The Mount Stewart Acquisition

SELECTIVE ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart Gardens, County Down

DATE: 1955

EXTENT: 77.38 acres

DONOR: Derek, Viscount Bury

*****

PROPERTY: Temple of the Winds, Mount Stewart Estate

DATE: 1963

EXTENT: 3.61 acres

DONOR: Mairi, Viscountess Bury (the Lady Mairi Bury)

*****

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart House

DATE: 1976

EXTENT: 13.03 acres

DONOR: The Lady Mairi Bury

*****

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart Land and Buildings

DATE: 1987-2009

EXTENT: 6.43 acres

DONOR: The Lady Mairi Bury

*****

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart Lands

DATE: 2015

EXTENT: 900 acres.

First published in January, 2015.

The Langford Baronetcy

The family of LANGFORD was once prominent in the borough of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, and had formerly considerable property in the town's corporation. Both Sir Roger Langford and Sir Hercules Langford were Mayors of Carrickfergus, 1614, 1615, 1623, 1631, and 1639.

Captain Roger Langford, sometime joint governor of Carrickfergus, commanded 100 foot-soldiers at Carrickfergus in 1603.

He was granted the abbey (or priory) and lands of Muckamore in 1621; and we find 

HERCULES LANGFORD (1626-83), another of the family, who began to build a castle in the town, which was called by the family name, and was completed in the early 17th century.

Mr Langford was created a baronet in 1667, designated of Kilmakevit, County Antrim, and of Summer Hill, County Meath.

Sir Hercules, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1661, married Mary, daughter of Henry Upton (MP for Carrickfergus, 1634), of Castle Upton, County Antrim, and had issue, Arthur, Henry, Theophilus, Mary and Martha. 

MARY LANGFORD was the wife of Sir John Rowley MP, ancestor of Lord Langford. Their grandson, Hercules Langford Rowley, married Elizabeth Upton, who was created Viscountess Langford in 1766. Their daughter, the Hon Jane Rowley, married Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective. Lord and Lady Bective's fourth son was created Baron Langford in 1800. 

Sir Hercules died in 1683, and was buried at St Michan's Church, Dublin; when the Summer Hill estate devolved upon Lady Rowley.  

Bishop Jones (Lord Bishop of Meath, 1661-82) sold Summerhill in County Meath and many other townlands to Sir Hercules Langford.

Sir Hercules' eldest son, 

SIR ARTHUR LANGFORD, 2nd Baronet (c1652-1716), MP for Duleek, 1692-3, Coleraine, 1695-1713, County Antrim, 1715-16, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and admitted to Lincoln's Inn, London, in 1671.

He was said to be a fervent Presbyterian and gave funds to the Church in Dublin. He leased Rahinstown in 1691 to Thomas Bomford.

Sir Henry Langford, 3rd Baronet
(Image: Royal Albert Museum and Art Gallery)

Sir Arthur was succeeded by his younger brother,

SIR HENRY LANGFORD, 3rd Baronet (c1655-c1725), MP for St Johnstown (Donegal), 1695-9, who possessed estates in Devon at Bradninch and Combsatchfield, near Silverton.

Sir Henry acquired Barton Hall estate, near Torquay, in 1710. 

He was the third High Sheriff of Devon and a judge at Greys Inn, London.

In 1710, Sir Henry bought the manor of Kingskerswell, and bequeathed all his estates to his godson, Thomas Brown, who later built the family vault and buried Sir Henry therein.

On Sir Henry's death the title expired.

First published in March, 2011.  Langford arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

House of Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell (son of Walter Cromwell alias Smith, a blacksmith at Putney, Surrey), upon his return from foreign service under the Duke of Bourbon, obtained a situation in the suite of Cardinal Wolsey, and, after the fall of that celebrated prelate, was taken into the service of the King (at HENRY VIII's special command, from his fidelity to his old master), in which he evinced so much zeal and ability, that the road to the highest honours of the state presented very soon an unimpeded course for his ambition.

In a short time he filled successively the important situations of Master of the Jewel Office, Clerk of the Hanaper, Principal Secretary, Justice of the Forests, Master of the Rolls, and Lord Privy Seal, and was elevated to the peerage, in 1536, in the dignity of BARON CROMWELL, of Oakham.

He was afterwards constituted the King's Vice-Regent of Spirituals, honoured with the Garter, and finally created EARL OF ESSEX, when he was invested with the Lord High Chamberlainship of England.

His instrumentality in allying the King with Anne of Cleves was the rock upon which his fortunes foundered. 

Unprepared for such a proceeding, Cromwell was arrested, under the King's especial order, by the Duke of Norfolk, at the Control Board, 1540, hurried off to the Tower, attainted unheard, and beheaded, notwithstanding Archbishop Cranmer's powerful exertions in his behalf; and all the honours of the ex-minister were of course forfeited under the attainder; but his son, Gregory, who, in his lifetime, had been summoned to Parliament as Lord Cromwell, had that dignity confirmed to him in the December following his father's execution.

Thomas Cromwell, Earlof Essex

SIR GREGORY CROMWELL KB (c1514-51), born at Putney, Surrey, was tutored by Richard Southwell and attended Cambridge University.

In 1539, he was summoned to Parliament as Lord Cromwell, servant of HENRY VIII, and in 1540 he was created BARON CROMWELL.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Seymour, sister of Edward, Duke of Somerset, and widow of Sir Anthony Oughtred; by whom he had three sons, of whom the eldest,

HENRY, 2nd Baron (1538-92), summoned to parliament in the reign of ELIZABETH I, wedded Mary, daughter of John, Marquess of Winchester.

His elder son,

EDWARD, 3rd Baron (1559-1607), was with the Earl of Essex in his expedition at sea against the Spaniards, and joined in the insurrection three years afterwards, which cost Lord Essex his head.

The 3rd Baron, however, received an especial pardon in 1601. 

His lordship, having alienated his estates in England by sale, purchased the barony of Lecale in County Down from Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport, or "made an exchange thereof".

He married twice, and, dying in Ulster, was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS, 4th Baron (1594-1653), who was created by CHARLES I, in 1624, Viscount Lecale. 

His lordship was advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1645, as EARL OF ARDGLASS.

Lord Ardglass remained firmly attached to the interests of the King during the civil wars, notwithstanding his friendship with the Earl of Essex. 

Ardglass was an important town during the middle ages, which would explain Cromwell's choice of title.
 
The 1st Earl was commander of the Regiment of Horse in Ireland for CHARLES I during the Civil War; and subsequently made his peace with Parliament, paying £460 for his "delinquency".

The 1st Earl married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Robert Meverell, of Throwleigh, Staffordshire.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, 

WINGFIELD, 2nd Earl (1622-68), who was educated at Stone School in Staffordshire; matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1637/8; was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Laws at Oxford University in 1642. In 1649, he was taken prisoner in the Royalist cause.

His only son,

THOMAS, 3rd Earl (1653-82), married a daughter of the Most Rev Michael Boyle, Lord Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland; but dying without issue, 1682, the family honours reverted to his uncle,

VERE ESSEX, 4th Earl (1623-87), PC, a son of the 1st Earl, who married, in 1672, Catherine Hamilton.

He died at Bonecastle, County Down, and was buried at Downpatrick Abbey [Down Cathedral].

Lord Ardglass was educated at Stowe School and at Finstock, Oxfordshire.

This nobleman married, though died without male issue, when the titles expired; except the barony of CROMWELL, originating in the writ of 1539, devolved upon his daughter,

ELIZABETH CROMWELL, as Baroness Cromwell, in which rank her ladyship assisted at the funeral of MARY II, and the coronation of Queen Anne.

She wedded the Rt Hon Edward Southwell MP, Principal Secretary of State in Ireland, and had issue, two sons and a daughter, who all died sine prole; and another, a son, Edward Southwell, who, marrying Catherine, daughter of Edward Watson, Viscount Sondes, and sole heiress of her brothers, Lewis and Thomas, Earls of Rockingham.

Her ladyship's son,

EDWARD SOUTHWELL (1705-55), succeeded to the barony of DE CLIFFORD.

The Lady Cromwell died in 1709, and the barony of CROMWELL is now considered to be vested in the Barons de Clifford.

Dundrum Castle was held by the 1st Earl between 1605-36.

The colours of Downpatrick High School's crest are taken from the arms of Elizabeth, Baroness Cromwell, owner of the Downpatrick estate.

The Earls of Ardglass were landlords of most of the barony of Lecale.

Dr Eileen Black has written about the Southwells here.

The lands of Lecale were held, prior to the Reformation, either by the great religious corporations in Downpatrick or by the descendants of the early English colonists.

The Church lands, having become vested in the Crown, were leased to the Earl of Kildare and, after the expiration of that lease, came into the possession of the Cromwells, Earls of Ardglass.

They still form the Downpatrick estate, except large portions of them that have been sold or leased by the Cromwells or their descendants.

The estates held by the descendants of the early English colonists were almost all confiscated under the Act of Settlement, after the termination of the civil wars of 1641.

Throwley Old Hall, Staffordshire, was a seat of the Cromwells through marriage. Elizabeth, the last of the Meverells, married Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's chief minister, responsible for the disillusion of the monasteries. A descendant of them was Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector.

The writer and poet Charles Cotton married into the Cromwell family in 1669 – his 2nd wife Mary was a widow of Wingfield Cromwell. He spent time fishing the local river with his great friend Izaak Newton and building his famous fishing lodge on the River Dove.

Following the Cromwells the house passed to the last Baron de Clifford, Edward Southwell, who sold to Sir Samuel Crompton in 1790, who let the property to the reputable Phillips family.

Several members of the family are interred at Down Cathedral. The 1st Earl held Dundrum Castle between 1605-36.

First published in February, 2012.

Castle Martyr

THE EARLS OF SHANNON OWNED 11,232 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CORK

This is a branch of the noble house of BOYLE, Earls of Cork and Orrery, springing from THE HON HENRY BOYLE (1682-1764), second son of Roger, 1st Earl of Orrery, whose son, by the Lady Mary O'Brien, daughter of Murrough, 1st Earl of Inchiquin, HENRY BOYLE, of Castle Martyr, being sworn of the Privy Council in Ireland, filled some of the highest political offices in that kingdom (Speaker of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Justice etc).

Mr Boyle was elevated to the peerage, in 1756, in the dignities of Baron Castle Martyr, Viscount Boyle, and EARL OF SHANNON.

His lordship married firstly, in 1715, Catherine, daughter of Chidley Coote, of Killester, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, in 1726, the Lady Henrietta Boyle, youngest daughter of Charles, 3rd Earl of Cork, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Henry;
William;
Charles;
Robert;
Juliana.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 2nd Earl (1728-1807), KP, PC, who, having filled some high political offices, and being sworn of the Privy Council, was enrolled amongst the peers of Great Britain, in 1786, as Baron Carleton, of Carleton, Yorkshire.

His lordship was a Knight Founder of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, 1783.

He wedded, in 1763, Catherine, eldest daughter of Mr Speaker Ponsonby, of the Irish house of commons, and had issue,

HENRY, his successor;
Catherine Henrietta.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

HENRY, 3rd Earl (1771-1842), KP, PC, who espoused, in 1798, Sarah, fourth daughter of John Hyde, of Castle Hyde, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Henry Charles;
Robert Francis;
Catherine; Sarah; Louisa Grace; Jane; Elizabeth; Charlotte Anne.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

• Richard Boyle, 4th Earl (1809–68);

• Henry Bentinck Boyle, 5th Earl (1833–90)

• Richard Henry Boyle, 6th Earl (1860–1906);

• Richard Bernard Boyle, 7th Earl (1897–1917);

• Robert Henry Boyle, 8th Earl (1900–63);

• Richard Bentinck Boyle, 9th Earl (1924–2013);

• Richard Henry John Boyle, 10th Earl (b 1960).

The heir presumptive is the present holder's second cousin, Robert Francis Boyle. 

CASTLE MARTYR, County Cork, was built in the early 18th century by Henry Boyle, Speaker of the Irish house of commons, afterwards 1st Earl of Shannon.

The house was substantially enlarged by the 2nd Earl between 1764-71; and further re-modelled in the late Georgian period.

The entrance front is of two storeys and seventeen bays, comprising a five-bay recessed centre and giant pedimented portico between projecting wings.

The entrance front of the house overlooks a sheet of water which is part of the remarkable artificial river made before 1750 by the 1st Earl.

Castle Martyr was sold early in the 20th century to the Arnott family; then became a Carmelite college.

It now forms the nucleus of a luxury hotel resort.

Former town residence ~ 7 Connaught Place, London.

First published in July, 2013. 

The Minnowburn Acquisition

SELECTIVE ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROPERTY: Terrace Hill, Minnowburn, near Belfast, County Down.

DATE: 1963

EXTENT: 9.01 acres

DONOR: Messrs H W and F M Clokey

*****

PROPERTY: Land at Terrace Hill

DATE: 1992

EXTENT: 0.35 acres

DONOR: Department of Health & Social Services for Northern Ireland

First published in January, 2015.

Eglantine House

EGLANTINE HOUSE, near Hillsborough, County Down, is a two-storey, three-bay Georgian house of ca 1780.

It has a concealed basement.

Eglantine House is Italianate in style and stucco-fronted.

It was renovated about 1845 to the designs of Sir Charles Lanyon.

One of its most remarkable features is a very fine, curved stone staircase.

The original building on the Eglantine demesne is thought to have dated from the late 18th century.

P J Rankin considers that it was originally intended as a dower house for the Marquesses of Downshire.

Eglantine House first appears in 1803 on a survey map of the Kilwarlin estate in the townland of Carnbane on land which is noted as belonging to Hugh Moore.

This map records that Moore’s estate covered "70 Acres and one Rood."

In 1837, documents recorded that Eglantine House was a "gentleman’s residence ... Hugh Moore of Carnbane has an elegant seat, finely ornamented with plantations of young firs."

In 1841, Eglantine House was acquired by Sinclair Kelburn Mulholland (1798-1872), uncle of the 1st Baron Dunleath.

The well-known architect Sir Charles Lanyon renovated the house ca 1845 and refaced it in the neo-classical style, adding "a central projecting open Doric porch, refurbishing the interior, and replacing the two old gate lodges."

Many believe that Lanyon may have practically rebuilt the house, as it was believed to date from about 1845, though no evidence could be found of an earlier style.

Sinclair Mulholland retired in 1850 and spent the remainder of his days at Eglantine.

His family and friends erected All Saints' Parish Church in memory of Mr Mulholland and his only son, also called Sinclair Kelburn Mulholland, who predeceased his father in 1861.

The Mulhollands continued to live at Eglantine until 1917.

Mary Filgate Mulholland (1830-1917) was the last of the family to live at Eglantine House.

In those days the estate comprised two stables, one coach-house, one harness-room, three cow-houses, two calf-houses, one dairy, two piggeries, two fowl-houses, one boiling-house, a barn, a turf-house, a potato house, a workshop and a shed.

When Miss Mulholland died in 1917 the house was occupied for a short period by Joseph Coulter, whose family at one time owned Newport coal quay.

Mr Coulter sold the 300-acre estate to Edward Thomas Green, proprietor of ET Green, millers.

In 1972 it was purchased by Anthony Lyle Skyrme.

Anthony Skyrme's mother, the Hon Suzanne Lyle (1915-94), youngest daughter of the 1st Baron Lyle of Westbourne, married, in 1938, Sir William Thomas Charles Skyrme KCVO CB CBE TD JP, and had issue, two daughters and a son, 

Anthony Lyle Skyrme (37 South Eaton Place, SW1), who wedded, in 1972, Carole-June, daughter of W J Glover, of Sandown House, Belfast.

Eglantine House remained vacant until 1987 or 1988.

The estate was thereafter divided into two farms and both were sold.

Two-thirds of the land and Eglantine House were bought by the Falloon family with the intention of converting the house into a hotel or country club.

However, planning permission could not be obtained for this project and the house lay mostly unoccupied until it suffered a catastrophic fire on the night of Sunday, 23rd September, 1990.

A number of modern cottages have been constructed on the site of the old estate office houses.

In 2012, Eglantine House was completely restored with the aid of a government heritage grant.

The work was carried out by the Boyd Partnership.

First published in September, 2016.

Belfast Cathedral Design

Belfast Cathedral ~ the Cathedral Church of Saint Anne in Belfast ~ is a relatively recent ecclesiastical building.

Construction began, in fact, during the end of Queen Victoria's reign.

Belfast itself is of relatively recent growth; unlike, for instance, ancient cathedral cities like Canterbury, York, or Dublin.

The Cathedral's foundation stone was laid down in 1899 by the Countess of Shaftesbury, and blessed by the Rt Rev Thomas Welland, Lord Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore.

The last public service in the original St Anne's parish church was held on the 31st December, 1903, prior to demolition.

Sir Thomas Drew's original design

The nave of the new cathedral church was, in fact, built around the old church of 1776.

St Anne's Parish Church was provided at the sole expense of the landlord of the town, Arthur, 1st Marquess of Donegall. The traditional name by which the church should have been called was St Patrick's, but the noble donor wished to honour the name of his first wife (née the Lady Anne Hamilton, daughter of James, 5th Duke of Hamilton) and so it was dedicated in the name of SAINT ANNE, the mother of the Virgin Mary.

The Cathedral chapter, board and vestry had ambitious plans for the new cathedral.

It was intended to build a lady chapel at the east end of the cathedral, 76 feet long and 30 feet wide, terminating at an apse with a domed roof.

The present apse constitutes the eastern end of the cathedral, though the lady chapel was intended to accommodate a congregation of about 200 people with a small chamber organ.

CLICK TO ENLARGE ~ Architectural Design for Completion

A TOWER was also planned (or proposed), rising to a pinnacle and linked to the north-east side of the Cathedral by a covered cloister and vestibule.

It was to be 210 feet in height, twice the height of the nave's roof.

At its base, the Tower was to have an exterior measurement of 40 feet square, progressively stepped down to 32 feet square.

The lower portion of the Tower was intended to serve as a Chapter House.

This tower was to house a campanile or bell chamber, 24 feet square, and containing a grand peal of bells.

The lady chapel and the tower are two primary features which were abandoned.

In 2007, a stainless steel pinnacle, 130 feet in height, was installed on top of the cathedral.

It was named the "Spire of Hope".

The structure can be illuminated at night.

The base section of the pinnacle protrudes through a glass platform in the cathedral's roof directly above the choir stalls, allowing visitors to view it from the nave.

First published in September, 2014.

Manor of Joymount

Artist's impression of Joymount (Mid & East Antrim Council)

Extract from The History and Antiquities of the County of the Town of Carrickfergus, by Samuel Miskimmin, 1832.

ABOUT the latter end of 1606, and in the three following years, SIR ARTHUR CHICHESTER purchased several lots of ground on the east of Castle Worraigh [an ageing stone tower in the middle of Carrickfergus's high street] from Thomas Whitager, Carew Hart, Thomas Stevenson, Owen Magee, and William Dobbin.

At the same time he also obtained a grant of the ruined abbey of St Francis adjoining, and in 1610, he began to erect a magnificent building on the grounds, the north part of which was built on the south end of the said abbey.

This mansion was called Joymount, in honour of Sir Arthur's late patron, LORD MOUNTJOY, and was not finished till 1618, as appeared from that date over the great entrance on the south-east.

The oral history of this place says that it was built by the celebrated Inigo Jones, and was a large building, 112 feet in front [the White House, Washington DC, is 168 feet long, by comparison], with two wings extending northward, the same length, having 365 windows, 52 doors, and 12 chimneys.

In front of the chief entrance was a gatehouse with lofty turrets, between which and the main building was a court, from whence was an ascent of a few steps to a fine terrace that extended the entire length of the front, in the centre of which was the hall-door.

The following account of Joymount is given by Sir William Brereton Bt, who landed here in 1634:-

"The only grace of this town is the lord Chichester's house, which is a very stately house, or rather like a prince's palace; whereunto there belongs a stately gatehouse and graceful terrace, and walks before the house, as at Denton, my lord Fairfax's house." 

"A very fine hall there is, and a stately staircase, and fair dining-room, carrying the proportion of the hall: fine gardens, and mighty spacious orchards, and they say they have good store of fruit." 

"I observed on either side of his garden there is a dove-house, placed one opposite the other to the corner of the garden, and 'twixt the garden and orchards a most convenient place for apricots or some such tender fruit, to be planted against the dove-house wall, that by the advantage of the heat thereof they may be rendered most fruitful, and come sooner to maturity, but this use is not made thereof." 

"Very rich furniture belongs unto this house, which seems much to be neglected and begins to go something to decay."

"It is a most stately building, only the windows and rooms and whole frame of the house is over-large and vast; and in this house you may observe the inconvenience of great buildings which require an unreasonable charge to keep them in repair, so as they are a burden to the owners of them."

Some difference taking place between the noble family of Chichester and the inhabitants, the family ceased to reside there about 1724, from which time the building was suffered to go to ruin.

In the latter end of 1768, it began to be taken down, and its oak timber was divided amongst those who were attached to the interests of the family; but its marble chimneypieces, and the like valuable articles, were taken to FISHERWICK PARK, Staffordshire.

Joymount is reputed to have cost in excess of £20,000 (equivalent to about £3.5 million in 2021) to construct.

Carrickfergus town hall now occupies the site of Joymount.

First published in July, 2022.

The Mulholland Baronets

THE HON HENRY GEORGE HILL MULHOLLAND (1888-1971), third son of Henry, 2nd Baron Dunleath, MP for County Down, 1921-9, Ards, 1929-45, Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons, married, in 1914, Sheelah, daughter of Sir Arthur Brooke Bt (and sister of Sir Basil Brooke Bt, later 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland), and had issue,

MICHAEL HENRY, his successor;
Sylvia Patricia Norah, m T P Palmer.

He was appointed a Privy Counsellor of Northern Ireland in 1930.

Rt Hon Sir Henry (Harry) Mulholland (Image: Castledawson Review, Facebook)

Speaker Mulholland was created a baronet in 1945, designated of Ballyscullion Park, County Londonderry.

The present Lord Dunleath tells me that, until he became Speaker, Sir Henry was based largely in England, living at Woodspean Grange, near Newbury, Berkshire. 

A room was kept for him at Ballywalter Park, where he could meet constituents when he was in Northern Ireland. 

There was, in fact, a small family enclave at that time around Newbury, as his sister, the Hon Eva Mulholland, who was married to John Saunderson [Castle Saunderson], lived near by at Honeybottom House, a beautiful property near the village of Bagnor and also close to Newbury. 

Their son, Squadron Leader John Saunderson DSO DFC, lived there until his death ca 2006, after which the property was sold.

Sir Henry was succeeded by his son,

SIR MICHAEL HENRY MULHOLLAND, 2nd Baronet (1915-97), who wedded firstly, in 1942, Rosemary, daughter of Major David Alfred William Ker, though the marriage was without issue.

He wedded secondly, in 1949, Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Hyde, and had an only child,

BRIAN HENRY, his successor.

In 1993, Sir Michael succeeded his cousin, Charles Edward Henry John, 4th Baron Dunleath, as 5th Baron Dunleath.

In 1993, the Mulholland baronetcy merged with the barony of Dunleath.

Sir Michael (5th Baron) lived at Storbrooke, Massey Avenue, Belfast, near the side gates of the Stormont Estate.

Storbrooke was the Belfast home of Sir Basil Brooke Bt, later 1st Viscount Brookeborough, from 1934-43.

It then became the home of Sir Harry Mulholland, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Parliament from 1943 until his death in 1971.

His son Sir Michael lived at Storbrooke till his death, in 1997.

Sir Michael could often be seen shopping with a wicker basket at Strandtown; he worshipped at St Mark's parish church, Dundela.

BRIAN HENRY, 6th Baron and 3rd Baronet (1950-), DL, of Ballywalter Park, County Down, married firstly, in 1976, Mary Joan, daughter of Major Robert John Fuller Whistler, and had issue,

Andrew Henry, born 1981;
William Alexander, born 1986;
Tara Miranda, born 1980.

He wedded secondly, Vibeke (Vibse) Lunn.

First published in May, 2010.

Rathlin Manor House

Arms of the Viscount Gage

THE GAGES OWNED 3,311 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

This family is a branch of GAGE of Firle.

JOHN GAGE, whose name is found in deeds during the time of HENRY IV, and who was lineally descended from the Norman, left a son,

JOHN GAGE, who married Joan, daughter and co-heir of John Sudgrove, of Sudgrove, Gloucestershire.

The son and successor of this John,

SIR JOHN GAGE (c1420-75/6), Knight, made great additions to his estate by purchases, and, further, by marrying Eleanor, daughter and heir of Thomas St Clere, lord of the manor of Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, and had issue,

William, ancestor of GENERAL GAGE;
JOHN, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

JOHN GAGE, married Margaret, daughter of John Tawyer, and had issue, an only child,

HENRY GAGE, of Raunds, Northamptonshire, espoused Margaret, daughter of George Boyvill, and had issue,

GEORGE;

Mary; Anne.

The son and heir,

GEORGE GAGE, of Raunds, wedded Cecily, daughter of William Wolston, and had issue,

Henry;

John;

ROBERT;

Thomas;

William;

Mary; Elizabeth; Allane.

The third son,

ROBERT GAGE, of Raunds, married, in 1573, Anne, daughter of Robert Pemberton, and had issue,

JOHN, of whom presently;

Thomas;

William;

Mary; Anne.

The first of the family to settle in Ulster,

JOHN GAGE, married, before 1608, Jane, daughter of Richard Goodwin, and had issue,

Richard;
Charles;
William;
John, ancestor of GAGE OF BELLARENA;
ROBERT, of whom hereafter;
Jane; Anne; Alice; Florinda; Elizabeth; Margaret; Mary.

Mr Gage, Clerk of the Peace for Northamptonshire, 1611-22, acquired the Magilligan estates, County Londonderry, in 1635.

His younger brother, William, purchased the lease of Magilligan in 1630 from the Lord Bishop of Derry, and was Mayor of Londonderry, 1631-2.

The youngest son,

THE REV ROBERT GAGE (c1659-1725), Chaplain to QUEEN ANNE, and to Lionel, Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for many years Prebendary of Aghadowey, County Londonderry, and in which he was succeeded by his son,

THE REV JOHN GAGE (1693-1763), Prebendary of Aghadowey, who wedded, in 1733, Susannah, daughter of the Rev John Johnston, Rector of Clondevadogue, in the Diocese of Raphoe, and had issue,

John, died unmarried;
Frederick, died unmarried;
ROBERT, his heir;
Barbara, m R Harvey, of Malin Hall;
Susan; Mary Anne.

The Rev John Gage, who purchased Rathlin Island in 1746, was succeeded by his third son,

ROBERT GAGE JP (1739-1801), of Rathlin Island, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1787, who married, in 1776, Barbara, daughter of the Rev John Richardson, of Somerset, Coleraine, County Londonderry, and had issue,

John, died unmarried;
Frederick; RN; died unmarried;
ROBERT, his heir;
Barbara Frances; Susanna Maria; Elizabeth; Mary Anne;
Henrietta; Catherine; Jane; Elizabeth Harriet.

Mr Gage was succeeded by his third son,

THE REV ROBERT GAGE JP (1790-1862), of Rathlin Island, who wedded, in 1812, Catherine, daughter of Ezekiel Davis-Boyd, of Ballycastle, County Antrim, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
EZEKIEL, succeeded his brother;
John;
John;
Catherine; Barbara; Rosetta; Amelia; Susan; Elizabeth; Adelaide;
Dorothea, m HSH Prince Albrecht of Waldeck & Pyrmont.

Mr Gage was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT GAGE JP (1813-91), of Rathlin Island, who died unmarried, when the family estates devolved upon his next brother,

MAJOR-GENERAL EZEKIEL GAGE (1819-1906), of Raghery House and Rathlin Island, who espoused, in 1848, Maria, daughter of John Dobbs, and had issue,

ROBERT CHARLES, his heir;
RICHARD STEWART, succeeded his brother;
FRANCIS (Dr);
ALEXANDER HUGH (Rev);
Marianne;

CATHERINE (1854-1918), m Col. AS Grove ;

Amy Boyd. 

General Gage devised Rathlin Island between his four sons, the eldest of whom,

ROBERT CHARLES GAGE (1851-88), of Rathlin Island, espoused Georgina, daughter of William Braddell, and died leaving a son, ROBERT HARVEY, who married and had issue, one son and a daughter.

General Gage's second son,

RICHARD STEWART GAGE (1862-1909), of Rathlin Island, Captain, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, wedded, in 1895, Norah Lilian, daughter of O'Donnell Grimshaw, and had issue,

EZEKIEL HUGH;
RICHARD FRANCIS O'DONNELL.

Captain Gage's elder son,

EZEKIEL HUGH GAGE MC (1896-1931), Captain, Royal Horse Artillery, died unmarried, when the family estates devolved upon his only brother,

BRIGADIER RICHARD FRANCIS O'DONNELL (Rex) GAGE CBE MC (1897-1973), of Rathlin Island, who wedded, in 1931, Marjorie, daughter of Captain Conn Alexander, and had issue,

EZEKIEL CONN;
Patrick Richard, OBE, Commander RN;
Patricia Ruth.

Brigadier Gage was succeeded by his eldest son,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL EZEKIEL CONN GAGE (1933-), of Rathlin Island, who married, in 1965, Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Major Frederick George Bolam, and had issue,

Matthew James George, b 1967;
Victoria Louise, b 1968;
Alexander Richard, b 1972.

THE MANOR HOUSE, Rathlin Island, was home to the Gage family for over 200 years.

The last member of the family to live there was Brigadier Rex Gage, who died in 1973.

It is thought that the Gages left the manor-house in 1975, though still spend holidays on the island at the Old Glebe House.

The Manor-house, Rathlin Island, ante 1936 (Welch Collection/NMNI)

The Gages added a walled garden, other walled enclosures, a corn mill, boat-house and kelp store.

The Rev John Gage bought Rathlin Island from the 5th Earl of Antrim in 1746 for £1,750 (equivalent to £324,000 in 2024).

Mark Bence-Jones describes the Manor House thus:

a long, low range of buildings on the water-front of Church Bay; incorporating work-rooms for weavers which were built in the 1760s by Robert Gage, former cottages and a two-storey, six-bay late-Georgian house. The house is entered by a porch at one end - and at the extreme left-hand end of the whole long range - with a doorway of rusticated quoins surmounted by an oculus, or oeil de boeuf.

Various additions were made in 1816; a stone archway was built in 1819; and still further additions in 1831.

Some of the rooms have Victorian marble chimney-pieces.

After 1975, the manor-house lay vacant and derelict for a period till it was restored by the Rathlin Island Trust.

Following his rescue off the coast of Rathlin on his hot-air balloon in 1987, Sir Richard Branson generously donated £25,000 to the Rathlin Island Trust towards the restoration.

The National Trust acquired the Manor House in 1998 and it opened as accommodation shortly thereafter.

*****

CATHERINE GAGE (1854-1918) married, in 1873, Colonel Alexander Sinclair Grove DSO MC, and had issue, eight daughters, of whom MARY GRACE MONTGOMERY GROVE wedded, in 1897, Colonel Alan James Campbell DSO, of Lisvarna, Ballycastle.

Their younger son, MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ALEXANDER DOUGLAS CAMPBELL KBE CB DSO, was the father of COMMANDER PETER CAMPBELL LVO OBE DL RN, born in 1927.

Commander Campbell married, in 1966, the Lady Moyra Kathleen Hamilton (Lady Moyra Campbell CVO), daughter of James, 4th Duke of Abercorn.

Commander Campbell, a cousin of the Gages, retained the shooting and fishing rights on Rathlin Island.

First published in July, 2009.

Glanomera House

THE ARTHURS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CLARE, WITH 10,534 ACRES

The Arthurs are stated to have been originally 'Artureighs', and to derive their descent from a common ancestor with the O'Briens, viz. Cormac Cas, King of Munster. The name, it is further asserted, was anglicised, in common with many others, on the invasion of Ireland by HENRY II, who is stated to have conferred honours and grants of land on one of that name in 1178.

In the records of Limerick, the name of ARTHUR frequently occurs from the earliest period down to the time of CHARLES I, when the family estates in County Limerick were confiscated by the usurper CROMWELL for loyalty to the royal cause.

The Arthurs subsequently removed to County Clare, and became seated at Glenomera. On the municipal roll of the city of Limerick are given the names of no less than forty-eight ARTHURS as mayors etc of that city.

From John Arthur, Mayor of Limerick in 1340, and Sir Dominick Arthur, also Mayor of that city, we pass to Sir Nicholas Arthur, Knight, Mayor in 1591.

Thomas Arthur was Bishop of Limerick in 1470; Richard Arthur was RC Bishop, 1643.

The Rev Geoffrey Arthur, of the Church of Rome, Treasurer of Limerick Cathedral, died in 1519, and was buried there, where his monument, with a curious Latin inscription, may still be seen.

Edward Arthur was MP for the city of Limerick, 1599; and Thomas Arthur, MP in 1585.

THOMAS ARTHUR, of Glanomera, son of Piers Arthur, wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Butler, heiress of the BUTLERS of Kilmoyler, County Tipperary, descended from the 9th Earl of Ormonde and the 11th Earl of Desmond; and was father of

THOMAS ARTHUR DL, of Glanomera, who wedded Lucy, fourth daughter of Sir Edward O'Brien Bt, of Dromoland, and left by her at his decease, 1803 (with a daughter, Mary), an only son and successor, 

THOMAS ARTHUR DL (1778-1845), of Glanomera, who espoused, in 1803, Harriet, second daughter and co-heir (with her only sister, Charlotte, wife of Sir Edward O'Brien Bt, of Dromoland) of William Smith, of Cahermoyle, County Limerick, and had (with nine daughters) seven sons,

THOMAS, his heir;
William Smith;
LUCIUS (Rev);
Edward;
Augustus;
Henry;
Frederick Brian Boru (Rev).

Mr Arthur was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS ARTHUR (1806-84),  of Glanomera, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Butler, of Kilmoyler, descended from Piers, seventh son of James, 9th Earl of Ormonde.

He was succeeded by his brother,

THE REV LUCIUS ARTHUR (1810-87), of Glanomera, who married, in 1840, Caroline Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Haycock Jervis, of Moseley, Warwickshire, and had issue,

THOMAS LUCIUS JERVIS, his heir;
Edward Henry Frederick;
Charles William Augustus;
Harriet Elizabeth Augusta; Ellen Lucy Julia; Maria Anne Florence;
Charlotte Katherine Susan; Grace Caroline Frances.

The eldest son,

THOMAS LUCIUS JERVIS ARTHUR JP (1847-88), of Glanomera, Captain, 6th R V Regiment, married, in 1881, Constance Helen, daughter of William Steele Studdert, of Clonboy, County Clare, by Constance his wife, daughter of Robert George Massy, and had issue,

CHARLES WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, his heir;
Desmond Phelps Pery Lucius Studdert, b 1884.

His elder son, 

CHARLES WILLIAM AUGUSTUS ARTHUR (1882-1934), of Glanomera, County Clare, wedded, in 1904, Rose Violet, daughter of John Joseph Roche-Kelly, of Rockstown Castle and Islandmore, County Limerick, and had issue,

Charles Augustus, died in infancy;
LUCIUS, of whom hereafter.

His second son, 

LUCIUS ARTHUR, born in 1913, was the grandfather of the surviving members of that line.

Photo Credit: Limerick City Museum; © Michael Kelly; Paul Kelly

GLANOMERA HOUSE, County Clare, was burnt in 1905.

Select Bibliography: Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland, 1912, page 15.   First published in March, 2013.

Bovagh House

Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet KBE CB DSO DSC
(Image: Walter Bird, National Portrait Gallery)

THE HEZLETS OWNED 675 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY

The family of HEZLET appears to have had a long connection with County Londonderry. Some sources claim that the Hezlets derived from Haesluyt in Holland, a place name which means 'the hazel-lot.' They are first recorded in Ulster during the early 17th century: Thomas Heslett [sic], of Artidillon, appeared in the Coleraine rent roll of 1620-41.

The Rev Robert Hezlet (d 1821) was Mayor of Coleraine in 1781, and Rector of Killowen for forty years.

Maj-Gen Robert Knox Hezlet CB CBE DSO DL

Major-General Robert Knox Hezlet CB CBE DSO DL (1879-1963), of Bovagh House, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1947, was father of

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ARTHUR RICHARD HEZLET KBE CB DSO DSC (1914-2007), of Bovagh House, Legion of Merit (United States), High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1968.

Sir Arthur's honours included:- 

• Knight Commander (Military Division) of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• Companion (Military Division) of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar
• Distinguished Service Cross

He became the Royal Navy's youngest captain, aged 36, and its youngest admiral, aged 45.

Sir Arthur died at Bovagh in 2007, aged 93.

In my youth, I once stood beside Sir Arthur, then Area President of the Royal British Legion in Northern Ireland. My late father supervised the lighting in a voluntary capacity at the annual RBL Festival of Remembrance in Belfast.

In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the festival was held in the Ulster Hall, one week before the national Festival at the Royal Albert Hall.

About 1979, Sir Arthur - as Area President - recited "As We Grow Old" on the stage; and a young teenage army cadet, Timothy Collins (Colonel Timothy Collins OBE), also recited a poem.

What struck me was how Sir Arthur always made a point of going over to these young people, encouraging them and saying a few words, like "very well done".

Bovagh House (Image: Benson's/PropertyPal)

BOVAGH HOUSE, near Aghadowey, County Londonderry, was formerly a land agent's house of the Beresfords, Marquesses of Waterford. It was built ca 1740.

The Beresfords were major landowners in the county and were seated at Bovaugh Castle in the vicinity. 

Theobald Jones MP (1790-1868), of Bovagh House, and of 54 Curzon Street, London, was a second cousin of the 3rd Marquess of Waterford.

The house has a small, high quality parkland with mature trees set on the southern banks of the Agivey river, having replaced an earlier house.

The main avenue, which meets the road near Bovagh Bridge to the west, contains the remains of a collection of exotics.

The walled garden, which lies to the south of the house, is not planted up.

There is a very pretty Victorian glasshouse immediately to the west of the house, with a small box parterre in front.

Bovagh House (Image: Benson's/PropertyPal)

An area in the stable yard is kept up as a modern ornamental garden.

The gate lodge has been demolished.

The property is approached by a sweeping, tree-lined, pebbled driveway.

Ourbuildings (Image: Benson's/PropertyPal)

To the rear of the property there is also a walled courtyard with various outbuildings and garaging with large stone barns and former stables.

There is also an ancient woodland and an old orchard dotted with bluebells and wild flowers.

The grounds today extend to approximately 44 acres.

The lands which surround the house are laid out in three fields.

Bovagh House and its 35-acre grounds are for sale (September, 2026). 

First published in August, 2012.