The Capper Series: I

Wilfrid Capper MBE (1905-98) was a former Northern Ireland civil servant whose true passion was for the preservation and conservation of the countryside.

He conceived and created The Ulster Way.

The following article is a selective extract from Caring for the Countryside: A History of 50 Years of the Ulster Society for the Preservation of the Countryside, published in 1987.

Coney Island, Lough Neagh

"IT has never been the policy of the Society to acquire land or property itself, though it has helped to raise funds for special places."

"However, we made an exception for Coney Island in Lough Neagh, in rather unusual circumstances."

"I had come to know Lord Charlemont, the owner, through the Youth Hostel Association and he rang me up one day to ask me if  I would like an island."

"I was rather taken aback and asked what island."

"Coney," he said, "I think you would appreciate it."

"I thought it was rather like offering a pet dog to someone he thought would look after it."

"Lord Charlemont then found he could not give it away and would have to charge even a nominal sum for it."

"The minimum price he could charge was £300 and I could have it for that amount."

"In 1946 I had not even £300 [about £12,400 in today's money] to spend on an island so our society undertook to raise the money by public subscription."

"We then gave the island to the National Trust and allowed the Portadown Scouts to use it for training purposes."

"Oddly enough I did later buy an island in Strangford Lough [Inisharoan Island] for the same £300."

"I failed to acquire an island in Lough Erne, so as Hitler once said, "This is my last territorial claim."

First published in October, 2019.

William III at Carrickfergus

Landing of WILLIAM III at Carrickfergus, 14 June, 1690
(Image: National Maritime Museum). CLICK TO ENLARGE.

"This depicts an incident during the War of the English Succession, sparked off by the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when Catholic James II fled the country after William of Orange landed at Torbay."

"In 1690 the deposed King James II attempted to re-capture his throne with the aid of the French troops by way of Ireland, whose Catholic population, he believed, might support him."

"He soon captured most of Ireland, until King William’s army drove him out."

"It took some time for William to gain control in Ireland."

"He landed at Carrickfergus near Belfast on 14th June 1690, to take over command of the army which was to defeat JAMES II and the Catholic hopes in that country."

"He was escorted by a squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, together with 15,000 extra Danish, Dutch and English troops."

"This lifted morale and by 1st July he faced JAMES II across the River Boyne outside Dublin."

"The ensuing victory for William led to James's withdrawal from Dublin."

"William’s reign marked the beginning of the transition from the Stuart’s personal control of government to the Parliamentary rule of the House of Hanover."

"The painting shows King William in a barge about to land at Carrickfergus Castle in the middle of the picture at the start of the campaign."

"In the right foreground is Shovell’s squadron with his flagship, Monck, the large ship on the right flying the blue flag."

"It is surrounded by the yachts that brought the King and his suite."

"In the centre, the yacht Mary still flies the Royal Standard although by this time the king had transferred to his barge, shown rowing round to the harbour entrance at the left of the castle."

"The emphasis of the painting is on Shovell’s ship and perhaps his involvement in the event."

"The picture is early English school owing much to van de Velde and probably contemporary."

"It was not done on the spot but probably used a print for the topographical reference point as it is likely the artist had never visited the town."

Sir James Henderson

A reader from New Zealand sent two photographs of Sir James Henderson (1848-1914) and his family.

Sir James served the office of Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1898, and was the first High Sheriff of the city.

He has been credited with the establishment of the City Hall, which stands in Donegall Square today.

Sir James Henderson (Image: Belfast City Hall)

James Henderson was born at Mountcollyer Park, Belfast, the home of his grandfather, Alexander Mackay.

Henderson read Law at Trinity College Dublin and was called to the Irish Bar in 1872.

He went on to become editor of the Newry Telegraph in 1873, retaining that position until 1883.

He became managing proprietor of the Belfast News Letter and Belfast Weekly News, and was appointed President of the Master Printers Federation of Great Britain and Ireland.

Sir James married Martha Pollock and they had five sons.

He was appointed a Freeman of the City of Belfast in 1912, and he received a knighthood from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the 5th Earl Cadogan, at Viceregal Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin, in 1899.

Sir James lived at Oakley House, Windsor Park, Belfast.

The photograph above shows Martha Lady Henderson and her five sons.

It is believed that the eldest son died in the 1st World War, though little is known of the others. 

Any information would be welcome.   

The photographs had been sent out to New Zealand as the reader's grandfather emigrated there in 1881.

The Henderson family graves can be seen at Belfast City Cemetery.

First published in February, 2011.  Henderson arms courtesy of the NLI.

Tyrone DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Mr Robert Scott OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of County Tyrone, has been pleased to appoint:-

Dr Archibald Thomas Fullerton
Strabane
County Tyrone

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County his Commission bearing date the sixth day of July 2022


Signed: RWL Scott

Lord-Lieutenant of the County

Castle Blunden

THE BLUNDEN BARONETS OWNED 1,846 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY KILKENNY

JOHN BLUNDEN (c1718-83), only surviving son of John Blunden, of Castle Blunden (Barrister, MP for County Kilkenny, 1727-52), married Martha, daughter of Agmondesham Cuffe, and sister of JOHN, 1ST BARON DESART, and had issue (with several daughters),

JOHN, his heir;
William Pitt, father of the 3rd Baronet;
Overington (General in the army; MP).

Mr Blunden, MP for Kilkenny City, 1761-76, was created a baronet in 1766, designated of Castle Blunden, County Kilkenny.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN BLUNDEN, 2nd Baronet (1767-1818), High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1805 and 1813, Mayor of Kilkenny, 1802, who married twice, though both marriages were without issue, when the title passed to his nephew,

SIR JOHN BLUNDEN, 3rd Baronet (1814-90), DL, Barrister, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1843 and 1847, who wedded, in 1839, Elizabeth, daughter of Major John Knox, of Dublin, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
John Overington;
Edward Herbert;
Maurice Robert;
Arthur Henry;
Abraham;
Kate; Harriette; Nicola Sophia.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM BLUNDEN, 4th Baronet (1840-1923), Surgeon, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1904, who espoused, in 1879, Florence Caroline, daughter of Henry Shuttleworth, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Eric Overington;
Muriel.

Sir William was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN BLUNDEN, 5th Baronet (1880-1923), who wedded, in 1918, Phyllis Dorothy, daughter of Philip Crampton Creagh, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
PHILIP OVERINGTON, 7th Baronet.

Sir John was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM BLUNDEN, 6th Baronet (1919-85), Lieutenant-Commander RN, who married, in 1945, Pamela Mary, daughter of John Purser, and had issue,

Sarah Vanessa; Griselda Jane; Caroline Susan; Rowena Mary;
Elizabeth Anne Gabrielle; Fiona Christine.

Sir William died without male issue, when the title passed to his brother,

SIR PHILIP OVERINGTON BLUNDEN, 7th Baronet (1922-2007), who wedded, in 1945, Jeanette Francesca Alexandra, daughter of Captain D Macdonald RNR, of Portree, Isle of Skye, and had issue,

HUBERT CHISHOLM, his successor;
John Maurice Patrick;
Marguerite Eugenie.

Sir Philip was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HUBERT CHISHOLM BLUNDEN, 8th and present Baronet (1948-), of The Cottage, Carrigloe, Cobh, County Cork, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, who married, in 1975, Ellish O'Brien, and has issue,

EDMUND, b 1982;
Amelia, b 1977.

CASTLE BLUNDEN, County Kilkenny, is a mid-18th century house built either for John Blunden MP, or for his son, Sir John Blunden, 1st Baronet.

It comprises three storeys over a vaulted basement, with a six-bay front enclosing a central niche containing a statue below an armorial panel.

The interior decoration is late 18th century in style, likely decorated by the 2nd Baronet, whose wife afforded him "a clear £8,000 a year."

The hall boasts a frieze of rams' heads; and the plasterwork in the drawing-room has an "Adamesque" ceiling.

Castle Blunden stands in a most idyllic setting, with water on both sides of it, probably formed originally from a moat (from an earlier castle).

First published in August, 2018.

Princess Royal Visit

The Princess Royal visited Northern Ireland on Tuesday, the 5th June, 2022.

Her Royal Highness, Commandant-in-Chief (Youth), St John Ambulance, attended centenary cadet celebrations in Ballymena, County Antrim.

HRH was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell.


In the afternoon Her Royal Highness visited the Irish Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre, Lower Ballinderry, Lisburn, and was received by Mrs Miranda Gordon DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim.

HRH later attended a Garden Party at Hillsborough Castle, County Down, where she was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mr Gawn Rowan-Hamilton.