THE PORTERS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY FERMANAGH, WITH 11,880 ACRES
THE RT REV DR JOHN PORTER, Lord Bishop of Clogher, formerly Regius Professor of Hebrew at Cambridge, came to Ireland in 1795 as viceregal chaplain to the 2nd Earl Camden, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1795-98.
There was a convention that viceregal chaplains became bishops. Dr Porter, however, fared exceptionally well because, after only a two-year purgatory in the remote and undesirable bishopric of Killala in County Mayo, he was translated to the singularly valuable bishopric of Clogher, where he remained from 1797 until his death in 1819.He married, in 1786, Mary Smith, of Norfolk, and had issue,
JOHN GREY, his heir;The Bishop died in 1819, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
Thomas, captain RN;
Charles (Rev);
Henry Edward, General in the Army;
William;
Elizabeth; Margaret.
THE REV JOHN GREY PORTER (1789-1873), Rector of Kilskeery, County Tyrone, who wedded, in 1816, Margaret Lavinia, eldest daughter of Thomas Lindsey, of Hollymount, by his wife, the Lady Margaret Bingham, daughter of 1st Earl of Lucan, and had issue,
JOHN GREY, his heir;
Lavinia; Louisa; Elizabeth Phœbe; Emmy; Frances;
Adelaide Mary, m Nicholas Montgomery Archdale, of Crocknacrieve, County Fermanagh, who died in 1877, leaving issue. Their second son, JOHN PORTER, of Belle Isle, assumed, in 1876, the surname and arms of PORTER.
The eldest son,
JOHN GREY VESEY PORTER JP DL (1817-1903), of Belle Isle, County Fermanagh, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1844, married, in 1863, Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Richard Hall, of INNISMORE HALL, County Fermanagh.
Mr Porter dsp 1903, when the estate devolved upon his nephew,
JOHN PORTER PORTER JP DL (1853-1939), High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1883, who married, in 1884, Josephine Henrietta, daughter of Colonel Jesse Lloyd, of Ballyleek, County Monaghan, and had issue,
His brother,
NICHOLAS HENRY ARCHDALE PORTER MC JP DL (1890-1973), of Belle Isle, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1941, married, in 1919, Amy, daughter of Charles B Gunther, though the marriage was without issue.
The heiress to Belle Isle was his niece, Miss Lavinia Enid Muriel Baird, only daughter of his sister, Audley Josephine, and William James Baird of Elie, Fife.
Miss Baird sold Belle Isle in 1991 to the 5th Duke of Abercorn, KG.
BELLE ISLE, one of the largest of the islands of Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, is situated near the east shore of the foot of the lake; and is accessible by means of a causeway and a one-arched bridge.
Its area is 112 acres.
The Earl of Ross's former residence has been almost wholly destroyed.
When the original castle and the groves still stood, the demesne was described thus:-
BELLE ISLE CASTLE, near Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, is situated on an island in Upper Lough Erne.
The Castle seems to incorporate a two-storey, 18th century range with a three-sided bow at one end, to which a range of 1820-30 was added at right angles, including a staircase hall, lit atop by an octagonal lantern.
The Castle was re-fashioned after 1880 in the plain, English-Tudor manor-house style, incorporating a gabled entrance front with mullioned windows, projecting porch and a lofty, church-like battlemented tower at the corner of the 1820-30 range.
The latter range, at the garden front facing the lough, is unaltered with the exception of Victorian, plate-glass windows; and Georgian astragals at one end.
Inside the Castle, an oak staircase with barley-sugar balusters replaced the original stairs; and the walls were panelled with oak, too.
The octagonal ceiling lantern was left undisturbed.
In 1907, the entrance front was prolonged by a wing in the Tudor style containing a long, tall gallery with a timbered roof, an elaborate fireplace and a minstrels' gallery.
At this end of the entrance front there is a pedimented and gabled office wing, possibly 18th century.
BELLE ISLE is almost surrounded by the waters of Upper Lough Erne and at one time was an island.
It is reached via a bridge and the approach to the Castle is a straight avenue.
The original castle dates from 1629 and the present house was created round the core during the mid-19th century.
It is sited in a glorious position of great natural beauty, which has long been acknowledged. Loudon in his Encyclopedia of 1825 remarks that there were 200 acres:
As well as good stands of parkland trees, there are mature shelter belts and wooded areas.
Early 20th century ornamental gardens at the house have been grassed over.
There is a walled garden.
Two substantial gate lodges were built at the same time as the house was restored and extended.
The original Belle Isle estate came on the market in 1830.
Since the Plantation, it had belonged to the GORE BARONETS of Manor Gore, County Donegal.
The last of this branch of the Gore family was Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Baronet, later Earl of Ross and Viscount Belleisle (1725-1802).
He had greatly ornamented the pleasure grounds, particularly with follies and garden buildings designed by the well-known Thomas Wright, but the main house was still the modest lodge built by his father in ca 1720.
Lord Ross had died without legitimate issue, leaving Belle Isle to his natural daughter, Mary, wife of SIR RICHARD HARDINGE, 1ST BARONET.
Lady Hardinge died in 1824; Sir Richard in 1826.
His nephew and successor, the Rev Sir Charles Hardinge, 2nd Baronet, of Tunbridge, Kent, had no connection with Ireland and presumably no interest in Belle Isle.
Accordingly, in 1830, Sir Charles and his trustees sold the entire Belle Isle estate, consisting of the manors of Belle Isle and Carrick, together with a small leasehold addendum acquired by Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet, in 1724, to the Rev John Grey Porter of Kilskeery for £68,000.
In the 1830s, the Rev John made further extensive purchases of land, in both counties Fermanagh and Longford, this time from the 2nd Earl of Belmore.
The Fermanagh lands alone had a rental of £1,869 a year and cost him £75,000.
Belle Isle Estate has published a fuller history here.
The Duke bought Belle Isle for his younger son, Lord Nicholas Hamilton.
The Abercorns have admirably transformed Belle Isle into a truly wonderful 470 acre estate with holiday apartments, cottages, a cookery school and the Castle itself.
Mr Porter dsp 1903, when the estate devolved upon his nephew,
JOHN PORTER PORTER JP DL (1853-1939), High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1883, who married, in 1884, Josephine Henrietta, daughter of Colonel Jesse Lloyd, of Ballyleek, County Monaghan, and had issue,
JOHN GREY ARCHDALE, DSO (1886-1917), killed in action;Mr Porter was the second son Nicholas Montgomery Archdale, of Crocknacrieve, and Adelaide Mary his wife, fourth daughter of the Rev John Grey Porter, of Kilskeery and Belle Isle, and granddaughter of the Rt Rev John Porter, Lord Bishop of Clogher.
NICHOLAS HENRY ARCHDALE, successor to his brother;
William Wauchope Montgomery;
Coralie Adelaide Mervyn.
His brother,
NICHOLAS HENRY ARCHDALE PORTER MC JP DL (1890-1973), of Belle Isle, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1941, married, in 1919, Amy, daughter of Charles B Gunther, though the marriage was without issue.
The heiress to Belle Isle was his niece, Miss Lavinia Enid Muriel Baird, only daughter of his sister, Audley Josephine, and William James Baird of Elie, Fife.
Miss Baird sold Belle Isle in 1991 to the 5th Duke of Abercorn, KG.
BELLE ISLE, one of the largest of the islands of Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, is situated near the east shore of the foot of the lake; and is accessible by means of a causeway and a one-arched bridge.
Its area is 112 acres.
The Earl of Ross's former residence has been almost wholly destroyed.
When the original castle and the groves still stood, the demesne was described thus:-
Adjacent to it is another island, nearly of the same extent; and both exhibit a most agreeable prospect, being covered with thriving woods of ash, oak, beech, and firs.
The house fronts the south, and has before it a neat lawn, ornamented with gravel walks and plantations. Immediately before it, at the distance of about three miles, stands a green hill called Knockninny, which was formerly a deer park, but is now let as a farm.
Behind this hill the scenery consists of a greenish mountain, which appears to be cultivated to a certain height; and connected to the right with a ridge of much higher mountains, the termination of which becomes lost in the horizon.
Immediately to the westward, within about a quarter mile of West Island, is a range of eleven other islands, all covered to the water's edge with timber, which stretches directly across the lake.
BELLE ISLE CASTLE, near Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, is situated on an island in Upper Lough Erne.
The Castle seems to incorporate a two-storey, 18th century range with a three-sided bow at one end, to which a range of 1820-30 was added at right angles, including a staircase hall, lit atop by an octagonal lantern.
The Castle was re-fashioned after 1880 in the plain, English-Tudor manor-house style, incorporating a gabled entrance front with mullioned windows, projecting porch and a lofty, church-like battlemented tower at the corner of the 1820-30 range.
The latter range, at the garden front facing the lough, is unaltered with the exception of Victorian, plate-glass windows; and Georgian astragals at one end.
Inside the Castle, an oak staircase with barley-sugar balusters replaced the original stairs; and the walls were panelled with oak, too.
The octagonal ceiling lantern was left undisturbed.
In 1907, the entrance front was prolonged by a wing in the Tudor style containing a long, tall gallery with a timbered roof, an elaborate fireplace and a minstrels' gallery.
At this end of the entrance front there is a pedimented and gabled office wing, possibly 18th century.
BELLE ISLE is almost surrounded by the waters of Upper Lough Erne and at one time was an island.
It is reached via a bridge and the approach to the Castle is a straight avenue.
The original castle dates from 1629 and the present house was created round the core during the mid-19th century.
It is sited in a glorious position of great natural beauty, which has long been acknowledged. Loudon in his Encyclopedia of 1825 remarks that there were 200 acres:
‘… charmingly diversified by hills, dales and gentle declivities, which are richly clothed with old timber through which gravel walks are constructed, and a temple erected, from which a panoramic view is obtained, not only of this but all the other wooded islands of the lough. One of them is exclusively used as a deer park …’.Parkland still sweeps down to the lough shore, though the temple has gone.
As well as good stands of parkland trees, there are mature shelter belts and wooded areas.
Early 20th century ornamental gardens at the house have been grassed over.
There is a walled garden.
Two substantial gate lodges were built at the same time as the house was restored and extended.
The original Belle Isle estate came on the market in 1830.
Since the Plantation, it had belonged to the GORE BARONETS of Manor Gore, County Donegal.
The last of this branch of the Gore family was Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Baronet, later Earl of Ross and Viscount Belleisle (1725-1802).
He had greatly ornamented the pleasure grounds, particularly with follies and garden buildings designed by the well-known Thomas Wright, but the main house was still the modest lodge built by his father in ca 1720.
Lord Ross had died without legitimate issue, leaving Belle Isle to his natural daughter, Mary, wife of SIR RICHARD HARDINGE, 1ST BARONET.
Lady Hardinge died in 1824; Sir Richard in 1826.
His nephew and successor, the Rev Sir Charles Hardinge, 2nd Baronet, of Tunbridge, Kent, had no connection with Ireland and presumably no interest in Belle Isle.
Accordingly, in 1830, Sir Charles and his trustees sold the entire Belle Isle estate, consisting of the manors of Belle Isle and Carrick, together with a small leasehold addendum acquired by Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet, in 1724, to the Rev John Grey Porter of Kilskeery for £68,000.
In the 1830s, the Rev John made further extensive purchases of land, in both counties Fermanagh and Longford, this time from the 2nd Earl of Belmore.
The Fermanagh lands alone had a rental of £1,869 a year and cost him £75,000.
The combined rental of all these estates (Belle Isle included) was about £6,750 a year - a staggering scale of acquisition (even for one whose father had been in possession of the income of the bishopric of Clogher for 22 years), the more so as the Bishop and the Rev John Grey Porter had each in their time to make provision for six younger children.Belle Isle remained in the ownership of the Porter family until 1991, when Lavinia Baird sold the estate to the 5th Duke of Abercorn KG.
Belle Isle Estate has published a fuller history here.
The Duke bought Belle Isle for his younger son, Lord Nicholas Hamilton.
The Abercorns have admirably transformed Belle Isle into a truly wonderful 470 acre estate with holiday apartments, cottages, a cookery school and the Castle itself.
One interesting feature on the estate is the new wood pellet burner: Belle Isle Castle currently consumes approximately 25,900 litres of oil per annum which should be reduced by approximately 85% with this new system.First published in January, 2011.
A certain amount of oil is still required to fuel the Aga cookers. The 22,000 litres of oil will be replaced by approximately 53 tonnes of wood pellets (based on approximately 2.4kg of wood pellets replacing 1 litre of oil).
4 comments :
One wonders why he chose "Porter-Porter," (not just Porter) given his real name was Archdale!
Yes. I presume he was just being pretentious. My gt-gt-grandfather re-named his house a castle - imagine what we'd say about such people now! haha
W.
Thank you for your correction! I should indeed refer to Captain Hermon correctly and with due respect.He was a remarkable gentleman.I will most certainly let you have enough material to compile a seperate section on life in Belleisle in the 50's 60's and 70's if you really want it? This also includes the period of Miss Bairds residency. I have video of Miss Baird and my father out and about Belleisle and photographs of them both with show cattle.In addition I often visited Miss Tiggy Brunt and Catptain Hermon at Necarne Castle (The Gardeners House)in the 1970's when they took up residence there after Mr. H. A Porters death. There are pictures of that period too.I am sorting out a scanner to let you have some images. All of my stories will told with affection and humour, there nothing inappropriate.Everyone in Belleisle, Necarne and (in summer) Mullochmore were kind and incredibly generous to all of the Brown family!Evan Captain Hermon mellowed as we grew up.
As a Porter descendent myself, I found myself wanting to further my interest in my ancestral legacy out of Northern Ireland and Northumbria. By the way, you have an amazing repository of knowledge and kudos on the implicit due diligence this surely demands.I'm quite jealous!
Lisa Porter-Grenn, M.D.
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