEPH HENRY, 5th Earl (1829-71), ensign, 68th Regiment of Foot, 1848-51, Aide-de-Camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was succeeded by his next brother,

EDWARD NUGENT, 6th Earl (1835-90), KP PC, who wedded, in 1871, the Lady Geraldine Evelyn Stanhope, second daughter of the 5th Earl of Harrington, in a childless marriage.

His lordship was succeeded by his brother,

HENRY, 7th and last Earl (1837-91), Barrister, Kings Inn, Dublin, 1860, Vice-Chamberlain, 1859-62, Chamberlain, 1862-74, to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

Following the death of the 7th Earl, a grandson of the Hon John Leeson (2nd son of the 3rd Earl), claimed the succession to the earldom. He died without male issue in 1905.

The earldom of Milltown was then claimed by his 2nd cousin, Robert William Frederick Leeson, a grandson of Captain the Hon Robert Leeson (3rd son of the 3rd Earl).

He died unmarried in 1908, and since that date no further claimants have come forward.

It is possible that there are living male line descendants of the Hon Robert Leeson, 4th son of the 1st Earl, in which case the earldom of Milltown should be regarded as being dormant rather than extinct.

RUSSBOROUGH HOUSE, County Wicklow, is one of the finest and grandest stately homes in Ireland.

Is situated near the Blessington Lakes, between the towns of Blessington and Ballymore Eustace, and is reputed to be the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 700 feet.

Russborough is an example of Palladian architecture, designed by Richard Cassels for Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown and built between 1741-55.

It comprises seven bays and two storeys over a basement; Palladian style, with quadrant Doric colonnades linking to seven-bay two-storey pavilion wings, themselves linked to outbuildings by walls with rusticated arches topped with cupolas.

The walls are of dressed granite, with a central feature to the main block consisting of a pediment supported by four three-quarter Corinthian columns with swag mouldings between the capitals, whilst the wings have three-bay breakfront centres with Ionic pilasters.

Each of the three blocks and the colonnades has a parapet surmounted with urns, and behind each parapet is a slated hipped roof with broad granite chimneystacks to the main blocks.

Within the colonnades are arched niches with Classical statues.

Russborough ca 1824, from an Engraving by John Preston Neale 

The entrance consists of a largely glazed timber door with semi-circular fanlight-like eyebrow window above, and is reached by a grand flight of stone steps with the piers of the balustrade topped with urns and heraldic lions.

The windows are generally flat-headed and filled with three over three and six over six timber sash frames. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

The house is surrounded by an extensive, but largely unadorned, demesne and approached at a right angle from the main avenue to the north-east.

The interior of the house contains some ornate plasterwork on the ceilings by the Lafranchini brothers, who also collaborated with Cassels on Carton House.

Russborough has housed two fine art collections, begun with the Milltown estate, whose collection was donated to the National Gallery of Ireland by the widow of the 6th Earl.

Sir Alfred Beit Bt bought the house in 1952 where he housed his own family's collection, comprising works by many great artists, including Goya, Vermeer, Peter Paul Rubens and Thomas Gainsborough.

This collection was since robbed four times, in 1974 by an IRA gang including the heiress Rose Dugdale, in 1986 by Martin Cahill, in 2001; and in 2002 by Martin Cahill's old associate Martin Foley.

Two paintings, Gainsborough's Madame Bacelli and Vermeer's Lady writing a Letter with her Maid, the latter probably the most valuable painting of the collection, were stolen twice across the thefts, although each was subsequently recovered.

The Beit collection has donated many of its works to the Irish state but a substantial proportion of the paintings have been returned and been made available to view by the owners, the Alfred Beit Foundation.

Russborough remained in the possession of the Earls of Milltown until the 6th Earl's decease.

On the death of Lady Milltown in 1914, it passed to a nephew, Sir Edmund Turton, who rarely stayed there.

On Turton's death in 1928, his widow sold the house to Captain Denis Bowes Daly in 1931.

Sir Alfred Beit Bt bought Russborough in 1952 from Captain Daly to house his art collection and in 1976 established the Alfred Beit Foundation to manage the property.

The foundation opened the historic mansion and its collections to the Irish public in 1978.

Sir Alfred died in 1994 but Lady Beit remained in residence until her own death in 2005.

In 2010, a fire severely damaged the west wing and caused part of the roof to collapse.

No art was damaged, being removed along with furniture to allow for restorations to the west wing.

Initial examinations of the damage suggested an electrical fault from wiring in the roof may have sparked the fire.

In recent years, farmers' markets have been held on a regular basis in the grounds of the house.

Leeson Street in Dublin is named after the Earls of Milltown.

Former Dublin residence ~ 17 St Stephen's Green (now the Kildare Street Club).

First published in August, 2013. 

Victoria Park

During the pandemic lockdown in 2020 I paid a visit to Victoria Park in east Belfast.

There's a footbridge at the Sydenham railway halt, which is particularly useful for pedestrian access to Belfast City Airport and the Park.

I occasionally manhandle my bike over the footbridge if I'm going to the airport for a flight.

Though its official address is given as Park Avenue, Victoria Park stands directly beside the Sydenham by-pass and Belfast City Airport.

East Belfast Yacht Club, renowned for its concrete boats, is at the north-east of the Park.

According to my 1974 street directory, the Park comprises sixty-three acres, and was formed from land reclaimed from the eastern shores of Belfast Lough.

In 1974 it contained a salt-water boating lake some twenty acres in extent.

Click to Enlarge

A bowling green and football pitches - seven within the inner island -  remain, though there was also a putting green.

There were formerly cricket pitches, tennis courts, and an open-air swimming-pool at the north-western end.

An open-air theatre was added in 1969, though has recently been demolished.

Victoria Park also has a cycling and BMX track, and two walking trails that surround the lake.

The Sam Thompson Bridge, which links the Park to Belfast Harbour Estate (at Shorts' head office) was officially opened in 2014, and a splendid feature it is.

I use it quite regularly to cycle into the city centre.

2020 Map of Victoria Park

Belfast City Council explains that the idea of creating a public park near the river Connswater was first suggested by the Harbour Commissioners in 1854.

Progress was slow because the land was very marshy, inaccessible to the public and generally unsuitable for a public park.

After many meetings, surveyors' reports and drainage schemes, the idea was approved and Victoria Park opened in 1906.

It was landscaped by Charles McKimm, who also built the Tropical Ravine in Botanic Gardens.

First published in April, 2020.