House of de Ros

THE LORD DE ROS IS PREMIER BARON OF ENGLAND

The ancestor of this family, PETER, having, in the reign of HENRY I, assumed his surname from the lordship of Ros, in Holderness, where he then resided, became

PETER DE ROS, or ROOS, a feudal baron, who married Adeline, one of the sisters and co-heirs of the famous Walter Espec, and was succeeded at his decease by his son,

ROBERT DE ROS, who, during the reign of HENRY II, paid a thousand marks of silver to His Majesty for livery of the lands inherited by his mother from her brother, Walter Espec.

This Robert was a munificent benefactor to the knights templars.

His son,  

EVERARD DE ROS, a minor, and in ward to Ranulf de Glanvill. He married Rose Trusbut, of Wartre, in Holderness, and had two sons.

This gentleman must have been a very considerable personage at the period in which he lived, for we find him, in 1176, paying the then very large sum of £526 as a fine for his lands; and in four years subsequently £100 more to have possession of those which the Earl of Albemarle held.

This Everard died about 1186, and was succeeded by his son, 

SIR ROBERT DE ROS, or de Roos, called Furfan, who, in the reign of RICHARD I, paid a thousand marks fine to the crown for livery of his lands.

In the reign of KING JOHN , that monarch gave him the whole barony of his great-grandmother’s father, Walter Espec, to enjoy in as large and ample a manner as long as he ever held it. Soon after which he was deputed, with the Bishop of Durham, and other great men, to escort the King of Scotland into England. 

About the fourteenth year of KING JOHN’s reign, Robert de Ros assumed the habit of a monk, whereupon the custody of all his lands, viz. Wark Castle, Northumberland, with his whole barony, was committed to Philip de Ulcote; but he did not remain long as a recluse. This feudal lord was the founder of  Helmsley Castle, otherwise Hamlake, in Yorkshire; and Wark Castle, in Northumberland.

He wedded Isabella, daughter of WILLIAM The Lion, King of Scotland, and had issue,

WILLIAM, of Helmsley, of whom presently;
Robert, of Wark;
Alexander;
Peter.

Having assumed the habit of the Knights Templars, Robert de Ros died in 1227, and was buried at London, at the Temple Church.

His eldest son's eldest son,

ROBERT DE ROS, taking an active part against the King, was one of the chief barons, who, after the battle of Lewes, in 1264, where HENRY III and his son Prince Edward became prisoners, was summoned to the parliament, which was called by the barons in the King's name, in 1264, as BARON DE ROS.

His lordship espoused Isabel, the great heiress of William d'Aubigny, Lord of Belvoir, in Leicestershire; and dying in 1285, was succeeded by his eldest son, 

WILLIAM, 1st Baron, who was an unsuccessful competitor for the crown of Scotland in 1292, through his grandmother Isabella, daughter of William the Lion, King of Scotland.

In 1296, he obtained from EDWARD I a grant of Wark Castle, upon its forfeiture by the treason of his kinsman, Robert de Ros.

His lordship wedded Maud, daughter and co-heir of John de Vaux, and was succeeded, in 1316, by his elder son, 

WILLIAM, 2nd Baron, who married Margery, eldest sister and co-heir of Giles, Lord Badlesmere, of Leeds Castle, in Kent.

This nobleman was, during the reign of  EDWARD II, one of the commissioners appointed to negotiate peace with Robert Bruce, King of Scotland.

His lordship died in 1343, and was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Baron, had the glory of leading the 2nd Division of the English army at the celebrated battle of Crécy.

He married Margaret, daughter of Ralph Neville; and dying in the Holy Land without an heir in 1352, the family honours devolved upon his brother, 

THOMAS, 4th Baron, who wedded Beatrice, widow of Maurice Fitzmaurice, Earl of Desmond, and daughter of Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford.

His lordship died in 1383, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, 5th Baron, KB, who was in the naval expedition during the reign of RICHARD II, under Richard, Earl of Arundel.

Dying, during pilgrimage to Jerusalem, at Paphos, Cyprus, and leaving no issue, he was succeeded by his brother,

WILLIAM, 6th Baron, KG; who was constituted, by HENRY IV, LORD TREASURER OF ENGLAND.

This nobleman wedded Margaret, daughter of John, 1st Baron Arundel; and dying in 1414 was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, 7th Baron, who espoused Margery, daughter and heiress of Philip, 2nd Baron le Despencer, but had no issue.

He was killed in France, where he served under the Duke of Clarence, in 1421, and was succeeded by his brother,

THOMAS, 8th Baron, who married Eleanor, daughter of Richard, 13th Earl of Warwick; and dying in 1431, was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 9th Baron, was attainted in 1464 and died in the same year.

The barony of ROS lay under the attainder  till the complete triumph of the Lancastrians, by the accession of HENRY VII, when the elder son of the late lord,

EDMUND, 10th Baron, obtained an act of parliament, annulling and making entirely void, the act by which his father was attainted, and restoring to him all the estates and honours of the family.

His lordship died, in 1508, unmarried, when the barony of Ros fell into abeyance between his three sisters and co-heirs, which terminated in favour of

GEORGE MANNERS, as 11th Baron, the son and heir of Eleanor, the eldest sister, by her husband, Sir Robert Manners, knight (the two younger sisters having died without issue).

This nobleman was never summoned to parliament.

His lordship wedded Ann, only daughter and heir of Sir Thomas St Leger, knight, by Ann Plantagenet, sister of EDWARD IV.

He died in 1513, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS, 12th Baron, KG; who was summoned to parliament in 1515, and created EARL OF RUTLAND, in 1525, being also installed a Knight of the Garter.

His lordship died in 1543, and was succeeded by his son,

HENRY, 13th Baron and 2nd Earl of Rutland (1526-63), who was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD, 14th Baron and 3rd Earl (1549-87), who died without male issue, when the earldom of Rutland reverted to his brother, and the barony of DE ROS descended to his only daughter and heir,

ELIZABETH MANNERS, 15th Baroness, who espoused William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter.

Her ladyship died in 1591, and the barony was confirmed to her son and heir,

WILLIAM CECIL, 16th Baron (1590-1618); who died, however, two years later, without male issue (his father, Lord Exeter, still living), when the barony reverted to his cousin,

FRANCIS MANNERS, 6th Earl of Rutland, as 17th Baron de Ros (1578-1632).

This nobleman had previously contested, as heir-general, and obtained on the same day as it was confirmed to his cousin, 1616, a patent, creating himself, and his heirs male, Baron Ros of Hamlake.

His lordship died, however, in 1632, without male issue, when the new barony expired, but the old one devolved upon his only daughter and heir,

KATHERINE, as 19th Baroness de Ros, who wedded George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham; and was succeeded in the barony by her eldest son,

GEORGE, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and 20th Baron de Ros (1628-87).

His Grace died without male issue, when the barony fell into abeyance between the heirs of Bridget, wife of Sir Robert Tyrwhitt Bt, and Frances, wife of Willia, Lord Willoughby, sisters of Francis, 6th Earl of Rutland.

Thus continued the line until terminated in favour of the only daughter and heir of the Hon Robert Boyle Walsingham, youngest son of Henry, 1st Earl of Shannon,

CHARLOTTE FITZGERALD (1769-1831), wife of Lord Henry FitzGerald, 4th son of James, 1st Duke of Leinster, as 21ST BARONESS DE ROS.

Her ladyship had issue (by Lord Henry, who died in 1829), her eldest son,

HENRY WILLIAM, 22nd Baron (1793-1839), of Boyle Farm, Surrey, MP for West Looe, 1816-18, who died unmarried, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,

WILLIAM LENNOX LASCELLES, 23rd Baron (1797-1874), of Old Court, Strangford, County Down, who married, in 1824, the Lady Georgiana Lennox, daughter of Charles, 4th Duke of Richmond, and had issue,

DUDLEY CHARLES, his successor;

Frances Charlotte; Blanche Arthur Georgina.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

DUDLEY CHARLES, 24th Baron (1827-1907), KP, KCVO, JP, DL, who wedded firstly, in 1853, the Lady Elizabeth Grey Egerton, daughter of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Wilton, and had issue,

MARY FRANCES, his successor.

He espoused secondly, in 1896, Mary Geraldine, daughter of Sir William Vesey Ross Mahon, 4th Baronet, without further issue.

His lordship was succeeded by his only child,

MARY FRANCES (1854-1939), 25th Baroness, who married, in 1878, Anthony Lucius, 3rd Earl of Dartrey, and had issue,

UNA MARY, her successor;

Maude Elizabeth; Eleanor Charlotte Augusta.

Her ladyship was succeeded by her eldest daughter,

UNA MARY (1879-1956), 26th Baroness, who wedded, in 1904, Arthur John, son of Charles J Ross, and had issue,

Peter;

Charles Dudley Anthony.

The elder son,

PETER ROSS (1906-40), Lieutenant-Commander, RN, espoused, in 1929, Angela Ierne Evelyn, daughter of Herbert, 1st Baron Glentoran, and had issue,

GEORGIANA ANGELA;

Rosemary.

Commander Ross was killed in action, and succeeded by his elder daughter,

GEORGIANA ANGELA, 27th Baroness (1933-83), of Old Court, who married, in 1954, Commander John David Maxwell RN, and had issue,

PETER TREVOR, her successor;

Diana Elizabeth.

Her ladyship was succeeded by her son,

PETER TREVOR, 28th Baron (1958-), of Old Court, who married, in 1987, Angela Sîan, daughter of Peter Campbell Ross, and has issue,

FINBAR JAMES, b 1988;

Katharine Georgiana; Jessye Maeve.

Seat ~ Old Court, Strangford, County Down

Former residence ~ Boyle Farm, Kent.

First published in February, 2012.   De Ros arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

The Hart Baronetcy

The family of HART is said to descend from Captain Van Hardt, who came from Holland with Prince William of Orange to the battle of the Boyne. The said captain was granted Kilmoriarty, an estate near Portadown, County Armagh, for services rendered.  

Stanley Bell has written about the Hart family.

HENRY HART (1806-75), of Portadown, County Armagh, married Anne, daughter of John Edgar, of Portadown, and was father of

SIR ROBERT HART, BARONET, GCMG (1835-1911), of Kilmoriarty, County Armagh, and Peking, China, Inspector-General, Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs and Posts, who wedded, in 1866, Hester Jane, eldest daughter of the Dr Alexander Bredon, of Portadown, County Armagh, and had issue,

EDGAR BRUCE, his successor;
Evelyn; Mabel.

Sir Robert, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG), was created a baronet in 1893, designated of Kilmoriarty, County Armagh.

Sir Robert's son and heir,

SIR (EDGAR) BRUCE HART, 2nd Baronet (1873-1963), married, in 1894, Caroline, only daughter of William Moore Gillson, of Barsby Lodge, Ryde, Isle of Wight, and had issue, an only child, ROBERT.

Sir Bruce, Commissioner in England of Chinese Customs, Blue Button (3rd rank), and Order of the Double Dragon of China, was succeeded by his son,

SIR ROBERT HART, 3rd Baronet (1918-70), educated at Eton, and University College, Oxford, who died unmarried.

Sir Robert Hart, 3rd Baronet (Image: the Queen's University of Belfast)

The baronetcy expired following the 3rd Baronet's decease in 1970. 

Former London residences ~ 30 Hyde Park Place, W2; 35 Draycott Place, SW3.

First published in August, 2012.

Portglenone House

THE ALEXANDERS OWNED 4,215 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The elder branch of this family was ennobled, in 1663, by the title of EARL OF STIRLING, in the person of WILLIAM ALEXANDER, of Menstrie, Clackmannanshire. The name of ALEXANDER was assumed from the Christian name of its founder, Alexander Macdonald, of Menstrie. This branch, on removing into Ireland, adopted into the family shield the Canton charged with the Harp of Ireland, and settled at Limavady, County Londonderry.

JOHN ALEXANDER, of Eridy, County Donegal, 1610, had issue,

ANDREW, his heir;
John;
Archibald;
William;
Robert.

The eldest son, 

THE REV DR ANDREW ALEXANDER, of Eridy, married Dorothea, daughter of the Rev James Caulfeild, and had issue, 

CAPTAIN ANDREW ALEXANDER, of Derry, who wedded firstly, Miss Philips, daughter of Sir Thomas Philips, and had issue, JACOB.

He espoused secondly, Miss Hillhouse, daughter of the Laird of Hilles, and had another son,

JOHN ALEXANDER (c1670-1747), of Ballyclose, County Londonderry, and of Gunsland, County Donegal, who married Anne, daughter of John White, and had issue,

William;
NATHANIEL, of whom hereafter;
John;
Martha.

The second son,

NATHANIEL ALEXANDER (1689-1761), of Gunsland, Alderman of Londonderry, 1755, who married Elizabeth, daughter of William McClintock, of Dunore, County Donegal, and had issue,

William, of London; barrister; d 1774;
John;
Nathaniel;
ROBERT, of whom we treat;
James, created EARL OF CALEDON;
Mary Jane; Rebecca; Elizabeth; Ann; Jane.

The fourth surviving son, 

ROBERT ALEXANDER (1722-90), of Boom Hall, wedded, in 1759, Anne, daughter of Henry McCullogh, and had issue,

NATHANIEL, his heir;
Henry, of Boom Hall;
William, Lieutenant-General;
James;
Joseph Josias Du Pré;
Elizabeth; Jane; Anne; Rebecca; Dorothea.

Mr Alexander was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT REV AND RT HON NATHANIEL ALEXANDER (1760-1840), of Portglenone House, Lord Bishop of Meath, Privy Counsellor, who wedded, in 1785, Anne, daughter of the Rt Hon Richard Jackson MP, of Coleraine, and had issue,

Richard Jackson;
ROBERT, of whom we treat;
James;
Nathaniel;
Henry;
George;
William Stuart;
Anne; Elizabeth Rebecca; Henrietta Frances; Jane Mary.

His second son,

THE VEN DR ROBERT ALEXANDER (1788-1840), Archdeacon of Down, married firstly, in 1813, Catherine, daughter of Rt Hon John Staples and Hon Henrietta Molesworth, and had issue,

NATHANIEL, his heir;
John Staples;
Robert, father of ROBERT ARTHUR MALONEY ALEXANDER;
George William;
Harriet Catherine; Alicia Anne; Louisa Maria; Mary Jane;
Grace Frances; Melosine Elizabeth Charlotte; Catherine Staples.

Dr Alexander married secondly, in 1837, Hester Helena, daughter of Colonel Alexander McManus, but had no further issue.

The Archdeacon was succeeded by his eldest son,

NATHANIEL ALEXANDER (1815-53), of Portglenone House, MP for County Antrim, 1841-52, who espoused, in 1842, Florinda, daughter of Richard Boyle Bagley, and had issue,

ROBERT JACKSON, his heir;
JOHN STAPLES, succeeded his brother.

Mr Alexander was succeeded by his elder son,

ROBERT JACKSON ALEXANDER JP DL (1843-84), of Portglenone House, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1870, County Antrim, 1875, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN STAPLES ALEXANDER JP DL (1844-1901), of Portglenone House, Lieutenant RN, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his cousin,

ROBERT CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER JP DL (1900-68), of Portglenone House, Major, Irish Guards, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1938 (son of Robert Arthur Moloney Alexander), who married, in 1933, Laura Ina Madeline, daughter of Edward Fraser Lenox-Conyngham.

Major Alexander died without issue.

Portglenone House comprises a square, late-Georgian block of three storeys over a basement.

It was built in 1823 by the Rt Rev Nathaniel Alexander.

The house has a three-bay front, the central bay being recessed.

There is a fine classical hall, with a screen of columns separating it from the corridor and stairs.

The columns, subtle mushroom pink marble with stone capitals of Adam's "Dioclesian" order, were originally at Ballyscullion, along with some the the house's chimney-pieces.

In 1850, a wing was added by Nathaniel Alexander MP, containing a new staircase lit by a stained-glass dome.

The entrance front was also given a large porch and Ionic porte-cochere.

The main rooms were enhanced with cornices and heavy moulded door-cases in the form of aedicules.

Portglenone House was sold by Major Alexander in 1948 and is now part of Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey, run as a guest-house.

The guest house provides for those who wish to make private retreats, and can cater for groups who seek to make days of recollection. As such, it does not function as a B&B, nor as a half-board hotel. Guests are encouraged to enter into the silence and solitude which characterize the monastic life in this place, and to take the opportunity for spiritual renewal which is offered.

Portglenone House is set in parkland by the River Bann.

An earlier house in the vicinity is recorded.

The present house now forms part of the Abbey, which also has further buildings added from 1962 in the grounds.

This includes the Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey, which was built in 1948 to the designs of Patrick Murray.

Part of the gardens are private for the monks (the walled garden); parts are ornamental grounds for the Abbey; and parts are cultivated for organic vegetables.

There are mature trees in the remnants of former parkland, an ice house, the Bishop’s Well and two 19th century gate lodges.

Within the walls, part of the demesne is administered by the Department of Agriculture as a forest, which was planted from the 1950s.

There is public access and paths are laid out.

In a glade in the forest there is a commemorative plot to Augustine Henry, who was reputedly born nearby.

It was laid out in 1969 with examples of some of the plants that he discovered or introduced from the far east.

First published in August, 2012.

Ely Lodge Letter

I have unearthed a concise, though interesting letter dated the 8th February, 1977, from the Estate Office, Ely Lodge Estate, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

It was written by Charles Plunket (Major Charles Plunket MBE UD DL), the 5th Duke of Westminster's land agent at the time.

He wrote to me on behalf of the Duke.

Even in 1977 (when I was 17 years old) I was passionate about country houses and heritage.

Click on the images to enlarge them.

First published in August, 2018.

Belvoir House: 1914

Belvoir House, East Elevation

These pictures were taken at Belvoir Park, Newtownbreda, County Down, in 1914 by Grace de Pesters-MacColl, Raoul de Pesters’ grandmother.

Mr de Pesters has kindly provided me with the images.

The top picture shows Belvoir House (today the site of the car-park) from the eastern side.

The retaining wall (which still exists) can clearly be seen, with sweeping parkland below.

The image below is an aspect of Belvoir from the north-east.

I HAVE WRITTEN at length about Belvoir House and estate, which was once home to nobility, gentry and merchants..

In 1900 Walter Wilson leased Belvoir from Lord Deramore.

*****

WALTER HENRY WILSON JP (1839-1904), of Maryville, and of Cranmore, Belfast, married Sarah Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of James Owen Wynne, of Hazelwood.

In 1900, Mr Wilson took a 20 year lease of Belvoir Park from Lord Deramore.

Mr Wilson, a shipbuilder, was partner in the Belfast shipyard, Harland and Wolff, with Lord Pirrie.

His first marital home was at 1 Botanic Avenue, Belfast. Mr Wilson subsequently rented Stranmillis House, prior to leasing Belvoir.

He subsequently purchased Cranmore House, adjacent to Maryville, his old family home.

His eldest son,  

ALEXANDER GEORGE WILSON JP, of Maryville and Cranmore, born in 1876, was a lieutenant in the Army Motor Reserve; educated at Cheam and Harrow. He succeeded his father in 1904.

The lease on Belvoir Park was terminated in 1918.

First published in October, 2012. 

The Derrymore Acquisition

SELECTIVE ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROPERTY: Derrymore House, Bessbrook, County Armagh

DATE: 1953

EXTENT: 40.63 acres

DONOR: J S Richardson

*****

PROPERTY: Lands of Derrymore

DATE: 1988

EXTENT: 60.84 acres

DONOR: J S Richardson

First published in December, 2014.

Mullaghmore House

 THE STACKS OWNED 3,134 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE

THE RT REV CHARLES MAURICE STACK (1825-1914), Lord Bishop of Clogher, of Nedsherry, County Fermanagh, son of the Rev Edward Stack by his wife, Tempe, daughter of the Rev Walter Bagot, Rector of Monasterevin, County Kildare, wedded, in 1859, Margaret Jane Auchinleck, of Crevenagh, County Tyrone, and had issue,

Edward Churchill, of Ardess, Kesh;
CHARLES MAURICE, of whom hereafter;
Walter Auchinleck (Rev);
William Bagot (Rev);
Elizabeth Mary.

The second son,

THE REV CHARLES MAURICE STACK (1865-c1939), Vicar of Magheracloone, Kells, County Monaghan, married, in 1901, Anna Kathleen, daughter of the Rev Thomas Lindsay FitzGeorge Stack, of Mullaghmore, County Tyrone, and had issue,

Marcia Elizabeth Margaret, b 1902;
Kathleen Tempe, b 1904;
Mary, b 1907;
Meta Dorothea, b 1910.

MULLAGHMORE HOUSE, near Omagh, County Tyrone, is a detached three-bay, two-storey, Georgian house, built ca 1750.

There is a two-storey return to the rear, with an extended lower two-storey addition; single-bay two-storey annex to east of return; lean-to two-storey addition to west of return, lean-to single-storey porch to north of extension.

The late-Georgian front pile may have been built ca 1800, but the rear is possibly older.

The Stack family owned Mullaghmore during the Victorian era.

According to the present owner, the orangery was re-built in 2002 on the site of an early 19th century predecessor that collapsed in the 1940s.

The interior was renovated in 1952, when many historic features were altered.

The house was restored between 2000-02 by the present owner.

Upon the removal of render during the most recent renovation, the front pile was discovered to be built of random rubble stone with very large quoins that likely came from a more substantial structure.

The owner believes that the re-used, tooled quoins may be late medieval.

The temporary removal of render also revealed several blocked low doors and diminished windows with deeply splayed embrasures.

Additionally, two low brick tunnels originating from the kitchen were discovered, one leading outside to east of the kitchen and the other running under the boiler room.

During that renovation, a toppled twelve-foot standing stone was discovered buried in front of the house.

The stone weighs several tons, is tooled and not indigenous to this area.

The present building, as it appears today, was in all probability built by the Stack family, who had connections to several properties in the area, and in England, and who also constructed the nearby Knock-na-moe Castle (1875), which was demolished ca 1990.

The Stack family donated stained-glass windows in St Columba's parish church, where one member, the Rev William Stack, had been curate.

Another family member, the Rev Richard Stack, was rector of Cappagh, 1807-12.

Mullaghmore House was later owned by the Scott family, who had many military connections and frequently rented out the house.

In 1922, Major-General Patrick Scott rented the house to the Gorman family.

The late Sir John Gorman was born here in 1923.

Sir John's father had been a Royal Irish Constabulary district inspector for County Tyrone, and during the partition, he along with several other former RIC members formed the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the house. The house served as the RUC headquarters for a number of weeks before the group moved to the more secure Seskinore House.

According to the owner, the present house was built in stages and the oldest section is likely to be the kitchen.

First published in August, 2014.