Friday 11 December 2009

Landowner Series

I'm looking forward to writing about the biggest Victorian landowners in the remaining Northern Ireland counties; so much so, that I'm actually quite excited about the prospect...

...about the wealthy banker, rich as Croesus, who bought a mountain estate with a hunting lodge; and the illegitimate son of a marquess who became one of the greatest landowners and philanthropists, whilst travelling by private train from his rented castle.

Can't wait.

8 comments :

Anonymous said...

Who was the tenant with thetrain privé?

Timothy Belmont said...

Sir Richard Wallace, Bt.

Anonymous said...

I thought he lived in Castle St., Lisburn. My father had a very elderly great aunt who was a spinster and one of the last residents of the large townhouses there - before my time though.

Timothy Belmont said...

Yes, but before that he had to lease Antrim Castle! He hired a private train to take him from the Castle to Lisburn on one occasion. I'm uncertain about the chronology of it all.

Tim

Anonymous said...

Didn't know he had a lease on Antrim; I thought Lord M&F used it as their main house then.

Timothy Belmont said...

As I say, I still need to work on that; but the Massereenes weren't living there all year round, I gather.

It'll be some time before I reach Co Antrim landowners! Haven't decided which county to do after Tyrone. :-)

Timothy Belmont said...

If you have the time Anon, here is a very interesting article:-

http://www.lisburn.com/books/historical_society/volume3/volume3-2.html

Tim

Anonymous said...

Thanks, I would need the time though - it's very long! ha