1st Earl of Normanton

THE EARLS OF NORMANTON OWNED 7,625 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TIPPERARY, 3,294 IN COUNTY KILKENNY, AND 1,003 IN COUNTY LIMERICK

CHARLES AGAR (1639-96), of York, Yorkshire, married Ellis, daughter of Peter Blanchville, of County Kilkenny, and settling at Gowran, in that county, died there, and was succeeded by his son,

JAMES AGAR (1672-1733), of Gowran Castle, MP for Gowran, 1713-15, who wedded firstly, in 1692, Susannah, daughter of John Alexander, but by that lady had no issue to survive youth.

He espoused secondly, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir Henry Wemyss, Knight, of Danesfort, County Kilkenny, and had by her (who died in 1771, aged 106),

HENRY, his heir;
James;
Ellis, created suo jure COUNTESS OF BRANDON;
Mary.

The elder son,

HENRY AGAR, MP for Gowran, 1727, married, in 1733, Anne, only daughter of the Most Rev Welbore Ellis, Lord Bishop of Meath, and had issue,

James, his heir, created VISCOUNT CLIFDEN;
Welbore Ellis;
CHARLES, of whom we treat;
Henry;
Diana.

The third son,

THE MOST REV AND RIGHT HON DR CHARLES AGAR (1736-1809), Lord Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland and Metropolitan, married, in 1776, Jane, daughter of William Benson, and had issue,

WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
George Charles;
James (Rev);
Frances Anne.

Dr Agar was of Westminster School, and Christ Church, Oxford; he went as Chaplain with Hugh, 1st Duke, then Earl of Northumberland, KG, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1763, and was promoted to the deanery of Kilmore, consecrated Lord Bishop of Cloyne, 1768, translated thence to the archbishopric of Cashel, 1771, and to the archbishopric of Dublin and primacy of Ireland, 1801.

His Grace was elevated to the peerage, in 1794, in the dignity of Baron Somerton; and advanced to a viscountcy, in 1801, as Viscount Somerton.

He was further advanced to an earldom, in 1806, as EARL OF NORMANTON.

The 1st Earl was interred beside his Countess at Westminster Abbey.

The inscription on His Grace’s great marble monument in the Abbey reads,

Sacred to the memory of Charles Agar, D.D. Earl of Normanton, and Archbishop of Dublin.

He was educated at Westminster School, and was a student of Christ-Church Oxford.

In 1768 he was consecrated Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland; and translated from thence to the Archbishopric of Cashel in 1779.

In 1795 he was created Baron Somerton of Somerton in the county of Kilkenny, and Viscount Somerton in 1800.

In the following year he became Archbishop of Dublin and in 1806 was created Earl of Normanton. 

He departed this life on the 14th of July 1809 aged 72 years and rests near this spot, in the same grave with his uncle the Right Honourable Welbore Ellis, Baron Mendip.

In the course of his episcopal labours not less than seventeen churches and twenty two glebe houses for the residence of his clergy were built under his direction and assistance; and he erected principally at his own expense the cathedral church of Cashel.

As a statesman and a prelate he was an able and zealous supporter of the religion which he professed and taught, and of the country at whose councils he assisted.

His care for the welfare of the church is testified by the numerous Acts of Parliament which he framed for its permanent regulation and support.

The perfect state in which his dioceses were left, and the veneration impressed by his talents and virtues on the hearts of those over whom he presided are far nobler monuments than any which can be erected to his memory.

His Grace’s eldest son,

WELBORE ELLIS, 2nd Earl (1778-1868), of Somerley House, wedded, in 1816, the Lady Diana Herbert, daughter of George, 11th Earl of Pembroke, and had issue,

JAMES CHARLES HERBERT WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Herbert Welbore Ellis;
Charles Welbore Herbert;
Mary Jane Diana.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES CHARLES HERBERT WELBORE ELLIS, 3rd Earl (1818-96), JP DL, of Somerley, who espoused, in 1856, Caroline Susan Augusta, daughter of William, 6th Viscount Barrington, and had issue,

CHARLES GEORGE WELBORE ELLIS, styled Viscount Somerton (1856-94);
SIDNEY JAMES, of whom hereafter;
Henry Augustus Bernard;
Francis William Arthur;
Caroline Elizabeth; Mary Beatrice; Margaret Elizabeth Diana; Mary Adelaide.

His lordship was succeeded by his second son,

SIDNEY JAMES, 4th Earl (1865-1933), of Somerley, who married, in 1894, the Lady Amy Frederica Alice Byng, daughter of Henry, 4th Earl of Strafford, and had issue,

EDWARD JOHN SIDNEY CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Georgiana Mary Elizabeth; Alexandra Henrietta Alice; Caroline Amy Cora;
Mary Karen; Diana Julia; Amy Louise; Rosemary Beatrice.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

EDWARD JOHN SIDNEY CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, 5th Earl (1910-67), of Somerley, who wedded firstly, in 1937, Barbara Mary, daughter of Sir Frederick William Francis George Frankland Bt; and secondly, in 1944, the Lady Fiona Pratt, daughter of John, 4th Marquess Camden, and had issue,

SHAUN JAMES CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Mark Sidney Andrew.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

SHAUN JAMES CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, 6th Earl (1945-2019), of Somerley, who espoused firstly, in 1970, Victoria Susan, daughter of J H C Beard, and had issue,

JAMES SHAUN CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Portia Caroline; Marisa Charlotte.

He married secondly, after 2000, Rosalind Bernice Nott.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

JAMES SHAUN CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS (1982-), 7th Earl, of Somerley, who married, in 2012, the Lady Lucy Caroline Alexander, daughter of Shane, 2nd Earl Alexander of Tunis, and has issue,

ARTHUR ALEXANDER CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, styled Viscount Somerton;
Frederick Charles Edward;
Georgiana Rose.

Seat ~ Somerley House, near Ringwood, Hampshire; former London residence ~ 3, Seamore Place, Curzon Street.  
 
First published in December, 2019. 

Belfast's Phantom VI

In the late sixties and seventies, the Lord Mayor of Belfast's official mode of transport was a stately Rolls-Royce Phantom VI.

This car was, without doubt, the finest mode of transport the first citizen has ever used; and it has been peerless ever since.

I have attempted, in vain, to obtain information from Belfast City Council about earlier civic transport; perhaps First Citizens used their own forms of transport.

Sorry about the grainy image above: do any readers have better photographs?

Remarkably enough, I gather that the Lord Mayor's was the very first Phantom VI ever produced and was the official mayoral car from 1968 until 1978, when Belfast City Council sold it. 

I believe that the Lord Mayor of London still has a Phantom VI as official transport; as does the Royal Family in its fleet within the Royal Mews.

The then Councillor David Cook may have been Belfast's last mayoral occupant of the Phantom VI, which was navy blue in colour with the first citizen's registration number 1 WZ.

It even had a little pennant on the bonnet and a coat-of-arms mounted on its roof.

The Royal Family still has a few trusty Phantoms, including at least two Phantom VI state limousines.

As a boy I was in awe of this car, a true symbol of authority, power and presence.

It really was quite a spectacle to behold.

It must have been quite similar in appearance to the Monarch's car, a 1977 Phantom VI presented to Queen Elizabeth II for Her late Majesty's Silver Jubilee.

The Phantom VI was manufactured from 1968 until 1991 and a mere 374 of them were made.

The mayoral transport gradually diminished in stature when the Phantom VI was sold.

The Council subsequently bought a Daimler Limousine for the first citizen; then another Daimler; a Jaguar; etc.

What is the mayoral mode of transport today?

First published in June, 2008.

The McCullagh Baronetcy

ALEXANDER McCULLAGH (1798-1872), of Dinnahorra, near Markethill, County Armagh, married Sarah West, and had issue,

Alexander John;

Samuel James;

Thomas West;

William Douglas;

ROBERT, of whom hereafter;

David George;

Amelia; Agnes; Sarah Jane.

The fifth son,

ROBERT McCULLAGH, of Dinnahorra, married Nancy Crawford and was father of

ROBERT McCLAVE McCULLAGH (1822-78), of Dinnahorra, who wedded Mary Jane Hawthorne, and had issue,

Samuel (1866-94);
CRAWFORD, of whom hereafter;
Anna Margaret; Jemima; Eliza Jane; Selina.

The younger son,

THE RT HON CRAWFORD McCULLAGH JP (1868-1948), of Lismara, County Antrim, married, in 1896, Margaret Craig, daughter of William Brodie, of Bolton Le Moors, Lancashire.

Mr McCullagh, Lord Mayor of Belfast, 1914-17, 1931-42 and 1943-46, received the honour of knighthood in 1915.

Sir Crawford was created a baronet in 1935, designated of Lismara:

Whitehall, July 11, 1935: Letters Patent have passed the Great Seal of the Realm granting the dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom to the under-mentioned gentlemen, and the heirs male of their respective bodies lawfully begotten:- Sir Crawford McCullagh, of Lismara in the parish of Carnmoney in the County of Antrim, Knight... 

In 1938, Sir Crawford negotiated the donation of Belfast Castle and its 200-acre demesne (bordering on Hazelwood and Bellevue pleasure grounds) with Lord Shaftesbury.

He also officially opened the Floral Hall.

Sir Crawford was a director of several businesses in Belfast, including Maguire and Patterson (Vespa matches); the Classic Cinema, Castle Place; and McCullagh and Co., silk mercers, milliners and fancy draperies, taken over by Styles and Mantles in 1927.

• Company director and businessman; 
• Lord Mayor of Belfast, 1914-17, 1931-42 and 1943-46; 
• High Sheriff of Belfast, 1911; 
• MP for Belfast South, 1921-25; 
• Member, NI Senate; 
• Privy Counsellor of Northern Ireland.

Sir Crawford's great-granddaughter, Susie Cunningham, has written a book about him.

The McCullaghs resided at Lismara House (above), Whiteabbey, near Belfast.

General Eisenhower is said to have been Lismara'a most famous visitor, in 1945.

Now known as Abbeydene, it is a guest-house.

Lismara House was built by Sir Charles Lanyon in 1850 for John Finlay, who was a flax merchant.

Side Elevation

Lismara acted as General Eisenhower’s County Antrim GHQ during the 2nd World War.

Eisenhower visited the house in 1945, which was then owned by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sir Crawford McCullagh (who had been awarded the Civic Award at Belfast City Hall earlier in the day).

Sir Charles Brett remarked that it was renamed Abbeydene by Sir Crawford's son after his father's death in 1948.

Abbeydene was renovated by Frazer Homes ca 1993, replacing all plasterwork and most of the sash windows in the house.

At the time the house was owned by Moore Homes, and it was used as an administration block for the surrounding residential care home.

The house was opened by the current owner in 2007 as a guesthouse.

The house is made from golden sandstone, and has a grand front entrance with a tall wooden door and several sandstone pillars.

The grounds formerly extended to 19 acres.

From 1895 until 1915 Edward Robinson, of Robinson and Cleaver's department store, lived there. 

Sir Crawford's son,

SIR JOSEPH McCULLAGH, 2nd Baronet (1907-74), was probably the foremost authority on ornithology in Northern Ireland in the years preceding his death.

He was Patron of the Northern Ireland Ornithology Club.

Sir Joseph died in 1974, when the title became extinct; by which time his widow Elizabeth, Lady McCullagh, lived at 104 Knock Road, Belfast.

First published in June, 2010.

Meyrick of Bodorgan

THE MEYRICKS WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN THE ISLE OF ANGLESEY, WITH 16,918 ACRES

The Family of MEYRICK is descended from Cadafael, Lord of Cedewain, Powys.

LLOWARCH AP BRAN was succeeded by his son, who married his cousin, Gwenllian, granddaughter of Prince Owen Gwynedd (ca 1136).

He was succeeded by his son,

MEREDYDD, of Bôdorgan, whose only child and heiress,

EVA, wedded Einion Sais, the direct descendant and representative in the sixth degree from Cadafael Ynnyd, Lord of Cydewain, Montgomeryshire.

He was usher or chamberlain of the palace of Sheen (Richmond) to HENRY VI, and so was called Sais (Saxon), on account of his being so much in England.

He was succeeded by his son,

HEYLIN, of Bodorgan, whose son and successor,

LLEWELLYN AP HEYLIN, espoused Angharad, daughter of William ap Evan, another descendant of Prince Owen Gwynedd. 

Llewellyn fought at the battle of Bosworth on the side of HENRY VII, and his two-handed sword and salt-cellar are still preserved at Bôdorgan.

His son,

MEYRICK AP LLEWELLYN, was Captain of the Guard at the coronation of HENRY VIII.

He was the first High Sheriff of Anglesey, which office he held till his death.

From him the name MEYRICK, signifying "Guardian," is derived, as a surname, in pursuance of the act of HENRY VIII, requiring that the name of every man at that time should be borne by his descendants as a surname, there being no surnames before that time in Wales.

Rowland, second son of Meyrick ap Llewellyn, was the first Protestant Bishop of Bangor, and was buried in Bangor Cathedral; from him are descended the MEYRICKS of Goodrich Court, and of Bush.

Meyrick ap Llewellyn was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD MEYRICK, a man of great influence in the county; he was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD MEYRICK, who was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD MEYRICK, High Sheriff of Anglesey, 1641, who was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD MEYRICK, High Sheriff of Anglesey, 1647-8, whose eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM MEYRICK, High Sheriff of Anglesey, 1675, was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

OWEN MEYRICK (1682-1759), of Bôdorgan, High Sheriff of Anglesey, 1706, MP for Anglesey, 1715-22, married Anne, daughter of Piers Lloyd, of Lligwy, and was father of

OWEN MEYRICK (1705-70), of Bôdorgan, MP for Anglesey, 1761-70, who wedded, in 1745, Hester, daughter of John Putland, of London, and was succeeded by his son,

OWEN PUTLAND MEYRICK, of Bôdorgan, who espoused, in 1774, Clara, eldest daughter and heiress of Richard Garth, of Morden, Surrey, and had issue, a daughter,

CLARA MEYRICK, who wedded, in 1801, Augustus Elliott, son of John Trayton Fuller, and had issue,

OWEN JOHN AUGUSTUS;

Clara, grandmother of Sir George Augustus Eliott Tapps-Gervis-Meyrick Bt;

Lucy Ann; Catherine Sarah; Augusta Maria.

The only son and heir,

OWEN JOHN AUGUSTUS FULLER-MEYRICK DL (1804-76), of Bodorgan, High Sheriff of Anglesey, 1827, whose patronymic was FULLER, succeeded to the estates of his maternal grandfather, and assumed in consequence, by royal licence, the surname and arms of MEYRICK.

Following Mr Fuller-Meyrick's death in 1876, the Bodorgan Estate passed to his cousin,

SIR GEORGE AUGUSTUS ELIOTT TAPPS-GERVIS-MEYRICK, 4th Baronet (1855-1928), of Bodorgan Hall, Anglesey, and Hinton Admiral, Hampshire.

Bodorgan is now the residence of Sir George William Owen Tapps-Gervis-Meyrick, 8th Baronet (born 1970) and his family.

Bodorgan Hall (Image: Coflein)

BODORGAN HALL is a neo-classical mansion, comprising smooth ashlar masonry in a pale, yellowish stone, with a slate roof.

The entrance to the mansion is on the north front, which has a central portico.

The tops of two doors of the facade are adorned with bas-reliefs, and there are half-columns and four alcoves along this side.

The east front of the house has nine bays, with three in the centre "on a semi-circular bow with a domed roof."

Bodorgan Hall (Image: Pinterest)

The north and south sides have single-storey wings, added in the mid 19th century, and are of a lesser quality.

An aviary was once located in the southern extension, which now has "two open-fronted loggias."

First published in January, 2021.

Finaghy House

WILLIAM CHARLEY OWNED 155 ACRES OF LAND AT SEYMOUR HILL, COUNTY ANTRIM

The family of CHARLEY, or CHORLEY, passing over from the north of England, settled in Ulster during the 17th century, at first in Belfast, where they were owners of house property for two hundred years; and afterwards at Finaghy, County Antrim, where

JOHN CHARLEY (c1659-1743), of Belfast, was father of

RALPH CHARLEY (1674-1756), of Finaghy House, County Antrim, who wedded Elizabeth Hill, and had an only child,

JOHN CHARLEY (1711-93), of Finaghy House, who married Mary, daughter of John Ussher, and had issue,

Matthew, died unmarried;
JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Hill, died unmarried;
Jane, died unmarried.

The eldest surviving son,

JOHN CHARLEY (1744-1812), of Finaghy House, married, in 1783, Anne Jane, daughter of Richard Wolfenden, of Harmony Hill, County Down, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
MATTHEW, succeeded his brother;
William;
Edward;
Hill;
Annabella; Eliza Jane.

Mr Charley was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN CHARLEY (1784-1844), of Finaghy House, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

MATTHEW CHARLEY (1788-1846), of Finaghy House and Woodbourne, who married, in 1819, Mary Anne, daughter of Walter Roberts, and had issue,

JOHN STOUPPE, his heir;
Walter Matthew;
William Thomas (Sir);
Cecilia Anna; Suzanne Caroline; Letitia.

Mr Charley was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN STOUPPE CHARLEY JP DL (1825-78), of Finaghy House, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1875, who espoused, in 1851, Mary Stewart, daughter of Francis Forster, and had issue,

John Francis Ralph (1853-55);
John Francis William (1857-99), k/a;
Walter Roberts Matthew, emigrated to Canada;
Ralph Mansfield, died in infancy;
Mary Grace Leader; Constance Stewart; Charlotte Elizabeth Forster.

FINAGHY HOUSE, Belfast, located in the townland of Ballyfinaghy, dates back to the late-17th century.

It is thought, indeed, that the original house was erected ca 1695.

It was first built as the residence of Richard Woods, but was bought in 1727 by the Charley family, who lived there for five generations.

The two-storey, thatched house was purchased by Ralph Charley.

A mural plaque on the south-west gable records that the Charleys first took possession of the site in 1727.

Finaghy House comprised six reception rooms and twelve bedrooms, and was described by a descendent of the family as 

"an imposing mansion in a large park, with extensive outhouses and stables … a remarkable feature [of the interior] being a revolving fireplace between the drawing-room and the dining-room."

Ralph Charley was a prosperous linen merchant who possessed a number of bleach greens in the Dunmurry area, and later established looms (for the weaving of linen) at Finaghy House.

In 1824 his descendants, John and William Charley, formed the partnership J & W Charley & Co.

Five generations of the Charleys subsequently resided at Finaghy House for more than 150 years.

In the 1830s the Ordnance Survey Memoirs described the house as a commodious two-storey dwelling that continued to possess a thatched roof, remarking that "the walls are nearly four feet thick and run together by grouted lime, similar to other ancient buildings."

The main (two-storey) building was depicted along its present layout, and also featured a number of outbuildings to the north-west side of the house.

It was recorded that these outbuildings were slated,  and had been erected by the Charley family during the last forty years.

The attached two-storey rear return and outbuilding (located to the north-west of the dwelling) had been constructed between the 1830-58.

John Stouppe Charley occupied Finaghy from 1866 until 1885.

Following his death in 1885, Charley’s widow sold the house and its contents to Major and Mrs Brewis.

The Brewises bred corgi dogs: one of which was called “The Queen Mother”.

The first corgi owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was bred in this house. 

James Moore acquired the mansion during the 1890s, and it was during his residence that the formerly thatched building was probably re-roofed and altered into its present appearance.

The most discernible subsequent alteration was the construction of the current single-storey entrance porch.

The Irish census recorded that Finaghy House’s thatched roof was replaced with slate by at least 1901, so it's likely that the house was re-roofed shortly after the building was purchased by Moore about 1890.

The Moores continued to live at Finaghy House until 1930, when the property was acquired by Major and Mrs Tyler.

Finaghy House remained in use as a family home until 1960, when it was converted into a residential care home and renamed Faith House.

Faith House was listed in 1987.

Work was carried out to the two-storey return in 1989-90, when the original windows were replaced and the side porch (located in the courtyard to rear) was altered.

The outbuilding to the north-west side of the original building was replaced with the current two-storey wing at this time, too.

Despite the addition of the modern wing, the original two-storey gable bay to the north-west end of the return (which had been erected between 1833 and 1858) was retained.

Between 1991 and 2011 an additional number of modern extensions were constructed to the north-west and south-west sides of Faith House.

These extensions have considerably increased the capacity of the care home.

First published in March, 2011.

Moneyglass House

THE HAMILTON-JONESES OWNED 3,690 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The family of JONES, of Moneyglass, County Antrim, claim descent from the ancient Welsh family of JONES, of Ystrad, Carmarthenshire, of the line of the ancient princes of the Cambrai. 

WILLIAM MORRES JONES (grandson of Morres Jones, of Ystrad, in the reign of CHARLES II), married Anne, daughter of Captain William Dobbin, of Duneane House, Toome, by Sarah his wife, sister of "French" John O'Neill, of Shane's Castle, and first cousin of Jane, wife of Arthur Dawson, of Castledawson, to whom Mr O'Neill granted, as a portion with his niece, a lease in perpetuity of the lands of Moneyglass.

Mr Jones died in 1735, leaving issue (with two daughters, Mary and Anne), an only son,

THOMAS MORRES JONES (1720-69), "Bumper Squire Jones" of Carolan's Muse, who wedded, in 1740, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Cope MP, of Loughgall, County Armagh.

Mr Jones was succeeded by his elder son,

ROBERT MORRES JONES, who died unmarried in 1775, and was succeeded by his brother,

THOMAS MORRES JONES (1746-1818), of Ivybrook, who wedded, in 1770, Letitia Hamilton, of Glerawly,  County Fermanagh, and had issue,

William Morres, dsp;
Thomas Morres Hamilton, dsp;
KENDRICK MORRES, his heir;
Robert Morres;
Elizabeth; Mary; Ann; Britannia; Emma; Letitia; Harriet; Helen.

Mr Jones was succeeded by his third son,

KENDRICK MORRES JONES (1785-1830), who assumed his maternal name of HAMILTON, and espoused, in 1818, Mabella, daughter of Major Charles Hill, of Bellaghy Castle, County Londonderry, by whom he had issue,

THOMAS MORRES, his heir;
John Charles Hill;
Mabella.

Mr Hamilton-Jones was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS MORRES HAMILTON-JONES JP DL (1821-81), of Moneyglass House, County Antrim, and Jonesborough, County Armagh, and The Cottage, Belcoo, County Fermanagh, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1845, Antrim, 1846, Down, 1847, and Fermanagh, 1850.

Mr Hamilton-Jones married, in 1859, Sara Ellen, only daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Day, East India Company, and had issue,

KENDRICK JOHN CHARLES, his heir;
ARTHUR HENRY MORRES, of Belcoo; Major, Reserve of Officers.
Mary Lizzie Mabella; Emmeline Hawtry Sara; Adeline Ida Sara (twin).

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

KENDRICK JOHN CHARLES HAMILTON-JONES JP (1860-87), of Moneyglass House, Jonesborough House, Flurrybridge, and The Cottage, Belcoo, County Fermanagh, Captain, 4th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who married, in 1882, Hannah, daughter of P McErlain, of Toome, and had issue, two daughters,

MARY SARA LOUISA (1883-99);
EMMELINE ANNIE MABELLA.

Mr Hamilton-Jones was succeeded by his younger daughter,

EMMELINE ANNIE MABELLA, MRS TOBIAS (1885-), of Moneyglass House, County Antrim, Jonesborough House, Flurrybridge, County Armagh, and 91, Via Vinti Settembre, Rome, who wedded, in 1910, Dr Arturo Tobias, Captain, 13th Regiment of Artillery, and Cavalieri of the Crown of Italy, third son of Diament Tobias, of Pinnico, Italy.

Photo credit: FRIVILOUS KATE

MONEYGLASS HOUSE, near Toome, County Antrim, was a fine mid-19th century Italianate house of two storeys over a basement.

It was in the style of Sir Charles Lanyon, with round-headed windows on either side of the entrance porch and elsewhere on the facade.

The central section of the entrance front consisted of five bays, with two bays projecting boldly on each side.

The porch was similar to a three-arched Italianate loggia, with Tuscan columns surmounted by latticed balustrading.

The end piers of the porch had rock-faced rustication around the windows on either side and elsewhere.

The roof was singularly low-pitched, almost concealed.

The mansion house is now demolished, apart from the porte-cochere.

Moneyglass House was re-designed ca 1850, complete with two new gate lodges.

Other former residences ~ Jonesborough House, Flurrybridge, County Armagh; 91, Via Vinti Settembre, Rome.

First published in January, 2013.

1st Earl of Rosebery

THE EARLS OF ROSEBERY WERE THE LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN THE COUNTY OF MIDLOTHIAN, WITH 15,568 ACRES

This family was settled before the Reformation in the neighbourhood of Culross Abbey, Perthshire.

HENRY PRIMROSE, born before 1490, is mentioned in Culross charters in 1543 and later; and had issue,

William, burgess of Dysart;

Archibald, Chamberlain of Culross;

Duncan, Baillie of Culross, 1580; father of Gilbert Primrose.

DAVID, of whom hereafter;

Maude.

The youngest son,

DAVID PRIMROSE, of Culross, mentioned in the will of his sister, married Janet Blaw, and died in 1574, having had issue,

Henry, burgess of Culross;

Archibald;

JAMES, of whom presently;

Gilbert;

Katherine; Euphran.

The third son,

JAMES PRIMROSE, Clerk to the Privy Council, 1599-1640, wedded firstly, ante 1593, Sibylla Miller, and by her had ten children, of whom

Gilbert;

Robert;

Alison.

He espoused secondly, Catherine, daughter of Richard Lawson, of Edinburgh, by whom he had further issue, thirteen children, of whom

ARCHIBALD, of whom hereafter;

James.

Mr Primrose died in 1640; his eldest son by his second wife,

ARCHIBALD PRIMROSE (1616-79), who was appointed clerk of the Privy Council by CHARLES I, and created a baronet in 1651, designated of Carrington.

Sir Archibald Primrose (Image: John Scougal/ National Gallery of Scotland)

Sir Archibald remained faithfully attached to his royal master during the civil wars, and was constituted, after the Restoration (1661), a Lord of Session and Lord Register, when he assumed the honorary title of Lord Carrington.

He married firstly, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir James Keith, of Benholm, and granddaughter of George, 5th Earl Marischal.

Sir Archibald had acquired considerable landed property by purchase, particularly the noble barony of Barnbougle and Dalmeny, which he bought, in 1662, from John, 4th Earl of Haddington.

This gentleman had issue by his first wife,

James, pre-deceased him;
William (Sir), 2nd Baronet;
Gilbert, Major-General in the Army;
Catherine; Margaret.

Sir Archibald wedded secondly, Agnes, daughter of Sir William Gray, of Pittendrum, and had further issue,

ARCHIBALD, of whom hereafter;
Grizel; another daughter.

Sir Archibald's youngest son,

ARCHIBALD (1664-1723), one of the gentlemen of the bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark, MP for Edinburgh, 1695, was elevated to the peerage, in 1700, in the dignities of Baron Primrose and Dalmeny and Viscount Rosebery.

His lordship was further created, in 1703, Lord Dalmeny and Primrose, Viscount of Inverkeithing, and EARL OF ROSEBERY.

He wedded, about 1690, Dorothy Cressy, and had issue,

JAMES, his successor;
Margaret; Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

JAMES, 2nd Earl,

• James Primrose, 2nd Earl (1691–1765); 
• Neil Primrose, 3rd Earl (1729–1814); 
• Archibald John Primrose, 4th Earl (1783–1868); 
• Archibald Primrose, Lord Dalmeny (1809–51); 
• Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl (1847–1929); 
• Albert Edward Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose, 6th Earl (1882–1974); 
• Archibald Ronald Primrose, Lord Dalmeny (1910-31); 
• Neil Archibald Primrose, 7th Earl (1929-2024);
• Harry Ronald Neil, 8th Earl (born 1967).

The heir apparent is the 8th Earl's son, Albert Caspian Harry Primrose, styled Lord Dalmeny (b 2005).

Dalmeny House (Image: Wikipedia)

DALMENY HOUSE, South Queensferry, is the seat of the Earls of Rosebery.

It is set in parkland overlooking the Firth of Forth, just west of Edinburgh.

When Dalmeny House was completed in 1817, it marked a great departure in Scottish architecture.

Its Tudor-Gothic style, with its highly-decorated chimneys and crenellations, looked back toward fanciful 16th-century English mansions, such as Hampton Court.

The house was designed by a University friend of the 4th Earl of Rosebery, William Wilkins, who would go on to design the National Gallery in London and much of King's College, Cambridge - parts of which closely resemble Dalmeny.

With its Gothic Great Hall and corridor, its large, formal regency apartments and its sweeping views across the Firth of Forth, it is a house which combines comfort and romanticism, and which produced many imitations throughout Scotland.

Most of the principal rooms are in the Regency style, with the exception of the hammer-beam roof of the hall.

The house contains many paintings and items of furniture from both the Rosebery and Rothschild collections, as a result of the 5th Earl's 1878 marriage to Hannah, daughter and heir of Meyer de Rothschild.

Much of the French furniture and porcelain came from the family's English mansion, Mentmore, Buckinghamshire, following the latter's sale in 1977.

Dalmeny also holds one of the United Kingdom's largest collections of Napoleonic memorabilia.

The house stands in a large wooded park and enjoys views across the Firth of Forth.

A public path runs along the shore, from Queensferry in the west, to Cramond in the east, although a passenger ferry across the River Almond that used to connect the path to the village of Cramond has not operated since 2000.

There is still a traditional agricultural estate of tenanted farms.

First published in December, 2013.