Templer of Loughgall

ROBERT BARON TEMPLER (1830-86), of Cloveneden, Loughgall, County Armagh, a barrister at Middle Temple, Land Agent for the Cope Estate, married, in 1860, Geraldine, youngest daughter of Captain Francis Manley Shawe, leaving issue, his second son,

WALTER FRANCIS TEMPLER CBE DL (1865-1942), of the Manor House, Loughgall, Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Army Pay Department, 1888-1921, who wedded, in 1895, Mabel Eileen (Little Castle Dillon, near Armagh), third daughter of Major Robert Johnston, Highland Light Infantry, and Army Pay Department, and had issue, 

Little Castle Dillon (Buildings of County Armagh)

FIELD-MARSHAL SIR GERALD WALTER ROBERT TEMPLER KG GCB GCMG KBE DSO, of Little Castle Dillon, County Armagh, and 12 Wilton Street, London.

Sir Gerald is pictured, above, wearing the robe of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB).

In his right hand he holds his field-marshal's baton.

Loughgall Manor

The Northern Ireland Horticulture & Plant Breeding station is set in the former Cope Estate, surrounded by mature woodlands and overlooking the Lough Gall.

The estate was established in the late 17th century by Sir Anthony Cope, of Hanwell, Oxfordshire, and became the Cope family home for 350 years.

Templer crest (Image: College of Arms)

In 1947 the estate was purchased from Sir Gerald Templer, a descendant of the original owner, by the (then) Ministry of Agriculture.

First published in February, 2013.

The Ely Letter

I have unearthed an old letter I received from the Ely Lodge Estate in County Fermanagh 33 years ago. It is dated February 8th, 1977; hence my interest in country houses from an early age.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

The letter is from the Estate Office at Ely Farms on the estate. Charles Plunket was the Agent at the time.

It explains that the 5th Duke of Westminster inherited the family seat at Eaton Hall in 1967; and still retained Ely Lodge as his private home; that the 5th Duke retired to Ely in 1977 and his son, Lord Grosvenor (now the 6th and present Duke) was living at Eaton Hall.

In 1977, the Ely Estate amounted to 1,000 acres in County Fermanagh and 1,500 acres in County Tyrone.

Plight of the Big House

An unexpected visitor arrived on the 18th December, 2020, viz. J A K Dean, the distinguished author of several illustrated books about Ulster heritage.

I have two of his books, the Gate Lodges of Ulster, and The Plight of the Big House in Northern Ireland.

The latter of the two has only just been published by the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society.

Dixie called with me this morning and, to my absolute delight and surprise, presented me with a copy of The Plight of the Big House in Northern Ireland.

I intend to write more about it when I've perused it.

I immediately recognized the mansion featured on the front cover: Norwood Tower, former residence of the Hendersons, erstwhile proprietors of the Belfast Newsletter newspaper, and directors of Ulster Television.

I am extremely grateful to Dixie and, like his indispensable Gate Lodges of Ulster, I am in no doubt that this latest book shall prove to be as authoritative a publication. 

First published in December, 2020.

Vice-Admirals of Ulster

4th Earl of Kilmorey OBE

Vice-Admirals of Ulster

• Arthur, 1st Baron Chichester; in office 1602-25
• Edward, 1st Viscount Chichester, 1625-39
• Charles, 1st Earl of Mountrath, 1647
• Sir William Stewart Bt, 1647
• John Davis (?), 1661
• Gorges (?), 1666
• Gustavus, 1st Viscount Boyne, 1691-1709, 1716-23  
• The Hon Frederick Hamilton, 1710-15
• Henry, 1st Baron Conyngham, 1748-79
• William Burton Conyngham, 1779-96
• Charles, 1st Earl O'Neill, 1822-1841
• Archibald, 2nd Earl of Gosford, 1841-49
• Francis, 2nd Marquess Conyngham, 1849-76
• George Henry, 3rd Marquess Conyngham, -1882
• Archibald, 4th Earl of Gosford, -1922
• Frederick, 3rd Marquess of Dufferin & Ava, 1923-30
• Francis Charles, 4th Earl of Kilmorey, 1937-61
• Basil, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, 1961-73

The various Vice-Admirals of the Coast were not responsible for defence.

The office of Lord High Admiral had two separate strands: one concerned with legal jurisdiction (as head of the High Court of Admiralty, from which the office derived by far the greater part of its emoluments and its power); and the other concerned with executive command of the Navy.

The Vice-Admirals of the Coast were appointed in regard to the former, not the latter.  

Vice-Admiralty Courts ceased to function in 1864.

In 1891 the Admiralty Court itself was merged into the High Courts of Justice under the Judicature Act of that year.  

All appointments as Vice-Admirals of the Coast, already essentially nugatory, automatically lapsed.

There were various claims to the honorary dignity of the title from families which had held it in succession over a number of generations (although it was never hereditary) or by various mayors (although any rights in this respect were extinguished by the Municipal Corporations Act of 1895).

The Marquesses Conyngham, for instance, owned 150,000 acres of land in Ireland, the vast majority of which was in County Donegal.

Even when still functioning, the office of Vice-Admiral of Ulster was more limited than the title might suggest, as a charter issued by CHARLES II to the Honourable the Irish Society gave jurisdiction over the larger part of the coast of Ulster to them, excepting only the coasts of counties Down and Antrim.

In 1961, when the question of reviving the office of Vice-Admiral of Ulster arose (there having been none since 1937), the Head of the Historical Section (Admiralty) was consulted, and provided a summary of the historical background before giving his personal opinion on the matter:

Subject to a clear acceptance of the fact that any such appointment today carries only a legal connotation, is defunct, and does not entitle the holder to claim any military rank or duty, Head of H.S. sees no real objection to the proposed appointment beyond the obvious stupidity of appointing gentlemen to moribund offices. All these Vice-Admiralty titles are quite meaningless today.

In 1964, after the office of Lord High Admiral was resumed by the Crown, the Royal Navy ceased to have authority to issue warrants for such offices.

First published in January, 2012.

Field-Marshal Sir John Dill

DAVID DILL, son of John Dill, of Tullynadall, County Donegal, born in 1640, married, in 1665, Catherine Sheridan, and had issue,

Joseph;
FRANCIS, of whom hereafter;
Samuel;
David.

The second son,

FRANCIS DILL, of Aughadreena, County Donegal, born in 1675, wedded, in 1720, Rebecca Anderson, and had issue (with three daughters),

JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Marcus.

The elder son,

JOHN DILL (1726-1804), of Springfield, County Donegal, espoused, in 1764, Susan, daughter of Richard McClure, of Convoy, and had issue,

Francis;
Richard (Rev); 
Samuel (Rev); grandfather of SIR SAMUEL DILL;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
Moses;
Marcus;
Margery; Mary.

The fourth son,

JOHN DILL, of Oak Bank, Ramelton, County Donegal, born in 1774, married Anna Scott, and had issue,

Alexander;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
Anna; Susanna.

The younger son,

THE REV JOHN DILL (1802-41), Presbyterian Minister of Carnmoney, County Antrim, wedded, in 1828, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of his uncle, the Rev Samuel Dill, and had issue,

John Alexander Scott;
Samuel Richard;
JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Hessy Nesbitt.

The Rev J Dill's third son,

JOHN DILL (1841-94), of 6, College Gardens, Belfast, a Manager in the Ulster Bank, married, in 1876, Jane, daughter of John Waite Greer, and had issue,

JOHN GREER;
Nicholina Frances.

4-7, College Gardens, Belfast, 1896 (Image: Northern Ireland Historical Photographical Society)

6, College Gardens was demolished in the 1970s and the Queen's University Common Room (now Deane's at Queen's restaurant) now occupies the site.

College Gardens, Belfast, 2021 (Image: Timothy Ferres)

Mr John Dill's only son,

FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN GREER DILL GCB CMG DSO (1881-1944), Chief of the Imperial General Staff, 1940-41, wedded firstly, in 1907, Ada Maude, daughter of Colonel William Albert Le Mottée, and had issue, an only child,

JOHN de GUERIN.

He married secondly, in 1941, Nancy Isabelle Cecil, daughter of Henry Charrington.

Sir John's only son,

COLONEL JOHN de GUERIN DILL MBE (1916-71), Royal Horse Artillery, wedded, in 1942, Heather Avice Fenton, daughter of Harold Arthur Falkner, and had issue,

John Peregrine, b 1946;
Felicia Rosanne; Priscilla Avice Bettina.

First published in February, 2017. 

Gelston's Corner

 2-4, BELMONT ROAD, BELFAST (also known as Strandtown Hall), is a four-bay, two-storey, red-brick corner building with curved entrance facade facing west.

It was built ca 1902.

There is an elaborate entrance with pillars, sculpted pediment, clock, open-work balustrade to a parapet with hipped roof behind.

The building is located on the northern corner of the junction of the Belmont Road and Holywood Road, known locally as Gelston's Corner.

It has a hipped, natural slate roof with terracotta ridge, hips and finials at each end; and cast-iron ogee guttering.

The main entrance is curved and faces west.

Pairs of Corinthian-style marble pilasters frame either side of the shop front, with curved bay plate-glass windows, and timber frames supported on splayed marble stall-riser to north and south of the entrance doors, rendered and painted fascia.

What happened to the cupola that crowned the building, above the clock?

Prior to the erection of the current building, the corner site was occupied by a local post office.

When the Belfast Corporation Bill was passed in 1896, Belfast’s municipal boundary was extended to include a number of townlands in east Belfast such as Ballyhackamore, Ballycloghan and Strandtown.

2-4 Belmont Road was constructed at Gelston’s Corner on land leased by Braithwaite & McCann, spirit dealers who owned one of the largest chain of public houses in the city.

The building cost £1,500 to erect (about £166,000 today).

The local historian Keith Haines states that Braithwaite & McCann originally intended to use the building as a hotel, though it remained vacant from about 1902 until the 1st World War.

The building was simply described as ‘new shop – vacant’ by the Ulster Town Directories during this period.

It was not until during the 1st World War that ownership of 2-4 Belmont Road passed to Greenhill & Craig, electrical engineers, who leased the building out to its first occupants.

In 1915 the building was divided between W J Balmer, a local pharmacist who established his business on the ground floor.

Strandtown & District Unionist Club, whose club rooms were located on the floor over Balmer’s pharmacy (No 4) were accessed by the ground floor entrance on the Belmont Road (located next to the war memorial).

A contemporary photograph of 2-4 Belmont Road (dated ca 1918) depicts the building along its current layout and shows that few major structural changes have been made to the building since the end of the 1st World War.

The Portland stone war memorial was installed adjacent to the building in the aftermath of the conflict as a memorial to the residents of Strandtown who gave their lives during the war.

The memorial, which is 10' 6" in height and 4' 6" in width, was commissioned by the Strandtown & District Unionist Club (the name of the organisation was carved in the ribbon at the top).

Throughout this period the building continued to be occupied by Balmer’s pharmacy and as club rooms for the Strandtown & District Unionist Club.

Balmer vacated the ground floor of the building in the late-20th century when the ground floor retail unit became a bicycle shop.

The ground floor immediately to each side of the pilasters was occupied by a dental surgeon, James McIlroy.

The offices located on the upper floor of the building continued to be utilised by Victoria Unionist Association.

In 2008 the Ulster Unionist Party established its headquarters at the former club-rooms which are also occupied by the Victoria Ulster Unionist Association.

The Belmont Road side is occupied today by a small restaurant.

1st Earl Fitzwilliam

THE EARLS FITZWILLIAM OWNED 115,743 ACRES OF LAND: 89,891 ACRES IN COUNTY WICKLOW, 22,192 ACRES IN YORKSHIRE, 1,532 ACRES IN COUNTY KILDARE, 881 ACRES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 522 ACRES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE, 325 ACRES IN COUNTY WEXFORD, 308 ACRES IN DERBYSHIRE, 75 ACRES IN HUNTINGDONSHIRE, AND 17 ACRES IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

The family of FITZWILLIAM is of an antiquity equalled by few, and surpassed by none in England.

WILLIAM, son of Godric, married Aubreye, daughter of Robert de Lizour (she was born about 1130, and married firstly, Richard FitzEustace, Baron of Halton, County Palatine of Chester, and had issue, John, Constable of Chester).

In 1178, William rendered account of ten Marks for his marriage with the mother of John the Constable.

The lands of Aubreye de Lizour were divided between the issue of her two marriages, the Lacy lands to the heirs of John the Constable, and the lands of Lizour to William her son by her second marriage.

William, son of Godric, sometimes styled William de Clairfait, was a follower of KING STEPHEN, and founded the monastery of Hampole.

His son,

WILLIAM, was possessed of eight knights' fees in Yorkshire, as heir of his mother.

He used a seal on which he is shown on horseback with the Arms of Fitzwilliam on a shield on his arm.

He is said to have been in arms against KING JOHN and to have returned to his allegiance in the fifth year of HENRY III's reign.

His son and heir,

THOMAS FITZWILLIAM, styled grandson of Aubreye de Lizour, had free warren in 1253 in his lands in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

At the battle of Chesterfield in 1266 he was made prisoner by HENRY III.

He wedded Agnes, daughter of Roger Bertram (and received a Manor and a rent with her), and had issue,

WILLIAM FITZ THOMAS, who pleaded before the commissioners of EDWARD I that he claimed in his lands of Sprotbrough, Yorkshire, the rights of assize which his ancestors had there since the Conquest.

His son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, of Sprotbrough, who in the 29th year of the reign of EDWARD I was in the Scottish wars, but in the next reign joined in the great insurrection of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster and, being made prisoner with that nobleman at the battle of Boroughbridge in 1322, was hanged at York immediately afterwards.

He espoused Agnes, daughter of Richard, Lord Grey of Codnor, and dvp, leaving an only son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM who was summoned as a Baron in the first year of the reign of EDWARD III to the Muster of Arms, but never afterwards as Baron or to Parliament as such.

He wedded Maud, daughter of Edmund, Lord Deincourt, and had several children, of whom,

SIR JOHN FITZWILLIAM, who founded in 1372 St Edward's Chantry in the church of Sprotbrough; and having wedded Elizabeth, daughter of William, Lord Clinton, had three sons, one of whom - Edmond - was ancestor of William FitzWilliam, Earl of Southhampton.

The eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, married Maud, daughter of Ralph, Lord Cromwell, of Tattershall and co-heir of the Lord Treasurer Cromwell, by whom he had one son and two daughters, and was succeeded by the former,

SIR JOHN FITZWILLIAM, of Sprotbrough, who wedded Eleanor, daughter of Sir Henry Green, of Drayton, and died in 1418, having had six sons and a daughter.

The branch of the family at Sprotbrough became extinct in 1516 but there were several other branches in existence at that time.

In 1565 the family history was written by Hugh FitzWilliam who called himself "of Sprotbrough."

The youngest son of Sir John Fitzwilliam,

JOHN FITZWILLIAM, of Milton, and Greens Norton, Northamptonshire, married Eleanor, daughter of William Villiers, of Brooksby, Leicestershire, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM (c1460-1534), of Milton and Gaynes Park, Essex, and also of the City of London, of which he was Sheriff in 1506, and subsequently Alderman of Bread Street Ward. 

He wedded thrice: firstly, Anne, daughter of Sir John Hawes, Knight, of the City of London; secondly, Mildred, daughter of Richard Sackville; and thirdly, Jane, daughter and co-heiress of John Ormond.

The eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, Knight, who espoused Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Shapcote, of Elton,  Huntingdonshire, and had three sons and one daughter.

Sir William died in 1576, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM (1526-99), Knight, born at Milton, Lord Deputy and Lord Justice of Ireland, 1560-94.

This eminent person is thus noticed by Fuller, in his Worthies of England:

"Sir William Fitzwilliam was five times Lord Deputy of Ireland, a sufficient evidence of his honesty and ability, ELIZABETH I never trusting twice where she was once deceived in a Minister of State. And she so preserved him in the power of his office, that, when sending over Walter, Earl of Essex, to be Governor of Ulster, the Earl was ordered to take his commission from the Lord Deputy."

Sir William wedded Agnes, daughter of Sir William Sydney, and aunt of the 1st Earl of Leicester, and had issue.

He died in 1599, and was succeeded by his son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, of Milton and Gaynes Park Hall, who married Winifred, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Walter Mildmay, Knight, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Under-Treasurer of England; and died in 1618, being succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM (1577-1643), who was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland, by letters patent, dated at Westminster, 1620, in the dignity of Baron Fitzwilliam of Liffer, alias Lifford, County Donegal.

His lordship married Catherine, daughter of William Hyde, of South Denchworth, Berkshire; and died in 1643, being succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM, 2nd Baron (c1609-58), who espoused, 1638, Jane, daughter and co-heir of Hugh Perry, otherwise Hunter, Alderman of London, and had, with another son (dsp),

WILLIAM, his successor;

Jane, m Sir Christopher Wren, the celebrated architect.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Baron (1643-1719); advanced to an Irish viscountcy and earldom, 1716, as Viscount Milton, County Westmeath, and EARL FITZWILLIAM, County Tyrone.

He married, in 1669, daughter and sole heir of Edmund Cremor, of West Winch, Norfolk, by whom he had four sons and six daughters, and was succeeded by his third, but eldest surviving son,

Coat-of-arms of John, 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam (Image: NLI)

JOHN, 2nd Earl (c1685-1728), who wedded, in 1718, Anne, daughter and sole heir of John Stringer, of Sutton cum Lound, Nottinghamshire, by whom he had issue (with three daughters), a son and successor,

WILLIAM, 3rd Earl (1719-56); who was enrolled amongst the Peers of Great Britain by GEORGE II, 1742, in the dignity of Baron Fitzwilliam, of Northamptonshire; and advanced, 1746, to an English viscountcy and earldom, as Viscount Milton and EARL FITZWILLIAM.

He espoused, in 1744, the Lady Anne Watson-Wentworth, eldest daughter of Thomas, 1st Marquess of Rockingham, KB, and sister and co-heir of the 2nd Marquess, by whom he had issue, two sons and six daughters, of whom the elder son,

WILLIAM, 4th Earl (1748-1833), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for a very short period, in 1795, wedded firstly, 1770, the Lady Charlotte Ponsonby, second daughter of 2nd Earl of Bessborough, by the Lady Caroline Cavendish, his wife, daughter of 3rd Duke of Devonshire, and had an only child,

CHARLES WILLIAM WENTWORTH, his successor as 5th Earl.

He married secondly, in 1823, Louisa, fourth daughter of 3rd Viscount Molesworth, and widow of 1st Baron Ponsonby, by whom he had no further issue.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

CHARLES WILLIAM, 5th Earl (1786-1857), KG, who wedded, in 1806, Mary, fourth daughter of 1st Baron Dundas, by whom he had numerous issue, of whom the eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM THOMAS SPENCER, 6th Earl (1815-1902), KG, who espoused, in 1838, the Lady Frances Harriet Douglas, eldest daughter of George, 17th Earl of Morton, by whom he had numerous issue.

His lordship's eldest son and heir, William, styled Viscount Milton, dvp 1877, and the 6th Earl was consequently succeeded by his grandson,

WILLIAM (Billy) CHARLES DE MEURON, as 7th Earl (1872-1943), KCVO, CBE, DSO,  who married, in 1896, the Lady Maud Frederica Elizabeth Dundas, daughter of Lawrence, 1st Marquess of Zetland, and had issue,

WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE PETER, his successor;

Maud Lillian Elfreda Mary; Marjorie Joan Mary; Donatia Faith Mary; Helena Albreda Marie Gabriella.

His lordship was succeeded by his son and heir,

WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE PETER, 8th Earl (1910-48), DSC, who wedded, in 1933, Olive Dorothea, daughter of the Most Rev and Hon Benjamin John Plunket, Lord Bishop of Meath.

His lordship dying without male issue, the family honours reverted to his second cousin once removed,

ERIC SPENCER, as 9th Earl (1883-1952), who married, in 1912, Jessica Gertrude, daughter of R F Rowlands; the 9th Earl, however, had no male issue, and the honours reverted to his cousin,

WILLIAM THOMAS GEORGE, as 10th Earl (1904-79), who wedded, in 1956, Joyce Elizabeth Mary, daughter of Colonel Joseph Philip Langdale, of Houghton Hall, Yorkshire.

The 10th Earl died without issue, in 1979, and the titles expired.

                                                                                                                                                         

Former seat ~ Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, Yorkshire.

Former residences ~ Coollattin, Shillelagh, County Wicklow; 4, Grosvenor Square, London; 10, Grosvenor Street, London.                                            

Markree Castle

THE COOPERS WERE THE LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY SLIGO, WITH 34,120 ACRES

EDWARD COOPER (c1616-76), a cornet in Richard, Lord Collooney's regiment of dragoons, settling in Ireland, became possessed of a great estate in that kingdom.

Cornet Cooper was serving under Cromwell when his army defeated the mighty O’Brien Clan. O’Brien himself lost his life in this battle and Edward married his widow, Máire Rua (Red Mary). With her and her two sons he went to live at Luimneach Castle in Limerick, which is now a ruin. She had her two sons take the name of Cooper as protection from the English invaders.

Cromwell’s army marched on, further northwards in spite of the fact that he did not have the means to pay his officers. Instead, he gave them large pieces of land. Thus, he gave Markree Castle, near Collooney in County Sligo, and the surrounding grounds to Edward Cooper.

By Margaret his wife, daughter of Nicholas Mahon, of Ballinamulty, County Roscommon, he had issue,

Edward, dsp;
ARTHUR, his heir;
Richard;
Mary; Margaret.

The second son,

ARTHUR COOPER (1667-93), of Markree, County Sligo, heir to his brother Edward, married, ca 1693, Mary, daughter of Sir Joshua Allen, Knight, father of John, 1st Viscount Allen, and had issue,

JOSHUA, his heir;
Richard, dsp;
Mary; Elizabeth; Anne; Eleanor; Margaret.

The eldest son,

JOSHUA COOPER (c1696-1757), of Markree, High Sheriff of County Sligo, 1718, MP for County Sligo, 1719-57, wedded, ca 1729, Mary, daughter of Richard Bingham, of Newbrook, County Mayo, and left two sons; the younger, Richard, of Bath; and the elder,

THE RT HON JOSHUA COOPER (1732-1800), of Markree, High Sheriff of County Sligo, 1763, MP for Castlebar, 1761-8, County Sligo, 1768-83,  Privy Counsellor, who married Alicia, only daughter and heir of the Rt Rev Dr Edward Synge, Lord Bishop of Elphin, and had issue,

JOSHUA EDWARD, dsp;
Edward Synge, father of EDWARD JOSHUA;
Richard, dsp;
Jane, died unmarried.

Mr Cooper was succeeded by his grandson,

JOSHUA EDWARD COOPER (1762-1837), of Markree, MP for County Sligo, 1790-1800, who married twice, without male issue, and was succeeded by his nephew,

EDWARD JOSHUA COOPER (1798-1863), of Markree Castle, MP for County Sligo, 1830-41 and 1857-59, who married firstly, Sophia, third daughter of Henry P L'Estrange, of Moyestown, King's County, which lady dsp.

He married, secondly, Sarah Frances, daughter of Owen Wynne, of Haslewood, County Sligo, and had issue,

Laura Frances; Charlotte Sophie; Emma Marie; Selina Elizabeth; Cicely Florence.

Mr Cooper was succeeded by his nephew,

THE RT HON EDWARD HENRY COOPER JP DL (1827-1902), of Markree Castle, High Sheriff of County Sligo, 1871, Lieutenant-Colonel, Grenadier Guards, who wedded, in 1858, Charlotte Maria, only child of Edward W Mills, of Hampshire, and had issue,

Francis Edward, father of BRYAN RICCO;
Richard Joshua, CVO;
Arthur Charles;
Kathleen Emily; Florence Lucy; Venetia Helen.

Colonel Cooper was succeeded by his grandson,

BRYAN RICCO COOPER TD JP DL (1884-1930), of Markree Castle, High Sheriff of County Sligo, 1908, Dublin County, 1910, who espoused, in 1910, Marion Dorothy, elder daughter of Edward Stanley Handcock, of Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, and had issue, his eldest son,

EDWARD FRANCIS PATRICK COOPER, of Markree Castle (1912-), Lieutenant-Commander RN, who married, in 1937, Elizabeth Mary, daughter of the Ven Charles Philip Stuart Clarke; educated at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; fought in 2nd World War; retired from the Navy in 1945.

His youngest son,

CHARLES PHILIP COOPER, of Markree Castle (b 1948), educated at St. Columba's College, Dublin, lived in 1976 at Newport, County Mayo; formerly in hotel management.

MARKREE CASTLE, Collooney, County Sligo, originally a 17th century house, was rebuilt a century later; and, in 1802, Joshua Cooper commissioned Francis Johnston to enlarge this house and transform it into a castellated mansion.

The Castle was completely transformed and greatly extended with a new garden front and tower.

In 1866, the Castle was further enlarged again by Lt-Col E H Cooper MP, who added a massive, battlemented tower, increasing the size of the dining-room. A Gothic chapel was built.

The interior has a straight flight of stone stairs which lead up to the main floor under the porte-cochere, beneath a vaulted ceiling.

Beyond is a vast, Victorian double-staircase of oak, lit by a heraldic stained-glass window illustrating the Cooper family tree, with ancestors and Monarchs.

The large drawing-room was re-decorated in the mid-1800s in an ornate Louis Quatorze style, with abundant gilding and portly putti in high-relief supporting cartouches and trailing swags of fruit and flowers.

Brief Family History

Times remained turbulent and during an attempt by JAMES I to regain the throne, Markree Castle was occupied by the Catholic army and the Coopers had to flee.

After the battle of the Boyne in 1690, they returned and have been resident here ever since, except for a brief period during the Irish Civil War in the 1920s when Markree was again occupied, this time by the Irish Free State army.

The family was always politically involved and several ancestors represented the county at Westminster.

They did not always follow party policy (maybe because they were descended from the O’Briens) and opposed the Act of Union, which sought to dissolve the parliament in Dublin and centralise power in London, in 1802.

The Coopers’ opposition to the Act of Union cost them the peerage that they had been promised and it is for this reason that Markree is one of the very few castles in Ireland that is not owned by a titled family.

In 1922, the grandfather of the current owner, Charles Cooper, was one of the two members of the Westminster Parliament who were also elected as a TD to the first Irish Parliament after independence.

After the 2nd World War, Markree Castle fell on hard times and it stood empty and derelict for many years.

In the early 1980s it appeared on the front cover of a book entitled Vanishing Houses of Ireland, a testament to the sad state of decay in which many of Ireland’s great houses found themselves.

In 1989, Charles Cooper, having worked in the hotel business all his life, came back to Markree to renovate the castle and run it as a hotel.

Each generation left its mark on the estate, but the castle, as we can see it today, dates from 1802 with some changes made, mainly to the interior, in 1896.

Walking around the outside of the Castle you can see dates of completion carved in stone on the walls.

The stained glass window in the hall traces the Cooper family tree from Victorian times back to the time of King John.

The restaurant is an architectural masterpiece designed by Francis Johnston and executed by Italian craftsmen.

A conservation area, the estate holds an array of wild life from red squirrels, to otters, to kingfishers. It has proved inspirational and the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful was written here in the 1800s.

At the heart of Yeats’ Country, the poet W.B. Yeats was a guest here when the Castle was still a private residence.

More recently, the singer-songwriter Johnny Cash and the golfer Tom Watson have stayed there.

In June, 2015, the 300-acre Markree Castle estate was acquired by the Corscadden family for an undisclosed sum.

The property underwent a €5 million restoration prior to re-opening in the spring of 2016.

First published in June, 2011.

Order of St Patrick: Ulster List

THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF ST PATRICK WAS THE THIRD MOST SENIOR ORDER OF CHIVALRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. IT RANKED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MOST ANCIENT AND MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE THISTLE

The Knights listed below had connections in one form or another with Ulster.

SELECTIVE LIST OF KNIGHTS OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF ST PATRICK

• 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil 1783
• 1st Earl of Charlemont 1783
• 1st Earl of Ely 1783
• 1st Marquess of Ely 1794
• 2nd Earl of Roden 1806
• 2nd Marquess of Ely 1807
• 1st Earl O'Neill 1809
• 2nd Earl of Enniskillen 1810
• 2nd Marquess of Donegall 1821
• 2nd Earl of Caledon 1821
• 3rd Earl of Roden 1821
• 2nd Earl of Charlemont 1831
  
• 3rd Marquess of Downshire 1831
• 10th Viscount Massereene 1851
• 1st Earl of Dartrey, 1855
• 3rd Earl of Gosford 1855
• 4th Marquess of Londonderry 1856
• 3rd Marquess of Donegall 1857
• 4th Marquess of Downshire 1859
• 1st Marquess of Dufferin & Ava 1864
• 2nd Baron Lurgan 1864
• 3rd Earl of Charlemont 1865
• 3rd Earl of Erne 1868
• 4th Earl of Gosford 1869
• 5th Marquess of Londonderry 1874
• 7th Duke of Manchester 1877
• 4th Earl of Erne 1889
• 3rd Earl of Kilmorey 1890
• 4th Earl of Caledon 1897
• 4th Earl of Enniskillen 1902
• 24th Baron de Ros 1902
• 1st Viscount Pirrie 1909
• 9th Earl of Shaftesbury 1911
• 3rd Duke of Abercorn 1922

The first three appointees were founder members of the Order. 

The Most Noble James, 3rd Duke of Abercorn, KG KP PC, was the final non-royal conferral before the Order went into abeyance.

First published on the 17th March, 2011.

Kilbroney Lodge

WILLIAM RAINEY (c1565-c1606), of Ayrshire, settled in County Antrim, and was father of

JOHN RAINEY (1602-82), of Killybegs, County Antrim, who left three sons and two daughters,

WILLIAM, of whom presently;
Robert, of Killybegs;
Hugh, of Magherafelt;
Elizabeth; Mary.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM RAINEY (c1640-c1722), of Belfast, wedded a daughter of _____ McCormick, and left four sons and four daughters,

John, of Belfast;
WILLIAM, of whom hereafter;
Robert, of Newry;
Daniel (Rev), minister of the church at Amsterdam;
Jane; Mary, Anne; Grissel.

The second son,

WILLIAM RAINEY (1671-1725), of Belfast, espoused Katherine, daughter of _____ Shaw, by Elizabeth, daughter of James Maxwell, and sister and co-heir of Arthur Maxwell, of Drumbeg, County Down, and had four sons and a daughter,

Arthur Rainey MAXWELL, of Castle Hill, Co Down;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
William;
Patrick;
Jane.

The second son,

JOHN RAINEY (c1717-93), of Greenville House, Knockbreda, County Down, married Mary, daughter of Surgeon William Hamilton, of Dublin, and had an only son and two daughters,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Frances; Elizabeth.

The only son,

WILLIAM RAINEY (c1745-1803), of Greenville, wedded firstly, Henrietta Maria, daughter of the Rev James Hutchinson, by whom he had five sons and two daughters,

John;

WILLIAM HENRY, of whom we treat;
James;
Francis;
Henry;
Martha; Mary.

He married secondly, Mary Anne Boyd, and had a son, Boyd, and a daughter, Elizabeth.

The second son, 

WILLIAM HENRY RAINEY JP (1780-1830), of Mount Panther, County Down, Major, 4th Bengal Cavalry, East India Company, espoused Margaret, daughter of Robert Macan, of County Armagh, and had issue,

ARTHUR JACOB MACAN, his heir;
Elizabeth Matilda, m R L Ogilby of Ardnargle.

The only son,

MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR JACOB MACAN RAINEY (1826-1906), wedded Caroline Susannah, eldest daughter of the Rev William Robinson, Rector of Bovagh, County Londonderry, and sister and co-heir of Henry Jeffery Robinson, of Portrush, County Antrim, and had issue,

William John, died in infancy;
ROBERT MAXIMILIAN, later RAINEY-ROBINSON;
Francis Edward;
Edward Flower;
Caroline Susanna; Esther Sophia.

The eldest surviving son,

ROBERT MAXIMILIAN RAINEY-ROBINSON CB CMG (1861-1932), Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding, 62nd Punjabis, Indian Staff Corps, assumed the arms and surname of ROBINSON in 1897.

He wedded, in 1903, Alice Frances, eldest daughter of Arthur Hidding Hildebrand CIE.

The Rainey mausoleum is at Knockbreda parish graveyard, County Down.

Family of Robinson

THE VERY REV WILLIAM FRIEND (1714-66), Dean of Canterbury, 1760, wedded, in 1739, Grace, youngest daughter of William Robinson, of Rokeby, Yorkshire, and sister of the Most Rev Richard Robinson, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and had, with other issue, a son,

THE REV SIR JOHN ROBINSON, Baronet,  formerly Archdeacon of Armagh, who assumed the surname of ROBINSON in lieu of Friend, 1793, and was created a baronet in 1819.

Sir John had, with other issue,

CAROLINE SUSANNAH ROBINSON (see above).

THE LODGE, Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor, County Down, is said to have built by Robert Ross.

The Lodge was situated on a rise overlooking the lower meadow.

Kilbroney Lodge was razed to the ground by the local council when they acquired the forest park.

GREENVILLE HOUSE, Knockbreda, County Down, was a two-storey, eleven-bay Georgian mansion which stood at what is today called Greenville Park, directly beside Grand Parade, and opposite Dixon Playing Fields in east Belfast.

It appears to have had a courtyard within its walls, and a large conservatory attached to the house.

Greenville features in J A K Dean's Plight of the Big House in Northern Ireland.

It was demolished in 1975.

IN 1709 William Rainey acquired a property consisting of dwelling house, cellars, gardens, and premises, on the south side of High Street in Belfast (that is to say south of the river Farset, perhaps between Pottinger's Entry and Church Lane). 

The Raineys flourished in Belfast during the 17th and 18th centuries as merchants, selling linen and provisions.

As prominent merchants in the town they would have been acquainted with other well-known families, such as the Gregs, Cunninghams, and Macartneys.

It's probable that they purchased Greenville from the Houstons, who moved to the adjacent Orangefield House.

First published in February, 2013. Rainey-Robinson arms courtesy of the NLI.

1st Viscount Craigavon

JAMES CRAIG was born near Strandtown on the outskirts of east Belfast, the sixth son of James Craig (1828–1900), a prosperous distiller.

The Craig family came to Ulster in 1608 and lived at Ballyvester, near Donaghadee; and, at a later time, at Ballyvester House.

Craig entered the firm of Dunville & Company, whiskey distillers, as a clerk, aged 40.

He subsequently became a millionaire and partner in the firm.

His career is already well documented on the Internet.

The Craigavon Papers are held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

The supporters of the Craigavon coat-of-arms depict a constable of the Ulster Special constabulary, his hands resting on a rifle, on the left; and a private soldier of the Royal Ulster Rifles, armed and accoutred, to the right.

The 1st Viscount is buried at the Stormont Estate.

The titles are currently held by the 3rd Viscount, born in 1940.

CRAIGAVON HOUSE, Strandtown, Belfast, was the seat of the Craig family.

Its main entrance was on the Holywood Road, close to where the Mormon church is today.

The grounds extended to twenty acres. 

Illustration: National Library of Ireland

Craigavon House was built in 1870. 

It is a two-storey Victorian dwelling with a front of two bays on either side of a central bow.

Entrance Front in 2019

There are round-headed windows in the lower storey, with camber-headed windows above.

A pavilion with pedimented portico forms the entrance front of the house, joined to the main block by an orangery.

The Pavilion in 2019

The Craigavon crest, a lion rampant, adorns the front of the orangery in the form of carved stone-work.

There were two gate lodges, one on the Holywood Road where William Cowan, a gardener, lived ca 1900, since demolished; and the other on Circular Road, home to James Clements, coachman.

From Holywood Road the drive ran parallel to the Circular Road, on a steep incline.

North Front in 2019

The Circular Road lodge is in good condition.

The Craigs' closest neighbours would have been the Mitchells at Marmont House.

Of the big houses on Circular Road, only Craigavon and Marmont (Mitchell House School) remain. 

CRIGAVON HOUSE is owned and run by the Somme Association, a charity which cares for elderly war veterans.

Sadly, the future of Craigavon House remains uncertain.

Sir Edward Carson declared the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant from its steps.

East Front in 2019

It was later signed by more than 47,000 men and women on 28 September, 1912, who pledged themselves to defend the Protestant heritage in the province.

Residents of the Somme Hospital, a nursing home for veterans, moved out of the main building to a new block some time ago, but an historical society which occupies the rear of the building, is now moving into the house itself. 

The Somme association hopes to attract other tenants which would help with running costs of the building, because they are reluctant to sell it.

The Craigs also owned TYRELLA HOUSE, between Ardglass and Newcastle, County Down, which was bought by the 1st Viscount's father. 

In the study of Tyrella there is a stained-glass window with the Craig crest.

The architect Vincent Craig was a brother of the 1st Viscount.

He designed The Royal Ulster Yacht Club. 

Another brother, Charles Craig, was also a politician. 

Tyrella House was sold to the present family in 1949.

I think the last member of the Craig family to live there was Clarence, another brother of the 1st Viscount (who had seven brothers and one sister).

The early 19th century house, with a conservatory, is placed near the sea.

Lewis describes the site in 1837 as  ‘… a richly planted demesne of 200 acres …’ 

The house is protected by mature shelter trees.

There is a folly fort on a hill top to the north- east of the house. 

An early 20th century Japanese garden to the south of the house has ‘Spider Lodge’, a summer- house; a Japanese summer-house; overgrown rockeries; water features and exotic planting.

This area fell into decline after the 2nd World War.

The walled garden is cultivated round a house, built there in 1987.

There are glasshouses and a potting shed.

Other noted features are the entrance gates and screen pre-1835; gate lodge pre-1835; a smithy, which looks like a gate lodge. 

The 1st Viscount is buried at the Stormont Estate.

The 3rd Viscount died in 2025, so the titles expire.

First published in May, 2010.