French Park

THE BARONS DE FREYNE WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY ROSCOMMON, WITH 34,400 ACRES

WALTER FFRENCH, who settled in the town of Galway about 1425, and was Sovereign (Chief Magistrate) of that town, 1444-5, was the common ancestor of this family and that of Baron Ffrench.

STEPHEN FFRENCH, of the town of Galway, living at the end of the 16th century, was father of

PATRICK FFRENCH, born in 1583, who was a burgess of the town of Galway, and before 1636 had acquired as mortgagee and by purchase extensive landed property in counties Sligo and Roscommon.

He was deprived of a considerable portion in 1636 by Sir Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Strafford), then Lord Deputy of Ireland, but in 1656-7 he was, by decrees of the Cromwellian Commissioners, allotted 6,000 acres in County Roscommon.

He died in 1669, at his mansion house of Dungar (French Park), built by himself, and was buried in the Dominican Abbey of Cloonshanville, near French Park, in a vault near the belfry, on which are engraved the arms of his family and this inscription: "Pray for the soule of Patrick French Fitz Stephen, of Galway, burgess, who lived in this world 86 years."

He had issue six sons,

Stephen;

DOMINICK, of whom presently;

Edmond;

Robert;

Francis;

Anthony.

The second son,

DOMINICK FRENCH, of French Park, and of Boyle, who wedded Anne, daughter of the Rt Rev Dr Edward King, Lord Bishop of Elphin, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Dominick;
Patrick;
Mary, Margaret; Sarah; Anne.

Mr French was buried in Elphin Cathedral, where his monument is still to be seen.

He was succeeded by his son,

JOHN FRENCH (1662-1734), of French Park, called Tierna More, a colonel in the army who commanded a troop in the Enniskillen Dragoons at the battle of Aughrim, and was attainted on account of his Whig principles by the parliament held by JAMES II at Dublin, 1690.

Mr French, MP for Carrick, 1695-9 and 1713-14, County Galway, 1703-13, Tulsk, 1715-27, wedded Anne, daughter of Sir Arthur Gore Bt, of Newtown, ancestor of the Earls of Arran, and had issue,

ARTHUR, his heir;
Robert;
John;
William;
Mary; Olivia; Catherine; Sarah.

Mr French died in 1734, leaving £1,000 to be expended on his funeral.

His body was laid in state in the park for three days and nights, and the county were feasted round it.

He was succeeded by his son, 

ARTHUR FRENCH (1690-1761), of French Park, MP for Tulsk, 1714, County Roscommon, 1721-7, Boyle, 1727-60, who espoused Jane, daughter of John Percival, of Knightsbrook, County Meath, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Robert;
ARTHUR, successor to his brother;
George;
Martha.

Mr French was succeeded by his eldest son, 

JOHN FRENCH (1723-75), of French Park, MP for County Roscommon, 1745-75, until the time of his death in 1775, in which year he was drowned, together with his brother, Robert, on his passage from Dublin to Parkgate.

He was to have been called to the house of peers as Baron Dungar.

Mr French wedded Alicia, daughter of Ralph Crawford, of Snowhill, County Fermanagh; but having no issue, was succeeded by his brother,

ARTHUR FRENCH (1728–99), Colonel, French Park and Castlemaine Volunteers, who refused to accept the peerage promised to his brother.

Colonel French married, in 1763, Alicia, daughter of Richard Magennis, of Dublin, of the house of IVEAGH, and had issue,

ARTHUR, his heir;
Richard;
John, in holy orders;
George;
Robert Henry;
William;
St George;
Jane; Alicia; Anne; Frances.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,


ARTHUR FRENCH (1765-1820), MP for County Roscommon, 1785-1820, who wedded, ca 1784, Margaret, daughter of Edmund Costello, the representative of the Nangles, Lord McCostello, County Mayo, by Mary his wife, daughter of Francis, 21st Baron Athenry, and had issue,

ARTHUR, his heir;
JOHN, 2nd Baron, in holy orders;
CHARLES, 3rd Baron;
William;
Fitzstephen;
Mary; Louisa; Harriet; Elizabeth.

Mr French, who refused successively an earldom and a barony, was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR FRENCH (1786-1856), of French Park, MP for County Roscommon, 1821-32, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1839, in the dignity of BARON DE FREYNE, of Artagh, County Roscommon.

He married, in 1818, Mary, daughter of Christopher McDermott, though the marriage was without issue, and his lordship was succeeded by his next brother,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (1788-1863), who died unmarried, when the title devolved upon his brother,

CHARLES, 3rd Baron (1790-1868), who espoused, in 1851, Catherine, daughter of Luke Maree, and had issue,

Charles;
John;
William;
ARTHUR, his successor;
Richard Patrick;
Robert;
Mary Josephine.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest legitimate son,

ARTHUR, 4th Baron (1855-1913), Honorary Colonel, Connaught Rangers, who married firstly, Laura Octavia, daughter of the Hon John Charles Dundas, and had issue,

ARTHUR REGINALD, his successor;
Gwendolen Mary.

He wedded secondly, in 1882, Marie Georgiana, daughter of Richard Westbrook Lamb, and had further issue,

FRANCIS CHARLES, 6th Baron;
William Joseph;
Edward Fulke;
Louis Richard;
George Philip;
Ernest Aloysius;
Hubert John;
Bertram Leo;
Lily Marie; Muriel May; Eileen Agnes.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR REGINALD, 5th Baron (1879-1915), Captain, South Wales Borderers, who espoused, in 1902, Annabel, daughter of William Angus, though his lordship was killed in action, and the marriage was without issue, when the title devolved upon his half-brother,

FRANCIS CHARLES, 6th Baron (1884-1935), DL, High Sheriff of County Roscommon, 1912, who married, in 1916, Lina Victoria, daughter of Sir John Alexander Arnott Bt, and had issue,

FRANCIS ARTHUR JOHN, his successor;
Patricia Mary; Jeanne Victoria; Patience Veronica; Faith Gabriel.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

FRANCIS ARTHUR JOHN, 7th Baron (1927-2009), of French Park, who wedded firstly, in 1954, Shirley Ann, daughter of Dougles Rudolph Pobjoy, and had issue,

FULKE CHARLES ARTHUR JOHN, his successor;
Patrick Dominick Fitzstephen Jude;
Vanessa Rose Bradbury.

He espoused secondly, in 1978, Sheelin Deirdre, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Kane O'Kelly.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

(FULKE) CHARLES ARTHUR JOHN, 8th Baron (b 1957),  who wedded, in 1986, Julia Mary, daughter of James H Wellard, and has issue,

ALEXANDER JAMES CHARLES;
William Rory Francis.

The 8th and present Baron lives in London. 

FRENCH PARK, near Boyle, in County Roscommon, was formerly the ancestral seat of the Barons de Freyne.

The house, originally built in the mid-17th century before being rebuilt in the Georgian style in the 18th century, was demolished after the sale of the estate by the French family to the Irish Land Commission in 1952.

The Commission removed the roof of the buildings in 1953 and eventually demolished the remaining structures ca 1975.

French Park was an early Palladian winged house of red brick, of three storeys with a seven-bay centre block (above).

Two-storey wings, five bays long and four deep, were joined to the main block by curved sweeps.

In 1952 Lord de Freyne sold French Park.

French Park House ca 1910 (Image: Facebook)

The great house and demesne had been in the French family since 5,000 acres were granted to Dominick French in 1666; prior to its dissemination during the Irish land acts, the estate comprised 36,000 acres.

Having sold the estate, the de Freynes moved to Oxfordshire.

The eighth and present Baron now lives in London.

The once-great mansion is now a roofless ruin.

First published in July, 2011.

Londonderry House Ball

THE LATE CHARLES VILLIERS, A GREAT-GRANDSON OF THE 7TH MARQUESS AND MARCHIONESS OF LONDONDERRY, SENT ME INFORMATION ABOUT A BALL HELD AT LONDONDERRY HOUSE, PARK LANE, LONDON, ON THE 23RD OCTOBER, 1959.

THE BALL WAS HELD FOR LADY MAIRI BURY'S ELDER DAUGHTER, THE HON ELIZABETH MAIRI KEPPEL [ELIZABETH LADY SUDELEY].

Londonderry House

 A FAMILY SETTING

THE NEXT NIGHT, a starlit night, was also a gay one in Park Lane when Lady Mairi Bury had a coming-out dance for her petite, blonde daughter, the Hon Elizabeth Keppel.

Lady Mairi, in tangerine paper-taffeta and fabulous tiara and necklace of square-cut diamonds and emeralds, stood at the top of the imposing staircase of Londonderry House - her childhood home - to receive her guests.

It was a wonderful setting for a ball, though Lady Mairi told me that she thought Elizabeth might well be the last of the Londonderry family to have a coming-out there.

In the gold-and-white ballroom the gay colours of dresses glowed softly under the chandeliers.

The young men, the Earl of Portarlington, Mr Alexander Cadogan, Mr William Lindsay-Hogg, Mr Paul Channon MP, and the Hon John Jolliffe, found that they had only to walk a few yards from the dance-floor to sit out in rooms hung with fine old paintings.

As Elizabeth is the eldest of her branch of the family, there were many relatives present:-

Her father, Viscount Bury; the Earl & Countess of Albemarle, her cousin the Hon Camilla Jessel, the Dowager Viscountess Chaplin and the Hon Walter & Mrs Keppel.

For the older generation it was an evening of memories - memories of some of the greatest pre-war parties when Prime Ministers and future Prime Ministers argued long after dinner.

The hostess on these occasions was Lady Mairi's mother, the late Dowager Marchioness of Londonderry.

• Hon Elizabeth Anson 
• Elizabeth Blakiston-Houston 
• Hon Sarah Boyle 
• The Lady Elizabeth Charteris 
• The Lady Rose Chetwynd-Talbot 
• The Lady Carey Coke 
• The Lady Diana Douglas-Home 
• The Lady Anne, The Lady Mary & The Lady Sarah Fitzalan-Howard 
• Belinda Guinness
  The Hon Lucinda Lambton
• The Duke & Duchess of Abercorn 
• The Viscount & Viscountess Allendale 
• Lord Annaly 
• The Earl & Countess of Antrim 
• Mr Mark & Lady Annabel Birley 
• The Lady Perdita Blackwood 
• Viscount Bury 
• Marquess of Clydesdale 
• The Earl of Dudley MC 
• The Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava 
• The Lord & Lady Glentoran 
• Colonel & the Hon Mrs Grosvenor 
• Lt-Cdr & Hon Mrs O King 
• Raffaele, Duchess of Leinster 
• Mr & Mrs John Profumo 
• The Duke & Duchess of Sutherland 
• The Lord Talbot de Malahide 
• The Lord & Lady Wakehurst 
• The Hon Helen Ward 
• The Dean of Windsor & Mrs Hamilton 
• Viscount Anson 
• Paul Channon MP 
• Viscount Chelsea 
• The Marquess of Dufferin & Ava 
• The Lord Dunleath 
• Viscount Dunluce 
• The Earl of Gowrie 
• Marquess of Hamilton 
• Lord Anthony Hamilton 
• Viscount Jocelyn 
• The Lord O'Neill 
• Andrew & Gavin Perceval-Maxwell 
• Lord Sudeley 
• The Viscount Sudeley 
• The Earl of Suffolk

 Londonderry arms courtesy of European Heraldry. First published in December, 2011.

Kinnitty Castle

THE BERNARDS OF CASTLE BERNARD WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE KING'S COUNTY, WITH 14,629 ACRES

THOMAS BERNARD (-1720), of Oldtown and Clonmulsh, County Carlow, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1708, married Deborah, daughter of Matthew Shepperd, of Killerick, County Carlow, and had issue,

Charles, of Bernard's Grove;
Franks, of Castletown;
JOSEPH, of whom we treat.

The third son,

JOSEPH BERNARD (1694-1764), of Straw Hill, County Carlow, and Castletown, King's County, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1730, wedded, in 1717, Mary, daughter of John Edwards, of Old Court, County Wicklow, and had (with five daughters) three sons,

THOMAS, his heir;
John, Captain RN;
William, of Straw Hill.

Mr Bernard was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS BERNARD, of Castletown, who espoused Jane, Mrs Armstrong, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Adam Mitchell, of Rathgibbon.

Mr Bernard died in 1788, and was succeeded by his only son,

THOMAS BERNARD (c1769-1834), of Castle Bernard, Colonel, King's County Militia, High Sheriff of King's County, 1798-9, and for more than 32 years served as MP for that county, who married firstly, in 1800, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry, 1st Baron Dunalley, which lady dsp 1802; and secondly, in 1814, the Lady Catherine Henrietta Hely-Hutchinson, sister of John, 3rd Earl of Donoughmore, by whom he had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Francis;
John Henry Scrope, father of THOMAS SCROPE WELLESLEY BERNARD;
Richard Wellesley;
Frances Margaret; Marguerite.

Colonel Bernard was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS BERNARD (1816-82), of Castle Bernard, Lord-Lieutenant of King's County, 1867-83, High Sheriff of King's County, 1837, Colonel, King's County Militia, who died unmarried in 1882, when the family estate reverted to his cousin,

THOMAS SCROPE WELLESLEY BERNARD JP (1850-1905), Honorary Major, 3rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, who married, in 1880, Monica Gertrude, sixth daughter of W H Darby, of LEAP CASTLE, Roscrea, and had issue, four daughters,

Marguerite Cecil Elizabeth, m, 1906, Charles J Alexander;
Monica Charlotte Emily;
Kathrine Anne;
Maude Mary Gertrude.

KINNITTY CASTLE, formerly known as Castle Bernard, near Birr, County Offaly, is a landmark building in the area and enjoys commanding views across the surrounding countryside.

This handsome castle was built ca 1833 by the Pain Brothers, important advocates of the Gothic-Revival style in Ireland and architects of Mitchelstown Castle.

Kinnitty displays architectural motifs typical of the style including tall chimney-stacks, gabled elevations, castellated towers and parapets, battered walls and labels to windows.

Built for Thomas Bernard, the estate has played an important role in the economic development of the nearby village of Kinnitty.

The castle was burnt by the IRA in 1922, though rebuilt in 1928 by the Bernard Family who, in 1946, sold it to the 6th Baron Decies, who in turn disposed of the property to the Irish State in 1951.

The Ryan Family acquired the Castle and Estate in 1994.

It is now under new ownership and continues to operate as a hotel.

The interior survives, much altered.

The Bernards later lived at 30 Saumarez Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands.

First published in April, 2012.

1st Duke of Bolton

DUKEDOM OF BOLTON

1689-1794

This family is said to derive its surname from the Lordship of PAULET, Somerset, whereof its progenitor, Hercules, Lord of Tournon, in Picardy, became proprietor, upon settling in England in the reign of HENRY I. But by John Collinson's history of that county, it appears that Walter of Douai owned this Lordship in the time of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, and that from him it descended to the Paganals, Fitzhardings, Gaunts and Gournays. It is certain, however, that the Paulets enjoyed, from a very early period, a manor in this parish, and hence doubtless took their surname.

SIR JOHN PAULET, Knight, married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Sir John Creedy, of Creedy, Devon, and dying in 1378, left two sons, Sir Thomas, the elder, progenitor of the Earls Poulett; and

WILLIAM PAULET (the younger son), of Melcomb Pawlett, Somerset, Sergeant-at-Law, who wedded Eleanor, daughter of Sir Philip Delamare, Knight, of Nunney, and died in 1435, leaving issue, a son,

SIR JOHN PAULET, Knight, of Nunney, who espoused Constance, daughter and co-heir of Hugh de Poynings, and had issue, a son,

JOHN PAULET, of Nunney, who married Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of Robert Roos, of Gedney and Irby, Lincolnshire, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;

Margaret.

Mr Paulet was succeeded by his son,

SIR JOHN PAULET KB (1460-1525), of Basing Castle, and Nunney Castle, an officer in the army under James, Lord Audley, at the defeat of the Cornishmen, 1497; who wedded Alice, daughter of Sir William Poulett, Knight, of Hinton St George, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;

Thomas;

George (Sir);

Richard;

Eleanor; Katherine.

Sir John, who was installed a Knight of the Bath at the marriage of Arthur, Prince of Wales, 1501, was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM PAULET KG (c1485-1572), great-grandson of Sir John Paulet, by Constance de Poynings, one of the co-heiresses of her brother, Sir Thomas de Poynings, 5th Baron St John, of Basing (at the decease of which nobleman, the barony of St John fell into abeyance).

Sir William enjoying the confidence of HENRY VIII, was elevated by that monarch to the peerage, 1539, as Baron St John of Basing, and at His Majesty's decease, was appointed one of the executors to his will.

Lord St John continuing as a leading statesman, was created, in the ensuing reign, 1550, Earl of Wiltshire, and, in 1551, Marquess of Winchester.

He was installed a Knight of the Garter, and held the important office of LORD TREASURER OF ENGLAND during the reigns of EDWARD I and Queens MARY and ELIZABETH I.

His lordship being asked how he had contrived to preserve the treasurership through so long a series of changeable years, replied, by being a willow, not an oak.

This nobleman erected the beautiful and magnificent seat called Basing House, Hampshire.

The 1st Marquess married Elizabeth, daughter of Alderman Sir William Capel, Knight, of the city of London; and dying at the advanced age of 97, in 1572, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, 2nd Marquess (c1510-76); one of the peers who sat at the trial of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk.

His lordship wedded firstly, Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Robert, 2nd Baron Willoughby de Broke, by whom he had four sons and two daughters; and secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Seymour.

He espoused thirdly, before 1571, Winifred, daughter of Sir John Brydges, Lord Mayor of London, but had no other issue.

The 2nd Marquess was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Marquess, KB (1532-98). a man of letters who was enrolled among the poets of his day.

His lordship married Anne or Agnes, one of the daughters of William, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham, and was succeeded by his only son,

WILLIAM, 4th Marquess (c1560-1629); who entertained ELIZABETH I most magnificently at Basing House during one of Her Majesty's tours, by which, and other expenses, he involved himself in pecuniary difficulties.

His lordship wedded Lucy, daughter of Thomas, 1st Earl of Exeter, by whom he had six sons; the third surviving of whom,

JOHN, 5th Marquess (c1598-1675); who at the beginning of the civil wars hoisted the royal banner on the battlements of Basing House, and there triumphantly maintained it so long as a single stone of the mansion remained; but that, after a protracted siege, falling by storm into the hands of the usurper CROMWELL, was burnt to the ground, and his lordship's property, in plate, jewels etc destroyed by the rebels to the amount of £200,000.

The 5th Marquess, however, had the satisfaction of living to witness the restoration of the monarchy.

He died in 1675, and was buried at Englefield, Berkshire, where a beautiful inscription by Dryden appears upon his monument.

His lordship espoused firstly, Jane, daughter of Thomas, 1st Viscount Savage, by whom he had one son, CHARLES, his successor.

He married secondly, Honora, daughter of Richard, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, and had four sons and three daughters; and thirdly, Isabel, daughter of William, 1st Viscount Stafford.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 6th Marquess (c1630-99), who was elevated to a dukedom, 1689, as DUKE OF BOLTON.

His Grace married firstly, in 1652, Christian, eldest daughter and co-heiress of John, 1st Baron Frescheville, of Staveley, Derbyshire, by whom he had no surviving issue; and secondly, in 1655, Mary, eldest illegitimate daughter of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
William;
Jane; Mary; Elizabeth.

Of this Duke, the celebrated philosopher and historian Gilbert Burnet said,

"This year (1699) died the Marquess of Winchester, whom the King had created Duke of Bolton. He was a man of a strange mixture. 

He had the spleen to a high degree, and affected an extravagant behaviour; for many weeks he would not open his mouth till such an hour of the day when he thought the air was pure. 

He changed the day into night, and often hunted by torchlight, and took all sorts of liberties to himself, many of which were very disagreeable to those about him. 

He was a man of profuse expense, and of a most ravenous avarice to support that; and though he was much hated, yet he carried matters before him with great authority and success, that he was in all respects the riddle of the age."

His Grace was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 2nd Duke (1661-1722), KG, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1717, who wedded firstly, in 1679, Margaret, daughter of George, 3rd Baron Coventry, but by her had no issue; and secondly, Frances, daughter of William Ramsden, by whom he had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
HARRY, 4th Duke;
Frances; Mary.

His Grace espoused thirdly, Henrietta Crofts, youngest natural daughter of James, 1st Duke of Monmouth, by which lady he had a son, Nassau.

The 2nd Duke was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 3rd Duke (1685-1754), KG, Constable of the Tower of London and Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets, who married firstly, in 1713, Anne, daughter and sole heiress of John, Earl of Carberry, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, Lavinia Fenton, well known as an actress in the character of Polly Peachum, by whom he had no legitimate issue, but had three sons prior to the decease of the 1st Duchess.

His Grace died in 1754, when the honours devolved upon his brother,

HARRY, 4th Duke (1691-1759), who wedded Catherine, daughter of Charles Parry, of Oakfield, Berkshire, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
HARRY, 6th Duke;
Henrietta; Catherine.

His Grace was succeeded by his elder son,

CHARLES, 5th Duke, KB (1718-65); at whose decease, unmarried, the honours devolved upon his brother,

HARRY, 6th Duke (1720-94), Admiral of the White, who espoused firstly, in 1752, Mary Nunn, by whom he had one daughter, Mary Henrietta; and secondly, 1765, Katherine, daughter of Robert Lowther, and sister of James, 1st Earl of Lonsdale, by whom he had two daughters,

Amelia, died unmarried;
Catharine Margaret, m William, 1st Duke of Cleveland.

6th Duke of Bolton, Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art

His Grace died in 1794, when the Dukedom expired, but the Marquessate of Winchester and the minor honours devolved upon his kinsman, GEORGE PAULET, 12th Marquess of Winchester.

Former seats ~ Bolton Hall, North Yorkshire; Bolton Castle, Yorkshire; Hackwood Park, Hampshire.

First Published in August, 2017.

Cashel Palace

THE archiepiscopal Province of Cashel comprised eleven dioceses, under the Archbishop and five suffragans (assistant bishops).

The see of Cashel was either founded or restored at the beginning of the 10th century; and was made an archbishopric in 1152.

Emly, which was established in the 5th century, is said to have been at first an archbishopric also.

They were united in 1568.

The Province of Cashel was almost confined to County Tipperary, branching a very little way into counties Kilkenny and Limerick.

It was twenty-eight miles in length, and twenty-three in breadth.

The united sees were very compact, extending thirty-two miles one way, and thirty the other.

THE PALACE, Cashel, County Tipperary, was built between 1730-32 by the Most Rev Dr Theophilus Bolton, Lord Archbishop of Cashel, 1730-44.

It was designed by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce.

The palace comprises two storeys over a basement, with a dormer attic in a high-pitched roof.

The entrance front is Palladian, with rose-coloured brick and stone facings.

The main block comprises seven bays, with a three-bay central breakfront.

There is a spacious panelled hall, with a screen of fluted Corinthian columns and pilasters; arched door-cases embellished with scrolls; and a modillion cornice.

The principal reception rooms face the garden front, looking towards the Rock of Cashel.

These rooms were redecorated early in the 19th century by the Most Rev Charles Agar.

A long room on one side of the forecourt once contained Archbishop Bolton's splendid library.

The last prelate to live at the palace was the Most Rev Richard Laurence, Lord Archbishop of Cashel and Primate of Munster, 1822-38.

The diocese of Cashel was united with that of Waterford in 1839.

In 1844, the former palace (the property of the ecclesiastical commissioners since the change of residence by Archbishop Laurence to Waterford) was purchased by the Dean and Chapter of Cashel.

Cashel Cathedral

Thereafter the premises were converted into a residence for the Dean; and also a residence for the "preacher of the Cathedral" was provided.

The Church of Ireland sold the palace in 1959 to the 2nd Baron Brocket, who opened it as a hotel in 1962.

The hotel ceased trading in 2015 and was later sold to the property developer John Magnier.

In 2017, redevelopment started, with plans in to re-open the hotel in 2022.

First published in September, 2015.

Hillsborough Fort Guard

HILLSBOROUGH FORT was built ca 1650 by Colonel Arthur Hill, the younger son of SIR MOYSES HILL.

The Peerage of Ireland, dated 1789, recounts,

"A castle erected by Sir Arthur Hill in the reign of CHARLES I, which at the Restoration was made a royal fort by CHARLES II, who made Sir Arthur and his heirs hereditary constables, with twenty warders and a well appointed garrison."

"Sir Arthur, having built, at his own charge, and upon his own lands, during the rebellion, for the encouragement of an English plantation, and security of the country, a considerable place of strength, called Hillsborough, fortified with four bastions, or flankers, commanding the chief roads in County Down, leading from Dublin to Belfast and Carrickfergus."

Hillsborough Fort

"His Majesty was pleased to consider that the surprise thereof, upon any insurrection, might prove very prejudicial to his service, and how much it would conduce to His Majesty's service and the safety of the country, that a guard should be placed in that fort for the security thereof."

"He therefore granted a patent at Westminster, 21st December, 1660, for erecting it into a royal garrison by the name of HILLSBOROUGH FORT, with a constable and officers to command it, to be called and known by the name of Constable of Hillsborough Fort, and twenty warders to be nominated and chosen by him; the constable to have the allowance of 3s 4d a day [in 1660 £1 was equivalent to about £206], and the warders 6d each; and this office, which at this day is held and enjoyed by the Earl of Hillsborough, was granted to him, his heirs, and assignees for ever."

In 1690, WILLIAM III stayed for two days at Hillsborough.

The Hill family was effectively authorized "to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy for ever" the office of Constable of Hillsborough Fort; and to raise and maintain a force of twenty men.

Letters patent raised the status of the fort to "a military establishment of the Crown".

Hence the constableship of Hillsborough Fort was vested in the Hill family for ever.

Thereafter the warders were regularly on duty at Hillsborough Castle, wearing "the uniform, somewhat modernised, of the Dutch Guards - blue coat with red lapels; cocked hat trimmed with white lace, and for plume a red feather; white breeches and gaiters."

The navy blue tunic had red cuffs on which was a vertical strip of white lace; collar and shoulder straps were also red; and the tunic was faced with four double bars of white lace.

The sergeant-major's attire was as other ranks, but for a red sash and a steel sword scabbard.

The warders were originally armed with muskets.

The uniform has undergone some alterations over the past three centuries, and that worn by the bugler today is essentially late 18th century in pattern.

Warders were colloquially known as "Castlemen."

Hillsborough Guard during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations at
Hillsborough Castle  (Image: Kelvin Boyes/Presseye/PA Wire)

Hillsborough Fort Guard was one of only two private armies in the United Kingdom, the other being the Duke of Atholl's Atholl Highlanders.

The War Office attempted to disband the Guard in 1874; law officers, however, advised against it, and the War Office continued to pay £5 per warder per annum (equivalent to £578 in 2020), and a free uniform every two years to twenty of Lord Downshire's estate workers.

Towards the end of the century an agreement must have been reached to discontinue this remuneration. 

Warders on parade at The Square, Hillsborough, County Down

THE Hill family, Earls of Hillsborough and Marquesses of Downshire, are proud to maintain the hereditary constableship of Hillsborough Fort today.

Andrew Carlisle, Bugler of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, tells me that numbers in the guard have ebbed and flowed over the years.

The 3rd Marquess with his favourite hunter, 1833, by George Nairn
(Image: the Marquess of Downshire)

The guard still had its full complement in the early 1900s, comprising a sergeant-major, a bugler, and twenty warders.

It survived for many years in the appointment of the Bugler.

Andrew has had the pleasure of fulfilling this role since 2006.

The Most Hon the Marquess of Downshire & Bugler Carlisle at Hillsborough Fort
(Image: Andrew Carlisle)

Lord Downshire still takes a keen interest in the history and the future of the Guard.

The Hillsborough Fort Guard has grown in numbers in the last few years, and it is hoped that the full complement of 20 warders can be attained in the fullness of time.

The Guard is unique to County Down and, indeed, Northern Ireland, having been the oldest formal military presence in Ireland and one of only two surviving private armies in the kingdom.

The Bugler and six Warders

Today, of course, their role is purely ceremonial, and it is envisaged that they would be on duty at Hillsborough Castle during formal state occasions or functions.

In 2019 Historic Royal Palaces advertized that they wished to create a group of enthusiastic individuals to represent the Hillsborough Fort Guard at Hillsborough Castle, including a sergeant-major, bugler, and two corporals. They envisaged "this team expanding in the future."

 

First published in April, 2021.

Mount Stewart Hunting Lodge

The North Lodge, formerly the gamekeeper's lodge, is a modest, single-storey, "toy fort" Gothic hunting lodge of ca 1810, situated in a wooded area within a clearing in the National Trust's Mount Stewart estate, Ards Peninsula, County Down.

This delightful little lodge is not included in Dean's Gate Lodges of Ulster, simply because it is not a gate lodge.

The roof is covered with Bangor blue slates.

Side Elevation

There are decorative barges and a finial.

The main lodge's roof lies behind the castellated parapet and is only visible from the rear elevation to the north.

The southern facade at the front is symmetrical, and has two moderately projecting outer bays, each with a pointed arch window with casement frame, with (now boarded) quatrefoil openings above.

Prospect from the Rear Yard in 2018

The porch has wooden double doors with pointed arch sidelights and a quatrefoil window in the gable apex.

There is a quatrefoil opening above the porch.

The top of the facade is "castellated with stone pyramidal pinnacles to corners and inner edges of outer bays".

The eastern and western facades are similar in arrangement as the outer front bays, with castellations and pinnacles.

Each side has a yellow brick chimney stack which rises from the castellations.

The northern edges of both the eastern and western elevations each merge into a wall.

The eastern wall adjoins a small, single-storey, lean-to, corrugated-iron outhouse.

All of the facades (apart from the north one) are finished in lined render, with sandstone dressings to the openings.

The rear is finished in roughcast.

There is no documentary evidence relating to the date of construction of this lodge.

It is thought, however, to be contemporaneous with the other Gothic gate lodges within the estate, which are believed to date ca 1804-13.

The lodge is shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834, with the exception of the front porch (probably a late-Victorian addition).

The rather incongruous chimney stacks are likely a late Victorian addition, too.

First published in October, 2018.

The Castle Ward Acquisition

SELECTIVE ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROPERTY: Castle Ward, Strangford, County Down

DATE: 1953

EXTENT: 605.62 acres

DONOR: Ministry of Finance for Northern Ireland

*****

PROPERTY: Mallard Plantation; Mountain Wood; Keeper's Cottage; Terenichol etc

DATE: 1967

EXTENT: 200.92 acres

DONOR: Peter Weatherby

*****

PROPERTY: Mallard Pond, Castle Ward Estate

DATE: 1980

EXTENT: 1.36 acres

DONOR: Edward Crangle

First published in December, 2014.

1st Earl of Iveagh

The family of GUINNESS claims descent from the ancient and eminent house of MAGENNIS, in which formerly vested the viscountcy of Magennis of Iveagh.

Several members of this family are interred in the churchyard of St Catherine's, Dublin, and, in the parish register, the translation of the name from Magennis to McGuinness, or Guinness, is clearly traceable.

ART ROE or ARTHUR MacGUINNESS, of Rathfriland, County Down, received the honour of knighthood, and assumed the surname of MAGENNIS.

In 1623 Sir Arthur was created Viscount Magennis of Iveagh, though that peerage expired in 1693.

He died in 1629, and was buried at Drumballyroney, near Rathfriland, County Down.

His younger son,

CON MAGENNIS, married and was father of

HUGH MAGENNIS, who wedded and had a son,

EVER MAGENNIS, who removed to, and settled in Dublin.

He married and had issue,

RICHARD GUINNESS (c1690-1766), of Celbridge, County Kildare, described in a Bill in Equity Exchequer, 1746, as

"Richard Guinis, Agent or Receiver to the Most Rev Arthur Price, Archbishop of Cashel," and is therein authorized to demise episcopal lands.

He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Read, of Huttonread, County Kildare, and had issue,

Richard;

ARTHUR, of whom presently;

Samuel;

Benjamin;

Frances; Elizabeth.

The second son,

ARTHUR GUINNESS (1725-1803), of Beaumont, County Dublin, who in a Bill filed in the Court of Exchequer, 1747, styles himself "of the City of Dublin, Gentleman." 

Arthur Guinness (1725-1803)

He purchased, in 1759, the St James's Gate Brewery from Mr Mark Rainsford.

He wedded, in 1761, Olivia, daughter and co-heiress of William Whitmore, of Dublin, by his wife, daughter of John Grattan, of Clonmeen, County Kildare, and had issue,

Hosea (Rev);

ARTHUR, of whom hereafter;

Edward;

Benjamin;

John Grattan;

William Lunell;

Elizabeth; Olivia; Louisa; Mary Anne.

His second son,

ARTHUR GUINNESS JP DL (1768-1855), of Beaumont, for many years President of the Chamber of Commerce, Dublin, who espoused, in 1793, Anne, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Benjamin Lee, of Merrion, County Dublin, by Susanna his wife, daughter of the Rev John Smyth, Chancellor of Connor (brother of Arthur Smyth, Archbishop of Dublin).

Mr Guiness died in 1855, having had issue,

William Smythe LEE-GRATTAN-GUINNESS (Rev), Rector of Rathdrum;
Arthur Lee, of Stillorgan House, died unmarried;
BENJAMIN LEE, of whom we treat;
Susanna; Mary Jane; Louisa; Anne; Elizabeth; Rebecca.

The third son,

BENJAMIN LEE GUINNESS JP DL (1798-1868), MP for the City of Dublin, 1865-8, married, in 1837, Elizabeth, third daughter of Edward Guinness, of Dublin, and had issue,

Arthur Edward, his successor;

Benjamin Lee, DL, Captain, Royal Horse Guards; father of 3rd Baronet;

EDWARD CECIL, of whom hereafter;

Anne Lee, m 4th Baron Plunkett, Archbishop of Dublin.

Benjamin Lee Guinness was created a baronet, in 1867, designated of Ashford Castle, County Galway.

Sir Benjamin, at his own cost, restored the venerable Cathedral of St Patrick in Dublin.

His eldest son,

SIR ARTHUR EDWARD GUINNESS, 2nd Baronet (1840-1915), JP, DL, wedded, in 1871, the Lady Olivia Charlotte White, daughter of 3rd Earl of Bantry.

Sir Arthur was elevated to the Peerage, in 1880, in the dignity of BARON ARDILAUN, of Ashford, County Galway.

His lordship dsp 1915, when the Peerage became extinct and the Baronetcy devolved upon his nephew, Algernon Arthur St Lawrence Lee Guinness, as 3rd Baronet.

Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness's third son,

EDWARD CECIL GUINNESS (1847-1927), KP, GCVO, espoused, in 1873, his cousin, Adelaide Maria, daughter of Richard Samuel Guinness, MP, of Deepwell, County Dublin, by Katherine Frances, his wife, daughter of Sir Charles Jenkinson, 10th Baronet, of Hawkesbury, and had issue,

RUPERT EDWARD CECIL LEE, his successor;

Arthur Ernest, father of MAUREEN, mother of 5th Marquess of Dufferin & Ava;

Walter Edward, created 1st Baron Moyne.

His lordship was created a baronet, in 1885, designated of Castleknock, County Dublin; and raised to the Peerage, in 1891, in the dignity of Baron Iveagh, of Iveagh, County Down.

1st Earl of Iveagh KP, GCVO, by H M Paget
(Image: English Heritage, Kenwood)

He was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1905, as Viscount Iveagh, of Iveagh, County Down; and further advanced, in 1919, to the dignities of Viscount Elveden and EARL OF IVEAGH.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

RUPERT EDWARD CECIL LEE, 2nd Earl (1874-1967), KG, CB, CMG, VD etc, who married, in 1903, the Lady Gwendolen Florence Mary Onslow, elder daughter of 4th Earl of Onslow, and had issue,

Richard (died in infancy);

Arthur Onslow Edward;

Honor Dorothy Mary; Patricia Florence Susan; Brigit Katherine Rachel.

His lordship's second son,

ARTHUR ONSLOW EDWARD (1912-45), styled Viscount Elveden, wedded, in 1936, the Lady Elizabeth Cecilia Hare, daughter of 4th Earl of Listowel, and had issue,

ARTHUR FRANCIS BENJAMIN, his successor;

Elizabeth Maria; Henrietta.

Lord Elveden was killed in action in the Netherlands during the 2nd World War.

His son and successor,

ARTHUR FRANCIS BENJAMIN, 3rd Earl (1937-92), espoused, in 1963, Miranda Daphne Jane, daughter of Major Charles Arthur Smiley, and had issue,

ARTHUR EDWARD RORY, his successor;

Rory Michael Benjamin;

Emma Lavinia; Louisa Jane.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

ARTHUR EDWARD RORY, 4th Earl (1969-), who married, in 2001, Clare Hazell and has issue, two sons, of whom,

Arthur b 2002, styled Viscount Elveden.

Seat ~ Elveden Hall. Suffolk.

Former residences ~ Pyrford Court, near Woking; Farmleigh, Castleknock, County Dublin.

Guinness arms courtesy of the NLI.

Belfast Courthouse

THE COURTHOUSE, situated at 88-92, Crumlin Road, Belfast, was built by James Carlisle in 1848-50, to designs of SIR CHARLES LANYON.

The clerk of works was W H Lynn.

The building cost £16,500 (almost £2 million in today's money).

The figure of Justice at the apex of the portico was sculpted by William Boyton Kirk, of Dublin.

The building was enlarged in 1905-06 to the designs of Young & Mackenzie, architects, with McLaughlin & Harvey, builders.

The primary designs for the court-house were produced in 1847, though subsequently revised as they were too costly to proceed.

It was built due to the transfer of the assizes from Carrickfergus to Belfast.

The building was formally opened as the County Antrim Court-house at the Summer Assizes in 1850.

It was closed as a court-house in June, 1998.

Lanyon's original building of 1850 comprised a portico and steps; the Main Hall, with the Record Court to the east, and the Crown Court to west; and the remainder of the building to the south of those three main spaces, except the single storey wings to the side of the Record Court and Crown Court, and the minor insertion of toilet facilities in the open areas or light wells.

It also included a tunnel from the dock in the Crown Court, passing below the Crumlin Road, to link with the gaol opposite; and a tunnel from the rear basement area to the street at the south.

The boundary railings and piers were also part of the original building, erected in 1850, when similar railings and piers were erected in front of the gaol.

In 1905-06, the front face of the court-house to each side of the portico was brought forward to create front offices, two-thirds of the depth of Lanyon's original portico.

It was extended at each extremity, beyond the line of the Record and Crown courts, to form wings, with single-storey blocks returning to the rear of the wings to flank the courts on the east and west sides.

A pair of staircases was added, one in each wing to each side of the Main Hall at the front of the building, with new arched windows on a raking line to each staircase.

Lanyon's twin staircases were replaced to the rear of the portico by the Postal Office and Switch room to each side of the triple-arched open entrance vestibule.

Sir Charles's raking first floor gallery to the front of the Main Hall was removed and replaced by a transverse first-floor corridor, with four rooms overlooking the covered area within the portico.

Five new first-floor windows were inserted for the new rooms in the rear wall of the portico immediately above the triple-arched entrance.

TODAY the front façade of the building is by Young & Mackenzie, 1905-06, excepting the original portico of 1850.

The windows in the rear wall of the portico were all inserted by Young & Mackenzie.

The entire mid-portion, or main block, from the east wall of the Record Court to the west wall of the Crown Court, together with the broad central rear return, are all by Lanyon and are mostly intact, containing a number of important original interior spaces, including the Main Hall, the Record Court, the Crown Court, the central arcaded corridor, and the western back stair-hall; the former Sheriff's Room and Grand Jury Room in the ground floor of the rear return; the arcaded landings and the former Grand Jury dining-room on the first floor of the rear return.

The two-storey elevations to the south of the long front block (or wings) are thus essentially all by Lanyon, except for the first bay at the north end on each side.

The projecting single-storey blocks are by Young & Mackenzie.

THE COURTHOUSE closed in June, 1998, after almost 150 years of continuous usage.

The two acre site was sold to Ewart properties for the nominal sum of £1, though tied to the construction of the new Laganside court building at Oxford Street, Belfast.

A planning application was submitted in June, 2003, to convert the building into offices, including the demolition of a rear section and construction of a new extension.

This was approved in November, 2004; however, Ewart's sold the building for £35,000 to Barry Gilligan when he left his position within Ewart's in 2003.

In September, 2006, a new planning application was submitted seeking to convert the building into a 161-bed hotel with ten suites, a health suite, conference facilities (within the original Crown court-room) and 92 parking spaces.

Planning permission for the £25m proposal was granted in November, 2007; but in March, 2009, a malicious fire caused extensive internal damage.

A further two fires on the 15th and 16th August, 2009, caused grave damage to the roof.

Consequently, Mr Gilligan claimed that a re-appraisal of the development plans was required, as the lack of grant aid and resulting levels of damage made the hotel project unviable.

In January, 2013, it became apparent that the Northern Ireland Department of Social Development (DSD) was to complete an options appraisal on the future of the court-house, including the vesting or purchase of the building.

In June, 2013, Belfast City Council considered acquiring the old court-house for European Peace IV Capital Funding, to include its renovation as a "Shared History Belfast Story" museum, built heritage centre, and destination point for the North Belfast cultural corridor.

The project could also include the development of Crumlin Road Gaol as a cultural industries space in one of two vacant wings, in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

This would be in the context of a DSD master-plan for the cultural corridor, as well as Belfast City Councils own master-plan.

To progress this funding option, Belfast City Council was required meet full information requirements by September, 2013, and address the ownership of the building.

DSD thereafter completed their options appraisal.

In August, 2013, the Minister for Social Development announced that Turley Associates had commenced work on a development study.

The Belfast Telegraph reported in 2017 that the Signature Living hotel group had acquired the building and intended to convert it to hotel use.

The old courthouse, which has planning permission for conversion to a hotel, was for sale again in 2019.

(Image: Northern Ireland Fire Service, June, 2020)

It suffered another serious fire in June, 2020.

The Courthouse was purchased in 2024 by David Mahon.

This historic building remains derelict today (September, 2025).

First published in February, 2015.  I am grateful to Gary Potter of Future Belfast for information.