Mulroy House

THE EARLS OF LEITRIM WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DONEGAL, WITH 54,352 ACRES

This family is originally from France, where Albert Clements is said to have been a Marshal in 1183. It seems plausible that this claim refers to Albéric Clément (c1165-91), the first Marshal of France. This branch of the family, however, settled in Ireland some time during the reign of JAMES I.

DANIEL CLEMENTS JP (c1624-80), son of Robert Clements, of Cosby, in Leicestershire, went over to Ireland with Oliver Cromwell.

Mr Clements, a cornet in the New Model Army (possibly in Colonel Thomas Coote's regiment), High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1674, was succeeded by his son,

ROBERT CLEMENTS (1664-1722), who wedded Mary, eldest daughter of Theophilus Sandford (ancestor of the Lords Mount Sandford), and had issue,

THEOPHILUS, his heir;
Robert;
John;
NATHANIEL, succeeded his brother;
Mary.

He was attainted by the Irish parliament convoked by JAMES II in 1689, but was restored to his estates in County Cavan on the establishment of the government of WILLIAM III, and appointed Deputy Vice-Treasurer of Ireland.

Mr Clements, MP for Carrickfergus, 1692, Newry, 1715-22, High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1694, Teller of the Irish Exchequer, and Deputy Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON THEOPHILUS CLEMENTS (c1687-1728), MP for County Cavan, 1713-28, Teller of the Exchequer in Ireland, who married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Francis Burton, of Duncraggy, County Clare.

Theophilus Clements died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother,

THE RT HON NATHANIEL CLEMENTS (1705-77), a Teller of the Irish Exchequer, MP for Duleek, 1727-55, Cavan Borough, 1761-76, Roscommon Borough, 1768-70, Leitrim, 1776-7, who espoused, in 1729, Hannah, eldest daughter of the Very Rev William Gore, Dean of Down, and had issue,

ROBERT;
Henry Theophilus;
Elizabeth, m to Lord Conyngham;
Hannah, m to Sir George Montgomery Bt;
Catherine, m to Eyre, Lord Clarina;
Alicia, m to Ralph Gore, Earl of Ross.

Mr Clements was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT CLEMENTS (1732-1804), who was elevated to the peerage, in 1783, in the dignity of Baron Leitrim, of Manor Hamilton, County Leitrim; and advanced to a viscountcy, 1793, as Viscount Leitrim.

1st Earl of Leitrim, ca 1754, by Pompeo Batoni

The 1st Viscount was further advanced, in 1795, to the dignity of an earldom, as EARL OF LEITRIM.

He wedded, in 1765, the Lady Elizabeth Skeffington, daughter of Clotworthy, 1st Earl of Massereene, and had issue,

NATHANIEL, his successor;
Robert Clotworthy;
Caroline Elizabeth Letitia; Elizabeth; Louisa.

The 1st Earl was succeeded by his eldest son,

NATHANIEL, 2nd Earl (1768-1804), KP, Colonel, the Donegal Regiment, High Sheriff of County Leitrim, 1796, who espoused, in 1800, Mary, daughter of William Bermingham, and had issue,

George Robert Anson, died 1837;
Robert Bermingham, styled Viscount Clements (1805-39);
WILLIAM SYDNEY, his successor;Charles Skeffington;
Francis Nathaniel (Rev), father of the 4th Earl;
Caroline; Maria; Elizabeth Victoria.

His lordship was succeeded by his third son,

WILLIAM SYDNEY, 3rd Earl (1806-78), who died unmarried, when the family honours devolved upon his cousin,

ROBERT BERMINGHAM, 4th Earl (1847-92), DL, who married, in 1873, the Lady Winifred Coke, daughter of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Leicester, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Francis Patrick (1885-1907);
Robert (1888-90);
Winifred Edith;
Mary Hilda, m Robert, 4th Baron Rayleigh;
Maude; Lily; Kathleen.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 5th Earl (1879-1952), Lord-Lieutenant of Londonderry City, 1904-21, who wedded firstly, in 1902, Violet Lina, daughter of Robert Henderson; and secondly, in 1939, Anne Mary Chaloner, daughter of the Hon William Vanneck.

5th Earl of Leitrim

The marriages were without issue.

The titles expired followed the decease of the 5th and last Earl in 1952.

Image: Alexander Hogg, ca 1919

MULROY HOUSE, near Carrigart, County Donegal, is a two-storey, Tudor-Revival, grey stone mansion, built ca 1865, possibly by William Burn, with fine views over Mulroy Bay, in good condition.

Austere externally but commodious inside and maintained as a dwelling, wings added in 1890s.

Important plant collection was begun by the 5th Earl and Countess.

Extensive and important planting, by the 5th Earl and Countess, of rhododendron, magnolia, eucryphia and other species put in from 1936, mainly along the drives and sheltered by pre-existing shelter belts from the 1860s; a great deal of the latter suffered during Hurricane Debbie in the 1960s.

Lady O'Neill (in an article pre-1985) refers to huge specimens in 'first class condition' but noted that they were very overgrown with lesser material.

Image:Alexander Hogg, ca 1919

Now even more overgrown, but the collection is supervised by Uel Henderson; said to be a site for the rare Killarney fern (Lamb & Bowe).

The village of Carrigart originally formed part of the Leitrim estates, near Mulroy House.

The Earls of Leitrim also owned Lough Rynn Castle, near Mohill, County Leitrim.

The 4th and 5th Earls, however, used Mulroy House as their main residence.

When Lady Leitrim died in 1984 the estate, comprising 325 acres, was inherited by her late husband's nephew, the Hon Hedley Strutt (1915-2012), son of the 4th Baron Rayleigh.

Hedley Strutt's nephew, the 6th and present Lord Rayleigh, inherited the estate thereafter.

*****

THE THIRD EARL was murdered in nearby Cratlagh wood, in 1878, by men from the neighbouring peninsula.

It is said that the 3rd Earl's "overbearing behaviour as a landlord brought him much hatred from his tenants, Roman Catholic and Protestant alike, whom he evicted with equal enthusiasm."

Former London residence ~ 44 Grosvenor Gardens.

First published in August, 2011.

George Stone DD

ANDREW STONE (-1711), banker and goldsmith, of Lombard Street, London, married Anne Holbrooke, and had issue,

Andrew (1703-73), MP, his heir;
Richard;
GEORGE, of whom hereafter;
Anne, m Rt Rev William Barnard, Lord Bishop of Derry.

The youngest son,

THE MOST REV AND RT HON DR GEORGE STONE (1708-64), Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, was buried in the north aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey on the 28th December, 1764.

He was educated at Westminster School, where he was a King's Scholar, he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford after which he was ordained.

His Grace went to Ireland in 1731 as Chaplain to the Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

In 1733 Stone was appointed Dean of Ferns, and in the following year he exchanged this deanery for that of Derry.

Photo Credit: Christ Church College, Oxford

Dr Stone was consecrated Lord Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin in 1740, translated to the bishopric of Kildare, 1743, and to the see of Derry in 1745.

In 1747, he was translated to the archiepiscopal see of Armagh as Lord Primate, and enthroned five years afterwards, in 1752.

During the two years that he occupied the see of Kildare, Dr Stone he was also Dean of Christ Church, Dublin.

His Grace died unmarried, of gout, at his brother's house in the Privy Garden, Whitehall.

His coffin lay in state in the Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey prior to interment.

The gravestones to the Stone family were removed, with many others, when the nave floor was re-laid in 1834.

Small lozenge stones with names and dates replaced them but most of these, being worn away, are now covered by a modern stone to William Herschel.

Only George Stone's small stone can now be seen.

The original inscriptions were recorded and the Latin can be translated thus:

Here lies Andrew Stone, treasurer to queen Charlotte. Died 16 December 1773 aged 71. And Thomas Stone his son died 7 February 1761 aged 12. 

Here are also deposited the remains of Hannah, wife of Andrew Stone, died 5 June 1782 aged 73. 

In the same tomb lies buried Sara Mauvillain sister of Hannah Stone died 22 January 1804 aged 91. 

Here lies the body of George Stone, S.T.P. [professor of sacred theology], archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan. Died December 19 1764 aged 57.

First published in December, 2019. 

Fota Island

THE SMITH-BARRYS OWNED 12,969 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CORK

THE HON JOHN SMITH-BARRY (1725-84), youngest son of James, 4th Earl of Barrymore, succeeded, by bequest, to the unsettled estates of his father, which were very considerable, including Marbury Hall and large possessions in Cheshire, and Fota Island, and extensive estates in County Cork.

The Hon John Smith-Barry. Photo Credit: Tabley House Collection

He wedded, in 1746, Dorothy, daughter and co-heir of Hugh Smith, of Weald Hall, in Essex (by whom he acquired large estates in the counties of Tipperary, Louth, and in Huntingdonshire), and had issue,

JAMES HUGH, his heir;
John;
Richard;
Catherine.

The eldest son,

JAMES HUGH SMITH-BARRY (1748-), of Marbury Hall and Fota Island, High Sheriff of Cheshire, died leaving two sons and three daughters,

JOHN, of whom hereafter;
James;
Caroline Augusta; Narcissa; Louisa.

The elder son,

JOHN SMITH-BARRY (1793-1837), of Marbury Hall and Fota Island, married firstly, Eliza Mary, second daughter of Robert Courtenay, of Ballyedmond, and had issue,

JAMES HUGH, his heir;
John Hugh;
Robert Hugh;
Richard Hugh;
Anne; Elizabeth.

Mr Smith-Barry espoused secondly, Eliza Felicia, second daughter of General Heron, of Moor Hall, Cheshire, but by her had no issue.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES HUGH SMITH-BARRY JP DL (1816-56), of Marbury Hall and Fota Island, High Sheriff of County Cork, and of Cheshire, who wedded, in 1841, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Shallcross Jacson, of Newton Bank, Cheshire, and had issue,

ARTHUR HUGH, his heir;
James Hugh;
Geraldine; Maude.

Mr Smith-Barry was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR HUGH SMITH-BARRY JP DL (1843-1925), MP for County Cork, 1867-74, South Huntingdonshire, 1886-1900, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1902, in the dignity of BARON BARRYMORE, of Barrymore, County Cork.

His lordship married firstly, in 1868, the Lady Mary Frances Wyndham-Quin, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl; and secondly, in 1884, Elizabeth, daughter of General James Wadsworth, US Army.

There were children from both marriages.

Lord Barrymore died in London in February 1925, aged 82, and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.

His only son, James, had died in infancy, in 1871, and consequently the barony became extinct on his death.

The family seat, Fota House, was passed to his daughter from his second marriage, the Hon Dorothy Elizabeth (1894–1975), wife of Major William Bertram Bell.

Lady Barrymore died in 1930.

On Lord Barrymore's death in 1925, the estate, which was entailed, passed to his brother, James Hugh Smith-Barry; and on his death it passed to James Hugh's son, Robert Raymond Smith-Barry.

In 1939, Fota Island was acquired by Arthur Hugh's daughter, the Hon Mrs Dorothy Bell for the sum of £31,000.

On her death, in 1975, it passed to her daughter, Mrs Rosemary Villiers.

FOTA ISLAND, near Carrigtwohill, County Cork, lies at the head of Cork harbour, and is separated by very narrow straits or channels from Great Island on the south, Little Island on the west, and the mainland on the north and east.

Nearly all of it is occupied by the beautiful and richly-wooded former demesne of Lord Barrymore.

The mansion was originally a modest two-storey hunting lodge belonging to the Smith-Barry family.

In the 1820s, John Smith-Barry (1793-1837) decided to make Fota Island  his home.

He commissioned the great Irish architects Sir Richard Morrison and his son, William Vitruvius Morrison, to convert the hunting lodge into an elegant residence.

Initially it was proposed that the design should reflect the current fashion foe Tudor-Revival, but a more elegant Regency style was ultimately executed.

Two new wings were added and a handsome Doric portico made an elegant entrance.

The interior was opened up with fine scagliola columns, leading to a handsome stone staircase. The ceilings of the library and drawing room were decorated with great delicacy in the French style.

In 1872, the engineer Sir John Benson designed the beautiful billiards-room and an extensive conservatory. In 1897, the conservatory was altered to become the present long gallery.

FOTA HOUSE was sold to University College Cork in 1975, following the death of the Hon Mrs Bell.

It is now in the care of the Irish Heritage Trust.

The house has remained virtually unchanged since this time and the visitor today has a privileged glimpse of the great Georgian and Victorian craftsmanship that was to be found in Ireland during the 18th and 19th centuries.

It has over seventy rooms, ranging in size from the more modest servant rooms to the large and beautifully proportioned principal rooms.

The curious 'dummy' windows, which occur on the exterior of the building, were added to enhance the aesthetic balance of the house.

The style is classical throughout and the décor reflects continental trends in the gilt, marble work, painted ceilings and magnificent plaster detail throughout.

Since the re-opening of the house in 2009 after restoration, people can now visit the upper floor of the house for the first time in many years.

The glorious neo-classical architecture and innovative designs for which Morrison was renowned can now be fully appreciated, as well as the Collection - a fine collection of paintings and furniture - which have been returned to the house.

It was occupied by Lord Barrymore in 1906; later inherited by Major and the Hon Mrs Bell.

Mark Bence-Jones writes that Fota was sold to University College Cork in 1975, following the death of Mrs Bell.

It is now in the care of the Irish Heritage Trust and, after restoration, was reopened to the public in 2009.

 First published in December, 2011.

Ennistymon House

THE MACNAMARAS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CLARE, WITH 15,246 ACRES

This is a branch of the ancient Milesian family of MACNAMARA, of County Clare, which was resident at Ballynacraggy.

BARTHOLOMEW MACNAMARA (1685-1761), of Murraghlin, The Burren, County Clare, sixth son of Teige Macnamara, of Ballynacraggy, wedded Dorothy, daughter of William Brock, Mayor of Galway, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Michael, dsp;
Teige, dsp;
John;
Mary; Margaret; Ann.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM MACNAMARA (1714-62), of Doolen, County Clare, married Catherine, daughter and heir of Francis Sarsfield, of Doolen, County Clare, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
William, dsp;
Mary; Catherine; Anne; Dorothy.

The elder son,

FRANCIS MACNAMARA (1750-1821), of Doolen, espoused Jane, daughter of George Stamer, of Carnelly, County Clare, by Honor his wife, daughter of Christopher O'Brien, of Ennistymon, and Mary, his second wife, daughter of Sir Randal MacDonnell Bt, and had issue,

WILLIAM NUGENT, his heir;
Richard;
George;
Francis;
John;
Burton (Sir), KCB, Admiral;
Honoria; Dora.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM NUGENT MACNAMARA (1775-1856), of Doolen, High Sheriff of County Clare, 1798, MP for County Clare, 1830-52, married, in 1798, Susannah, daughter and eventually co-heir of the Hon Mathias Finucane, Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland (by Anne his wife, daughter of Edward O'Brien, of Ennistymon), and had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Jane; Susan; Honor; Matilda; Louisa.

The only son,

FRANCIS MACNAMARA JP DL (1802-73), of Doolen and Ennistymon House, Lieutenant-Colonel, Clare Militia, MP for Ennis, 1832, was succeeded by his son,

HENRY VALENTINE MACNAMARA JP DL (1861-1925), of Doolen and Ennistymon, High Sheriff of County Clare, 1885, who wedded, in 1883, Elizabeth Edith, daughter of Sir Daniel Cooper Bt GCMG, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Valentine;
George;
Violet Elizabeth; Edith Eileen; Doreen Finola; Honor Nesta.

The eldest son,

FRANCIS MACNAMARA (1884-1945), married, in 1911, Mary, eldest daughter of Eduard Majolier, of France, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Caitlin, m Dylan Thomas;
Nicolette, 1911-87.

The only son,

JOHN MACNAMARA (1908-), wedded Henriette Buffard, of France, though the marriage was without issue.

Michael MacMahon has written an article about the Macnamaras of Doolin and Ennistymon.

ENNISTYMON HOUSE, now The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, County Clare, is a two-storey, seven-bay, gable-ended 18th century house.

It has a single-storey, 19th century, gable-ended wing.

Interior plasterwork includes a frieze incorporating an arm embowed, brandishing a sword (the O'Brien crest) in the hall.

The conservatory has art nouveau metalwork.

Ennistymon became The Falls Hotel ca 1936.

Francis Macnamara was reputedly a notable bohemian figure and the father-in-law of Dylan Thomas; who married (as his second wife) the sister of Augustus John's Dorelia.

Macnamara and John are the Two Flamboyant Fathers in the book of that name by his daughter, Nicolette Shephard.

First published in March, 2016.

Ballyhaise House

THE HUMPHRYS' OWNED 5,146 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CAVAN

WILLIAM HUMPHRYS, of Ballyhaise, County Cavan, younger brother of Christopher Humphrys, of Dromard, married Letitia Kennedy, and had issue,

Christopher, b 1786;
WILLIAM, of whom we treat;
John, 1809-18;
Anne; Matilda; Letitia; Amelia; Caroline; Sophia.

Mr Humphrys, High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1822, was succeeded by his second son,

WILLIAM HUMPHRYS JP DL (1798-1872), of Ballyhaise House, High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1832, who wedded firstly, in 1826, Anna Maria, daughter of John Pratt Winter, of Agher, County Meath, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
JOHN WINTER, succeeded his brother;
Mervyn Archdall;
Anne Elizabeth.

He espoused secondly, in 1838, Maria Clarissa, daughter of Hugh Moore, of Eglantine House, County Down, and had further issue,

Hugh (Rev);
Armitage Eglantine;
Cecilia Letitia; Clara; Sylvia Priscilla.

Mr Humphrys was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM HUMPHRYS (1827-77), High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1877, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN WINTER HUMPHRYS (1829-84), of Ballyhaise House, High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1879, who married, in 1854, Priscilla Cecilia, daughter of the Rev J P Garrett, of Killgaron, County Carlow, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
John Mervyn;
James Winter;
Charles Vesey;
Mervyn Archdall;
Francis Edward;
Arthur Armitage;
Llewellyn Winter;
Percy Raymond;
Caroline Elizabeth; Priscilla Cecilia; Clara Christina; Anna Maria; Emily May.

Mr Humphrys was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM HUMPHRYS JP (1855-97), of Ballyhaise House, Lieutenant RN, who wedded, in 1879, Alice, daughter of James Stannard JP, of Bricketstown House, County Wexford, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
NUGENT WINTER, succeeded his brother;
Ethel Elizabeth; Evelyn Alice.

Mr Humphrys was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM HUMPHRYS (1883-1906), of Ballyhaise House, Lieutenant, 17th Lancers, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

NUGENT WINTER HUMPHRYS (1885-1931), of Ballyhaise House, Lieutenant, Manchester Regiment, who espoused, in 1911, Blanche Ada de Vivefay, daughter of William Edward Wilson, of Daramona.

BALLYHAISE HOUSE, Ballyhaise, County Cavan, is one of the greatest mansions in County Cavan.

It was built about 1733 for Colonel Brockhill Newburgh.

The house comprises two storeys over a basement, with seven bays; with ashlar dressings, faced in brick.

The entrance front has a pedimented feature with four Ionic pilasters.

The garden front has a central carved bow with round-headed windows.

The bow contains an oval saloon, which has been considered one of the earliest of its kind in the British Isles.

Ballyhaise was sold in 1800 to William Humphrys, who enlarged the house considerably by adding two storey wings of the same height as the original block.

The estate was sold by the Humprys family in 1906 and now serves as an agricultural college.

First published in July, 2018.

Altidore Castle

THE DOPPING-HEPENSTALS OWNED 1,568 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WICKLOW

JOHN DOPPING, of Frampton, Gloucestershire, and of Dopping Court, Dublin, married Joan, daughter of John Elliott, of Shropshire, and had an only son,

ANTHONY DOPPING, of Dopping Court, Dublin, Clerk of the Privy Council in Ireland, Feodary of the Province of Leinster, and Examiner of the Court of Wards, who wedded Margaret, daughter of Gilbert Domvile, MP for County Kildare, by Margaret his wife, daughter of the Most Rev Dr Thomas Jones, Lord Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland, sister of the 1st Viscount Ranelagh.

Mr Dopping died in 1649, having had issue (with a daughter), a son,

THE MOST REV DR ANTHONY DOPPING (1643-97), Lord Bishop of Meath, of Dopping Court, Dublin, who espoused, in 1670, Jane, daughter of Samuel Molyneux, of Castle Dillon, County Armagh, and had issue,

Samuel, MP for Armagh;
ANTHONY, of whom hereafter;
Margaret; Lucy; Mary; Jane.

His lordship died in 1697, and was buried in St Andrew's Church, Dublin.

His second, and eventually eldest surviving son,

THE RT REV ANTHONY DOPPING (1675-1743), of Dopping Court, Lord Bishop of Ossory, who espoused Dorothea, daughter of Ralph Howard MP, of Shelton Abbey, County Wicklow, ancestor of the Earls of Wicklow, and had issue,

ANTHONY, his heir;
Jane Lucy; Alice; Margaret; Frances; Katherine.

His lordship died in 1743, and was buried in St Andrew's Church, Dublin.

He was succeeded by his only son,

ANTHONY DOPPING, of Lowtown, County Westmeath, who married, in 1756, Alice, daughter of James D'Arcy, of Hyde Park, County Westmeath, and of Derrycassan, County Longford, and had issue (with two daughters),

Samuel (1760-1822), dspm;
RALPH, who carried on the line.

Mr Dopping was succeeded by his elder son, who died as above, while the family was carried on by the younger son,

RALPH DOPPING (1766-1818), of Erne Head and Derrycassan, who wedded, in 1798, Catherine, daughter of Philip Smyth, of Grouse Hall, County Cavan, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Henry, of Erne Head;
Mary; Frances.

Mr Dopping was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN DOPPING JP (1800-55), of Derrycassan, High Sheriff of County Longford, 1823, who wedded, in 1822, Frances, daughter of James Henry Cottingham, of Somerville, County Cavan, and had issue,

RALPH ANTHONY, his heir;
John Francis;
James Henry;
Charlotte Henrietta; Sarah Rose.

Mr Dopping, who was drowned in 1855, was succeeded by his eldest son,

RALPH ANTHONY DOPPING-HEPENSTAL JP DL (1823-87), of Derrycassan, High Sheriff of County Longford, 1859, Honorary Colonel, Longford Rifles, who espoused firstly, in 1858, DIANA DALRYMPLE, daughter of the Rev Lambert Watson Hepenstal, of Altadore, County Wicklow, and had issue,

LAMBERT JOHN, his heir;
Susannah Elizabeth Louisa Mary Caroline; Haidee Emily Rose; Diana Charlotte.

He married secondly, in 1867, Anne, third daughter of Richard Maxwell Fox DL MP, of Foxhall, County Longford, and had further issue,

Ralph Francis Byron;
Maxwell Edward;
Juanita Rose.

Colonel Dopping assumed, in 1859, the additional surname and arms of HEPENSTAL, in compliance with the testamentary injunction of his father-in-law, the Rev Lambert Watson Hepenstal, of Altidore, County Wicklow.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

LAMBERT JOHN DOPPING-HEPENSTAL OBE JP DL (1859-1928), of Derrycassan, County Longford, and Altidore Castle, County Wicklow, High Sheriff of County Wicklow, 1909, County Longford, 1910, Major, Royal Engineers, who wedded, in 1920, Amy Maude, daughter of Major Charles Robert Worsley Tottenham, though the marriage was without issue.

FAMILY OF HEPENSTAL

The Rev John Hepenstal, of Newcastle, County Wicklow, born in 1699, married, in 1726, Miss Adair, of Hollybrook, County Wicklow, and had issue,

William, who had two daughters;
EDWARD, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

EDWARD HEPENSTAL, of Newcastle, wedded, in 1759, Jane, daughter of John Lambert, of Kilcrony, and sister of Colonel Oliver Richard Lambert, and had issue,

John, dsp;
GEORGE, of whom presently;
Edward;
William.

The second son,

GEORGE HEPENSTAL, of Sandymount, espoused, in 1787, Hester Watson, and had (with other issue), a son,

THE REV LAMBERT WATSON HEPENSTAL (1788-1859), of Altadore, County Wicklow, who married firstly, in 1809, Elizabeth, daughter of William Ball, and had issue,

GEORGE RICHARD, his heir;
William;
Jane Anne; Esther Charlotte; Louisa Diana; Elizabeth Martha; Susanna Rebecca;
Selina Dalrymple; Emily Mary; DIANA DALRYMPLE (as above); Hester Maria.

Mr Hepenstal wedded secondly, in 1858, Cecilia, daughter of John Berkeley Deane, of Berkeley, County Wexford, without further issue.

ALTIDORE CASTLE, County Wicklow, described as a “Georgian toy fort“, was built near the ruins of a medieval castle of the O’Toole family in the eastern slopes of the Wicklow Mountains, west of Newtownmountkennedy.

From its elevated position it looks out over woods to the coastal plain and the Irish Sea beyond.

Altidore was built as a residence for General Thomas Pearce, uncle of the eminent architect, Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, ca 1730.

Sir Edward designed some of Ireland’s finest early Palladian buildings and architectural historians speculate that he may well have been responsible for the plans of Altidore.

It is clearly in the same vein as the early 18th century ‘sham’ forts and castles designed by Pearce and his cousin, the playright-turned-architect Sir John Vanbrugh.

Altidore was enlarged and modified for a subsequent owner, Major Henry Brownrigg, and by 1773 was owned by Rev William Blachford, Librarian of Marsh’s Library and father of the early Romantic poetess Mary Tighe, authoress of “Psyche, or the Legend of Love”, who lived at Altadore as a child.

Subsequently her brother, the noted agriculturalist John Blanchford, lived here with his wife Mary Anne, the daughter of Henry Grattan, the famous parliamentarian from nearby Tinnehinch.

Altidore comprises two stories over a basement, with crenellated towers at each corner and two formal fronts of five bays.

The façade, which faces the mountains, has a three-bay breakfront with a central Venetian window above a heavily blocked door case and a later pillared porch.

The basement appears as the ground floor at the rear, on account of the steeply sloping ground.

The interior has good early 18th century joinery and a panelled dining-room with plaster plaques.

From 1834 till 1918 the Dopping-Hepenstal family, of Derrycassan House (demolished in the 1930s) extensive landowners in County Wicklow, owned the estate.

They rarely lived in the castle and leased it out for long periods, on one occasion for use as a tuberculosis sanatorium. 

In the early 20th century Altidore changed hands more frequently and was owned by two different banks on separate occasions.

Finally, in 1945, James Albert Garland Emmet purchased the house and 300 acres of land from Percy Burton, an eccentric bachelor who had allowed it to become very dilapidated.

The Emmets carried out an extensive restoration and created a large new garden, centred on a pair of canals from the early 18th century garden layout.

The present owners, their grandson Philip and his wife, have farmed the estate organically for nearly 20 years.

The Emmets are descended from Thomas Addis Emmet, a leader of the United Irishmen and brother of the Irish nationalist and republican leader, Robert Emmet.

Altadore contains a small Robert Emmet museum, with a number of interesting original items.

Select bibliography ~ Irish Historic Houses Association. First published in February, 2018.

The Davis-Goff Baronets

THE DAVIS-GOFFS OWNED 2,576 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WEXFORD

THE REV STEPHEN GOFFE or GOUGH, Rector of Bramber, West Sussex, 1603-5, and St Botolph's, 1605-6, married Deborah West, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
James;
Timothy;
Stephen (Rev);
John (Rev).

The eldest son,

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WILLIAM GOFFE (c1605-c1679), wedded Frances, daughter of Major-General Edward Whalley, and had issue,

RICHARD, his heir;
Anne; Elizabeth; Frances.

The only son,

RICHARD GOFFE, of Waterford, County Waterford, espoused, in 1681, Hannah, daughter of Jonas Chamberlain, and had issue,

William;
Richard;
Jonas;
JACOB, of whom hereafter;
Mary; Hannah; Elizabeth.

The youngest son,

JACOB GOFF (1695-c1751), of Dublin, married, in 1721, Mary, daughter of John Fade, and had issue,

Joseph;
Fade;
JACOB, of whom we treat;
Hannah; Mary; Sarah; Elizabeth.

The third son,

JACOB GOFF (c1736-c1799), married Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Wilson, and had issue,

Joseph Fade;
WILLIAM;
Anne; Dinah; Elizabeth.

The younger son,

WILLIAM GOFF (1762-1840), of Horetown House, County Wexford, High Sheriff of County Wexford, 1807 and 1811, wedded, in 1784, Rebecca, daughter of Edward Deaves, and had issue,

Jacob William, dsp;
REBECCA, of whom hereafter;
Mary; Sally; Lucy Anne; Arabella; Elizabeth.

Mr Goff's eldest daughter,

MISS REBECCA GOFF, espoused, in 1809, Francis Davis, of Waterford, and had issue,

STRANGMAN;
Henry (1825-63).

Mrs Davis died in 1859, and was succeeded by her elder son,

STRANGMAN DAVIS JP (1810-72), of Horetown House, County Wexford, who married, in 1835, Susan Maxwell, daughter of Arthur Ussher, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Ussher;
Charles Edward;
Francis;
Margaretta Ussher; Julia Anna; Rebecca; Lucy Ussher.

Mr Davis added the additional surname of GOFF in 1845, under the terms of his uncle's will.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM DAVIS-GOFF JP DL (1838-1918), of Glenville, County Waterford, High Sheriff of Waterford City, 1869, County Waterford, 1892, who wedded, in 1866, Anna Maria, daughter of Michael Dobbyn Hassard, and had issue,

HERBERT WILLIAM, his heir;
William Ernest.

Mr Davis-Goff was created a baronet in 1905, designated of Glenville, County Waterford.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR HERBERT WILLIAM DAVIS-GOFF, 2nd Baronet (1870-1923), DL, High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1914, Captain, RASC, who espoused, in 1903, Margaret Aimée, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Charles Stewart Scott GCB GCMG, and had issue,

ERNEST WILLIAM, his successor;
Charles Herbert;
Terence Richard;
Doreen Christian.

Sir Herbert was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ERNEST WILLIAM GOFF-DAVIS, 3rd Baronet (1904-80), who married, in 1941, Alice Cynthia Sainthill, daughter of Robert Woodhouse, and had issue,

ROBERT WILLIAM, his successor;
Annabel Claire; Julia Christian; Alice Maria.

Sir Ernest was succeeded by his only son,

SIR ROBERT WILLIAM DAVIS-GOFF, 4th and present Baronet (1955-), of Ballinacor, County Wicklow, and Lissen Hall, County Dublin, who wedded, in 1978, Nathalie Sheelagh, daughter of Terence Chadwick, of Lissen Hall, County Dublin, and has issue,

WILLIAM NATHANIEL (b 1980);
Henry Terence Chadwick;
James Sammy Chadwick;
Sarah Chadwick.

Residences ~ Ballinacor Estate, County Wicklow; Lissen Hall, Donabate, County Dublin; Eairy Moar Farm, Glen Helen, Isle of Man.