Conway House

EDWARD CHARLEY OWNED 35 ACRES OF LAND AT CONWAY HOUSE, 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, left a son,

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, of Finaghy House (1784-1844), dsp;
Matthew, of Finaghy House and Woodbourne;
WILLIAM, of whom we treat.

The third son,

WILLIAM CHARLEY (1790-1838), of Seymour Hill, Dunmurry, married, in 1817, Isabella, eldest daughter of William Hunter JP, of Dunmurry, and had issue,

John, his heir;
William, succeeded his brother;
EDWARD, of whom we treat;
Mary; Anne Jane; Eliza; Isabella; Emily.

The third son,

EDWARD CHARLEY (1827-68), of Conway House, Dunmurry, County Antrim, wedded firstly, Mary, daughter of A Caldecott, of Woodford Hall, Essex, and had a daughter,

Mary Caldecott, m Captain George Leslie Poë JP DL RN.

He espoused secondly, Catherine Jane, daughter of Jonathan Richardson, and had issue,

Edward (Rev), dsp;
Ernest William Ralph (1864-9);
Edith Margaret; Kathleen Isabel Airth.

CONWAY HOUSE, Dunmurry, Belfast, was a two-storey Victorian mansion with a symmetrical front of two shallow, curved bows and a central projection.

A pillared and balustraded veranda ran on either side, joining to a single wing.

At the other end there was a pilastered conservatory.

An Italianate tower rose from the roof above a bracket cornice.

In 1852, William Charley, who had succeeded to Seymour Hill, gave land to his younger brother, Edward, to build a house for his first wife Mary.

Edward named it Conway after the local landowner, Lord Hertford (also Baron Conway).

The house was then occupied, until his death in 1892, by the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore, the Rt Rev William Reeves.

Thereafter it was sold by the executors of Edward Charley's brother, William, to John D Barbour, of Hilden, father of Sir Milne Barbour Bt. 

Sir Milne lived at Conway for many years until his death in 1951.

At one time the Charley crest stood over the front door.

The Conway Hotel

Conway House operated for many years as a hotel operated by Trusthouse Forte.

First published in February, 2011.

Craigdarragh House

THE GORDONS OWNED 4,768 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DOWN

This family, a branch of the ancient and ennobled line of the same name in Scotland, is stated to have gone from Berwickshire to Ulster during the period of the civil wars in Scotland. Following the destruction of the family papers, the lineage cannot be traced accurately. Nevertheless, it is known that many years after the period of the Scottish settlement, General Lord Adam Gordon, fourth son of Alexander, 2nd Duke of Gordon, during a visit to Ulster, resided with his cousin, John Gordon, of Florida Manor, in County Down.

At a subsequent epoch, in 1783, the intercourse was renewed upon the occasion of some members of the Gordon family visiting Scotland, when they were received with much kindness by Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon, who fully recognized the relationship.

The representative of the Ulster branch, at the close of the 17th century,

ROBERT GORDON, of Ballintaggart, County Down, married, in 1689, a daughter of George Ross, of Portavo, and sister of Robert Ross, of Rostrevor, in the same county, ancestor of General Ross, who fell at the battle of Bladensburg, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Robert (Rev).

Mr Gordon died in 1720, and was succeeded by his elder son,

JOHN GORDON (1690-1771), of Ballintaggart, who wedded, in 1720, his cousin Jane, daughter of Hugh Hamilton, of Ballytrenagh, and by her had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
Jane, m David Johnston.

Mr Gordon espoused secondly, Grace, daughter of Thomas Knox, of Dungannon, County Tyrone, and had by her,

Thomas Knox;
John;
Margery; Elizabeth.

Mr Gordon left his estate at Ballintaggart to Thomas Knox Gordon, his eldest son by his second marriage.

His eldest son by his first wife,

ROBERT GORDON (1722-93), of Florida Manor, married, in 1755, Alice, widow of Thomas Whyte, and only daughter of James Arbuckle and his wife Anne, daughter of John Crawford, and niece and heir-at-law of David Crawford, of Florida Manor, and had issue,

JOHN CRAWFORD, his heir;
David, of Delamont, successor to his brother;
Robert;
Alexander, of Castle Place, Belfast; father of ROBERT FRANCIS GORDON;
Alice; Anne.

Mr Gordon was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN CRAWFORD GORDON JP (1757-97), of Florida Manor, Captain, 50th Regiment, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother, 

DAVID GORDON JP DL (1759-1837), of Florida Manor and Delamont, High Sheriff of County Down, 1812, who married, in 1789, Mary, youngest daughter of James Crawford, of Crawfordsburn, and sister of Anne, 1st Countess of Caledon, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir to Florida Manor;
JAMES CRAWFORD, succeeded to Delamont;
Jane Maria.

Mr Gordon was succeeded by his son,

ROBERT GORDON JP DL (1791-1864), of Florida Manor, High Sheriff of County Down, 1833, Tyrone, 1843, who wedded, in 1825, Mary, daughter of William Crawford, of Lakelands, County Cork.

This gentleman dsp in 1864, and was succeeded by his brother,

THE REV JAMES CRAWFORD GORDON (1796-1867), of Florida Manor and Delamont House, Precentor of Down Cathedral, 1828-41, who espoused Geraldine, daughter of James Penrose, of Woodhill, County Cork.

He dsp 1867, and was succeeded by his cousin, 

ROBERT FRANCIS GORDON JP DL (1802-83), of Florida Manor and Delamont House, High Sheriff of County Down, 1873, who dsp.

CRAIGDARRAGH HOUSE, Helen's Bay, County Down, was built ca 1850 for Robert Francis Gordon, to a design by Charles Lanyon.

The family monogram, in fact, still adorns the dining-room plasterwork.

It is reported that Gordon ran out of funds during construction & never occupied the house & it was tenanted for many years.

It was Gordon's residence in 1852 & John Downie in 1855 & leased by George Hamilton in 1863 from Gordon.

He was succeeded by Joseph Jaffe in 1864 and then John Patterson in 1874.

Lord Dufferin reoccupied the house until 1879 when the house and demesne were advertised “to be let unfurnished” at £325 per annum with applications directed to the Dufferin Estate Office, Clandeboye.

Thomas Workman bought the freehold of Craigdarragh from the Durrerin estate in 1883.

The late Sir Charles Brett noted that it was built in Lanyon’s most ornate style, though some of the window ornamentation may owe its origin to Thomas Turner, who was Lanyon’s senior assistant until he set up on his own in 1852.

The two storey house stands at the top of a grassy slope running down to a sandy bay, with the drawing-room and the dining-room (which remains intact) having a fine prospect of Belfast Lough.

The square, front hall has six elaborate doorcases and a series of niches.

There was an associated courtyard and stable block.

The parkland surrounding the house, of about 26 acres, includes an attractive wooded glen, stretches across to Seahill and down to the shore.

The glen contains many different species of trees, some of which are over 100 years old, and is clearly now enjoyed by many badgers and other wildlife.

Thomas Workman bought the freehold of Craigdarragh House from the Dufferin Estate in 1883.

Margaret Garner recorded that on one occasion Mr Workman, her grandfather, fell out with Lord Dufferin, whose agent claimed that one of his men had encroached on Dufferin land when he was ploughing. The correspondence ended with Dufferin writing from Rome where he was then the British Ambassador. He did, however, write later to Thomas’s widow offering her any help when Thomas died.

Sir Charles Brett, in his book The Buildings of North County Down, recalled from his youth, living on the Craigdarragh Road, that Major Robert Workman, Thomas's son, was "a kindly old boy, good to his neighbours".

Following Major Workman's death in 1949, and following that of his sister, the house was sold to the Sisters of Mercy, and converted into a nursing home.

In 2003, Craigdarragh House was again sold.

The house & grounds were for sale in February, 2012, for £2,000,000.

It is hoped that the new owner will restore it to its former glory.

Its future remained in doubt while the planning process was underway; the proposed development is located within Green Belt.

First published in November, 2012.

St George of Wood Park

This family deduces its pedigree from BALDWIN ST GEORGE, one of the companions-in-arms of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, whose descendants flourished in England for several centuries, and frequently represented Cambridgeshire in Parliament.

Sir Baldwin St George (1362-1426), of Hatley, Cambridgeshire, was MP for Cambridgeshire between 1394 and 1414.

SIR RICHARD ST GEORGE (c1550-1635), Clarenceux King of Arms (19th in lineal descent from Baldwin), married, in 1575, Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas St John, of Lidiard Tregoze, Wiltshire, by whom he left at his decease three sons,

Henry, Garter King of Arms;
George (Sir), of Carrickdrumrusk (Carrick-on-Shannon);
RICHARD, of whom we treat.

The third son,

CAPTAIN RICHARD ST GEORGE (1590-1667), went over to Ireland in the beginning of the 17th century, in the Royal Army, and was appointed Governor of the town and castle of Athlone.

He was born at Hatley St George, Cambridgeshire, and wedded, in 1625, Anne, daughter of Michael Pinnock, of Turrock, County Roscommon, by which lady he had issue,

HENRY, his heir;
Mary; Anne.

The only surviving son,

HENRY ST GEORGE (1638-1723), of Athlone, and of Woodsgift, County Kilkenny, MP for Athlone, 1715-23, was an officer in the Irish army of CHARLES II.

He espoused, in 1669, Anne, daughter of Alderman Ridgeley Hatfield, of the city of Dublin, and had issue,

Richard, of Kilrush;
Henry;
ARTHUR, of whom hereafter;
George, of Woodsgift, MP.

The third son,

THE VERY REV DR ARTHUR ST GEORGE (1681-1772), Dean of Ross, married Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Molyneux Bt, of Castle Dillon, County Armagh, and had issue,

Richard, of Kilrush;

THOMAS, of whom hereafter;

Capel;

Arthur;

Howard, ancestor of ST GEORGE of Kilrush;

Henry (Rev);

Catherine.

The second son,

THOMAS ST GEORGE (1738-85), MP for Clogher, 1776-85, Commissioner of Barracks, wedded, in 1776, Lucinda, fourth daughter of Archibald, 1st Viscount Gosford, and had issue,

Thomas Baldwin;

ACHESON, of whom we treat;

John;

Archibald;

William Molyneux.

The eldest surviving son,

ACHESON ST GEORGE (1778-), of Wood Park, Tynan, County Armagh, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1826, espoused firstly, in 1810, Eleanor, daughter of Robert Gordon, of Clonmel, and had issue,

Thomas Gordon, Lieutenant-Colonel, East India Company;

William, East India Company;

ACHESON, of whom hereafter;

John, East India Company;

Lucinda Margaret; Eleanor Mary; Olivia.

He married secondly, in 1824, Jane, second daughter of the Hon and Very Rev John Hewitt, Dean of Cloyne (fourth son of James, 1st Viscount Lifford), and had one daughter,

Alicia Hewitt Caroline.

The third son,

ACHESON ST GEORGE (1819-1902), of Wood Park, County Armagh, married, in 1890, Jane Rebecca, only surviving child of Thomas Knox Armstrong, of Fellows Hall, County Armagh, and dsp 1902.

WOOD PARK, near Tynan, County Armagh, was a Georgian house to the south of the neighbouring estate of Fellows Hall.

Wood Park features in J A K Dean's  Plight of the Big House in Northern Ireland on Page 66.

First published in December, 2020.

1st Earl of Stamford

This was one of the most ancient and illustrious families in the peerage. It deduced an uninterrupted line from the Conquest, and allied with the Plantagenets and Tudors.

HENRY DE GREY (1155-1219) obtained from RICHARD I the manor of Thurrock in Essex, and had the same confirmed by KING JOHN, with the privilege of hunting the fox and hare in any lands belonging to the crown except the King's own demesnes.

In the reign of HENRY III, he had a grant of the manor of Grimston, in Nottinghamshire, from Robert Bardolf, whose niece and co-heiress, Isolda, he married and eventually shared in the shared inheritance of the said Robert's lands.

From his second son by this lady, JOHN DE GREY, descended the Lords Grey de Ruthyn, the extinct Earls and Dukes of Kent, the extinct Dukes of Suffolk, the Earls of Wilton, and the house of which we are now treating.

The second son of Reginald, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn,

SIR EDWARD GREY (c1415-57), wedded Elizabeth, 6th Baroness Ferrers of Groby, daughter and heiress of Henry, son and heir-apparent of William, Baron Ferrers of Groby, and in consequence assumed that title.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN GREY (c1432-61), of Groby, who espoused Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers, by whom he had two sons.

Sir John fell at the second battle of St Albans fighting under the banner of HENRY VI, and his widow became subsequently Queen Consort of EDWARD IV.

Sir John Grey's eldest son and heir,

SIR THOMAS GREY (1455-1501), through the influence of his mother, was created Earl of Huntingdon, and four years later advanced to a marquessate, in 1475, in the dignity of MARQUESS OF DORSET.

After King Edward's death, however, his lordship was attainted of high treason, but restored upon the accession of HENRY VII to the throne.

He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son (by his second wife, Cecily, daughter and heiress of William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington),

THOMAS, 2nd Marquess (1477-1530), KG KB, who carried the Sword of State at the celebrated meeting between HENRY VIII and FRANCIS I, King of France, at Ardres in 1520.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY, 3rd Marquess (1517-54), KG KB; who married for his second wife, the Lady Frances Brandon, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Charles, 1st Duke of Suffolk, by Mary, Queen Dowager of France, and sister of HENRY VIII, and was in consequence advanced, in 1551, to a dukedom, as DUKE OF SUFFOLK, and installed a Knight of the Garter.

The Lady Jane Grey

The issue of this marriage were three daughters: the eldest, the amiable and unfortunate LADY JANE GREY (1537-54), having, through the ambition of her father, and father-in-law, for a few days usurped the empty trappings of royalty, was attainted and, subsequently, in consequence of her father's second rebellion, brought with her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, to the block, 1554.

The Lady Katherine Grey (1540-68), the second daughter, marrying Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, without the permission of ELIZABETH I, was committed to the Tower by Her Majesty, where she died, 1568.

The youngest daughter, the Lady Mary Grey (1545-78), espoused Thomas Keyes, of Kent, Sergeant Porter to ELIZABETH I, and died without issue, 1578.

The unhappy father, having rebelled again after receiving the Queen's pardon, suffered soon after his eldest daughter and his brother, Thomas, following.

From that period the honours of the family were eclipsed until revived by JAMES I, who created SIR HENRY GREY, Knight (1547-1614), in 1603, Baron Grey of Groby.

His lordship wedded Anne, daughter of William, 2nd Baron Windsor, of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire; and dying in 1614, was succeeded by his grandson,

HENRY, 2nd Baron (c1599-1673), who was created, in 1628, EARL OF STAMFORD.

His lordship wedded the Lady Anne Cecil, youngest daughter and co-heiress of William, Earl of Exeter, in whose right he became possessed of the Castle, Borough, and Manor of Stamford.

Henry, 1st Earl of Stamford

The 1st Earl was a parliamentary military commander during the civil wars, as was his son, Thomas, Lord Grey, who predeceased him.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

THOMAS, 2nd Earl (c1654-1720), PC; imprisoned for the part he had taken in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, but was admitted to bail; and he finally secured his safety under the amnesty granted, 1685-6.

His lordship married twice; but leaving no issue at his decease, the honours reverted to his cousin,

HARRY GREY, as 3rd Earl (1685-1739), grandson of the 1st Earl through his third son, the Hon John Grey, of Enville Hall, Shropshire.

His lordship wedded Dorothy, daughter of Sir Nathan Wright, 2nd Baronet, of Caldecote Hall, Warwickshire, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in the reigns of WILLIAM III and QUEEN ANNE.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

HARRY, 4th Earl (1715-68), who married, in 1736, the Lady Mary Booth, only daughter and heiress of George, 2nd and last Earl of Warrington, and had issue,

GEORGE HARRY, his successor;
Booth;
John;
Mary; Anne Grey.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE HARRY, 5th Earl (1737-1819); who was created, in 1796, Baron Delamer and EARL OF WARRINGTON, the honours enjoyed by his maternal grandfather.

His lordship espoused, in 1763, the Lady Henrietta Bentinck, daughter of William, 2nd Duke of Portland, and had issue,

GEORGE HARRY, his successor;
William Booth;
Anchitel;
Henry;
Henrietta; Marie; Maria; Louisa; Sophia; Ameila.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE HARRY, 6th Earl (1765-1845), who wedded, in 1797, Henrietta Charlotte, sister of Francis, 8th Earl of Wemyss, and had issue,

GEORGE HARRY  (1802-35), father of the 7th Earl;
Henrietta Charlotte; Jane.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

GEORGE HARRY, 7th Earl (1827-83), who espoused firstly, in 1848, Elizabeth, daughter of John Billage; and secondly, in 1855, Katherine, second daughter of Henry Cocks, though the marriages were without issue, when the honours reverted to his lordship's kinsman,

HARRY, 8th Earl (1812-90),

Harry Grey, 8th Earl (1812-90);
William Grey, 9th Earl (1850–1910);
Roger Grey, 10th Earl (1896–1976).

Ancestral seats ~ Enville Hall, Staffordshire; Dunham Park, Cheshire.

First published in December, 2018.

Balfour of Balbirnie

THE BALFOURS OF BALBIRNIE WERE THE LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN THE COUNTY OF FIFE, WITH 10,590 ACRES

The surname of BALFOUR was originally assumed from the barony and castle of Balfour, a beautiful seat, standing near the confluence of the rivers Ore and Leven. And so early as 1229, we find Ingelram de Balfour, Vicecomes de Fife, a witness to a charter granted to the monastery of Aberbrothwick. The Balfours were originally styled 'of Dovan'. ANDREW BALFOUR filled the office of Sheriff Depute of Fife, 1483.

Andrew Balfour's son,

JOHN BALFOUR, of Lawlethan, by 1499, had received a charter of Dovan from Andrew Laundin of Balgonie, which he proceeded to share between his sons,

Thomas, of Dovan;
David, of Lawlethan (d 1546).

The estates passed uniterruptedly until 1596, when the Dovan branch of the family found themselves in impecunious circumstances; and thereafter the property was mortgaged to the Pitcairns of Forthar.

Due to the grant of 1499, Martin Balfour of Lawlethan was able to prove his right to some of the lands of Dovan, enabling the right to the lands to be sold to Sir Andrew Balfour of Montquhannie.

Martin Balfour of Lawlethan, dying in 1624, was succeeded by

GEORGE BALFOUR, 1ST OF BALBIRNIE (d 1665), who became a clothier in London and Edinburgh, and purchased the estate of Balbirnie, in 1642.

His eldest son,

ROBERT BALFOUR, 2ND OF BALBIRNIE (1641-1713), whose younger sons succeeded in turn to Lawlethan, which estate was finally lost to creditors in 1692, was father of

GEORGE BALFOUR, 3RD OF BALBIRNIE (1664-1743), who bought back Lawlethan in 1716, married Agnes Lumsdain, and was father of

ROBERT BALFOUR, 4TH OF BALBIRNIE (1698-1767), was later styled Balfour-Ramsay after his marriage, in 1736, to Ann, daughter of  Sir Andrew Ramsay Bt, of Whitehill.

Mr Balfour, MP for Edinburgh, 1751-54, was succeeded by his only son,

JOHN BALFOUR, 5TH OF BALBIRNIE (1738-1833), who wedded, in 1771, Mary, daughter of James Gordon, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
James, grandfather of RT HON ARTHUR J BALFOUR, PRIME MINISTER;
Elizabeth.

Mr Balfour, who purchased the estates of Dovan and Forthar, and Whittingehame, Haddington, in East Lothian, was succeeded by his eldest son,

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ROBERT BALFOUR, 6TH OF BALBIRNIE (1772-1837), of Balbirnie House, who espoused, in 1808, Eglantyne Katherine, daughter of John Fordyce, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Charles James;
Robert William;
George Gordon;
Katherine Jane; Eglantine Charlotte Louisa; Elizabeth Anne.

General Balfour was succeeded by his eldest son,

COLONEL JOHN BALFOUR JP DL, 7TH OF BALBIRNIE (1811-95), of Balbirnie House, who married, in 1840, the Lady Georgiana Isabel Campbell, daughter of John, 1st Earl Cawdor, and had issue,

Robert Frederick (1846-82);
EDWARD, of whom hereafter;
John William;
Alfred Granville (Brig-Gen Sir);
Georgiana Elizabeth; Mary Louisa; Emily Eglantine.

Colonel Balfour's eldest son, Robert, served in the Grenadier Guards and died of wounds received at the Battle of Tel el Kebir in Egypt in 1882.

His second son,

EDWARD BALFOUR JP DL, 8TH OF BALBIRNIE (1849-1927), of Balbirnie House, wedded Isabella Weyman Hooper, and had issue,

EDWARD WILLIAM STURGIS, his heir;
Eva Katharine.

Mr Balfour's son and heir,

BRIGADIER EDWARD WILLIAM STURGIS BALFOUR CVO DSO OBE JP DL, 9TH OF BALBIRNIE (1884-1955), of Balbirnie House, espoused, in 1914, the Lady Ruth Balfour, daughter of Gerald, 2nd Earl of Balfour, and had issue,

JOHN CHARLES, his heir;
Peter Edward Gerald;
Nora Elizabeth; Anne.

The elder son,

MAJOR JOHN CHARLES BALFOUR MC JP DL, 10TH OF BALBIRNIE (1919-2008), of Balbirnie House, served in North Africa and Europe in the 2nd World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1942; DL and JP for Fife, 1957-58; and Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Fife, 1988-96.

Robert Balfour, present and 11th of Balbirbie, owns and manages the Balbirnie estate, which comprises 5,000 acres.

BALBIRNIE HOUSE, Glenrothes, Fife, was completed in 1817 as a re-build of an 18th-century building, itself a replacement for a 17th-century dwelling.

The home of the Balfour family from 1640, the house was sold in 1969 and opened as a hotel in 1990.

The grounds now comprise a large public park and a golf course.

Ca 1640, the Balbirnie estate was acquired by the family of Balfour.

A 17th-century house on the estate was remodelled or replaced in the later 18th century for John Balfour.

The architecture of these works, completed around 1782, has been attributed to both James Nisbet and to John Baxter, Junior.

In 1815, further changes were begun by General Balfour, to designs by the architect Richard Crichton.

Some £16,000 was spent on extending the south-west front, and constructing the portico at the south-east.

At the same time, the landscape gardener Thomas White provided plans for the improvement of the 18th-century parkland.

Further alterations, comprising offices, were carried out in 1860.

The plant collection was expanded from the mid-19th century with seeds sent from India by George Balfour, a friend of plant collector William Hooker.

In 1969, the house and estate was acquired by the Glenrothes Development Corporation, who were then building the new town of Glenrothes.

A golf course was laid out in the grounds, while the house was converted into council offices.

The mansion house was sold to a private owner who redeveloped it as a 30-bedroom hotel, opened in 1990 by the Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP, then Secretary of State for Scotland.

416 acres of parkland and woodland remain in the ownership of Fife Council as a public park.

Robert Balfour, the present and 11th of Balbirnie, owns and manages the Balbirnie estate itself.

The Balfours had a London residence at 14 Carlton House Terrace.

First published in December, 2015.

Crebilly House

Arms of Charles O'Hara,
1st Baron Tyrawley

THE O'HARAS OF CREBILLY OWNED 418 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The family of HARA claims descent from Cormac Galleng, grandson of Kean, third son of OILIL OLUM, King of Munster in the 3rd century. Beice, fourteenth in descent from Cormac, had a son, Eadhra (Eara), Lord of Leyny, County Sligo, whose son Magnus assumed the surname of O'HARA, and died in 926. Hugh O'Hara, seventh in descent from Magnus, had three sons: Dermott, from whom the family of O'Hara Boy; and Arthur, from whom the O'Hara Reagh, both in County Sligo; and Cuconnaght, from whom O'Hara of The Route, County Antrim.

RORY BALLACH, of Dundromart, County Antrim, was father of

JOHN or SHANE O'HARA, whose son,

CATHAL or CHARLES O'HARA, of The Route, was the seventh in descent from Cuconnaght O'Hara.

He wedded Margaret, daughter of "Dool Oge" MacDuffy, and had two sons and five daughters, of whom

GRACE married Arthur O'Neill, of Shane's Castle, a brother of Sir Henry O'Neill, and had two sons,

CORMAC, of whom we treat;
Sorley or "Surrell".

Cathal (or Charles) O'Hara was seized in the reign of JAMES I, of the territories of Loughguile and Leganlie in The Route and Crebilly, and obtained a grant from the Crown, 1606, of Tuoghkearte [sic].

He died in 1639, and was succeeded by his elder son,

CORMAC or CORMACK O'HARA, who wedded Margaret, daughter of Thomas Walsh, of Carnmoney, County Antrim, and was father of

TEIGE O'HARA, of Crebilly, living in 1689, who married a daughter of O'Neill of Shane's Castle, and had issue,

John, dsp;
CHARLES, of whom presently;
Oliver, dsp;
Henry, of Cleggan.

The second son,

CHARLES O'HARA, married and had issue,

COLONEL HENRY O'HARA, of Crebilly, who wedded firstly, Lucinda, daughter of the Rt Rev Dr Francis Hutchinson, Lord Bishop of Down and Connor, and widow of Charles Hamilton, of Portglenone.

She had by her first marriage one son, Charles Hamilton.

Colonel O'Hara died in 1745, leaving issue an only child and heir,

HENRY HUTCHINSON O'HARA, of Crebilly, who died in Italy, unmarried and, to the exclusion of his rightful heirs, the O'Haras of Cleggan, descendants of Henry O'Hara, son of Teige, he settled the estates on the only child of his half-brother,

JOHN HAMILTON, who assumed the name of O'HARA, and espoused firstly, a daughter of the Rt Hon Richard Jackson, by Anne his wife, only daughter of Charles O'Neill, of Shane's Castle, who died without issue.

He married secondly, Sophia Elizabeth Duffin, and had issue, with a daughter, MARY JANE (who wedded General Robert Wardlaw, of the 1st Royal Dragoons).

His heir,

HENRY HUTCHINSON HAMILTON-O'HARA JP (1820-75), of Crebilly and Marlagh Lodge, wedded, in 1841, Alicia Isabella, daughter of General the Hon Sir Henry King KCB.

Mr Hamilton-O'Hara dsp 1875, and his sister (Mary Jane Wardlow) was, in 1885, in possession of Crebilly estate.

CREBILLY HOUSE, near Broughshane, County Antrim, was a two-storey, 19th century, Italianate house which was possibly the work of Sir Charles Lanyon.

It had a seven-bay front, with four end bays breaking forward.

The windows were cambered, round-headed and rectangular.

Garden Front

The porch was in the form of a three-arched loggia, with Tuscan columns, surmounted by a pierced parapet with armorial bearings in the centre.

There was rock-faced rustication on the side piers of the porch.

Impecunious circumstances compelled the last squire, Henry O’Hara, to sell the property to the Dinsmore family during the late 19th century.

The Dinsmores sold Crebilly House to J K Robinson, of Philadelphia, in 1918.

Crebilly House was burnt by the IRA on the 20th May, 1922.

The ruins were demolished in the 1960s and a bungalow built in its place.

The estate is now owned by the O'Kane family, who have built a new house (above) on the site of the mansion.

It is thought that the present dwelling includes the original Victorian cellars, and certainly uses some of the original stonework, including the O'Hara crest, which was above the front door of the original house.

Marlagh Lodge

MARLAGH LODGE, near Ballymena, County Antrim, is a country house of ca 1850 in a slightly eclectic, Victorian mixture of Picturesque and late Georgian elements, with gabled bays, render, roof overhang and finials, neo-classical window surrounds and half dormers.

To its front is a square porch with a lean-to roof, which was probably originally flat.

At the rear is a long, single-storey return which may originally have contained rooms for a servant, but which was a separate dwelling for much of the 1900s.

Marlagh was occupied ca 1859 by Henry Hutchinson Hamilton-O’Hara, who presumably built the property, probably around 1850 or slightly later.

He died in 1875 (seemingly in impecunious circumstances in London) and Marlagh Lodge passed to his only sister, Mary Jane, the wife of Colonel Robert Wardlaw.

The Wardlaws appear to have leased the property firstly to a Robert Craig; then (by 1884) a Robert Esler.

About 1901 Mr Esler acquired the freehold of the property and leased it to a John Dinsmore; and then (from 1908) to Dr Alexander Duncan.

Subsequently, the single-storey return (which probably originally contained quarters for a servant or servants and service rooms) had become a separate dwelling rented out by the owner of the main house.

In 1920 the house and the rear dwelling were sold to Thomas McAllister; passing to John McFetridge in 1926.

They remained in the possession of McFetridge’s relations until acquired by the present owner in the 1990s.

First published in December, 2016.

House of Ridgeway

This family, anciently written RIDGEWAY, alias PEACOCK (alluding to which the old bearing of arms was three peacocks' heads erased), had been in Devon from a very early period, as manifested by the collections of Sir William Pole, the best antiquary of that county.

The name may be presumed to have been local, there being two places thus called in that county - one near Plymouth; the other in the parish of Owlscomb, near Honiton.

The first who advanced the family was

STEPHEN RIDGEWAY, who was one of the stewards of the city of Exeter during the reign of EDWARD IV,1466, and Mayor thereof in HENRY VII's reign; grandson to whom, in all probability, was

JOHN RIDGEWAY (c1517-60), who purchased from the Mohuns of Dunster the Manor of Tor in Devon, and was elected one of the representatives of the city of Exeter in the two parliaments called by Queen Mary.

He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Wendford, of Newton Abbot, Devon, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Anne; Margaret. 

Mr Ridgeway was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS RIDGEWAY (1543-98), MP for Dartmouth, 1584, purchased, from Sir Edward Seymour, the site of Torre Abbey, in Devon.

His son and heir, 

SIR THOMAS RIDGEWAY (c1565-1631), MP for Devon, 1604-6, married Cecily, daughter and co-heir of Henry MacWilliam, Maid of Honour to ELIZABETH I, and had issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
Edward;
MacWilliam;
Cassandra; Mary.

Mr Ridgeway employed in Ireland in a military capacity during the reign of ELIZABETH I, and planted the first colony in that kingdom.

He was High Sheriff of Devon, 1609, and received the honour of knighthood.

At the accession of JAMES I to the throne, he was elected one of the Knights of the Shire for Devon in the first parliament called by that Prince, who continued to employ him in some of the highest places of trust and command in Ireland, and had him sworn of the Privy Council.

Sir Thomas was advanced to the dignity of Baronet in 1612, designated of Torrington, Devon.

He was raised to the peerage, in 1616, in the dignity of Baron Gallen-Ridgeway.

His lordship was further advanced, in 1622, to the dignities of Viscount Gallen-Ridgeway, of Queen's County, and EARL OF LONDONDERRY.

At the time of the plantation of Ulster, by virtue of a decree by JAMES I, in 1611, Sir Thomas Ridgeway, treasurer-at-war for Ireland, received, in 1613, a grant of 315 acres of land in the barony of Clogher, under an agreement that he should, within four years, settle on a parcel of land called Augher twenty Englishmen or Scots, chiefly artificers and tradesmen, to be incorporated as burgesses and made a body politic within the said four years;

and should set apart convenient places for the site of the town, churchyard, market-place, and public school; he was likewise to assign to the burgesses houses and lands and 30 acres of commons.

Sir Thomas received also, in 1611, the grant of a market and two fairs to be held here; and in 1613, the town and precincts, with the exception of a fort and bawn called Spur Royal, which had been erected, were created a borough.

Besides the 315 acres of land on which he was to found the borough, Sir Thomas received a grant of 2,000 acres called Portclare; and according to Pynnar's report in 1619, it appears that, besides the fort and bawn, he had built 16 houses of stone in the town, which were inhabited by English artificers who were burgesses, and had each two acres of land, and commons for their cattle. 

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son, 

ROBERT, 2nd Earl (-1641), who espoused, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Simon Weston, of Lichfield, Staffordshire, and had issue, three sons and one daughter, of whom

WESTON, 3rd Earl (1620-72), who wedded Martha, daughter of Sir Peter Temple Bt, and had issue,

ROBERT, 4th Earl, who espoused, in 1686, Lucy, daughter of Sir William Jopson Bt and had two daughters, his co-heirs, viz.

LADY LUCY RIDGEWAY, m Arthur, 4th Earl of Donegall; 
LADY FRANCES RIDGEWAY, m Thomas Pitt, EARL OF LONDONDERRY (2nd creation).

His lordship died in 1714, when all his honours (including the baronetcy) expired.

Tor Mohun, the old Ridgeway estate in Devon, was sold by Lord Donegall, ca 1768, to Sir Robert Palk Bt.

  First published in July, 2012.   Londonderry arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Garvey House

THE MOORES OWNED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE

JOHN MURE, of Caldwell, Ayrshire, succeeded to his inheritance in 1539, and wedded firstly, the Lady Isabel Montgomery, daughter of Hugh, 1st Earl of Eglinton; and secondly, Christian, daughter of Lord Ross, of Hawkhead. From him sprang the subsequent line of MURE of Glanderstown.

WILLIAM MOORE, of Glanderstown, Renfrewshire, married, about 1620, Jean, daughter of the Rev Hans Hamilton, and sister of James, Earl of Clanbrassil, and had, with other issue,

WILLIAM MOORE, of Garvey, to whom, in 1667, a patent of Clonkeen, and subsequently Fassaroe Castle, Bray, County Wicklow, and Garvey, County Tyrone, was granted as a reward for his loyalty to CHARLES I.

Mr Moore, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1664, was father of

JAMES MOORE, of Garvey and Fassaroe, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1697, who was attainted and had his estates confiscated by JAMES II in 1688.

He fought at the siege of Londonderry, and was wounded when defending the North Gate.

His son,

JAMES MOORE, of Garvey and Fassaroe, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1701, married Mary, daughter of Sir Arthur Acheson Bt, and dying intestate, 1710, and was succeeded by his son,

ACHESON MOORE (1691-1770), of Garvey, Ravella, County Tyrone, and Fassaroe, County Wicklow, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1712, MP for Bangor, County Down, 1716-60, who wedded, in 1723, Sidney, daughter of Edward Wingfield, of Powerscourt, and sister of Richard, 1st Viscount Powerscourt, and had issue,

James, of Garvey (1726-59), died unmarried;
ELEANOR, of whom we treat;
Mary; Sidney.

The eldest daughter,

ELEANOR MOORE, espoused, in 1756, ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY, of Ballyleck, General of Volunteers, MP for Donegal, and had two daughters, Sidney and Maria (both of whom died unmarried), and a son,

NATHANIEL MONTGOMERY (1757-1834), of Garvey, Ravella, and Fassaroe, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1786, MP for County Tyrone, 1781-90, Strabane, 1797-1800, Colonel, Tyrone Militia, which he commanded in the rebellion of 1798.

He assumed in right of his mother, the surname and arms of MOORE.

Colonel Montgomery-Moore married, in 1785, Mary Anne, daughter of Alexander Boyd, of Ballycastle, County Antrim, by Anna Maria his wife, daughter of Sir Archibald Acheson Bt, 1st Viscount Gosford, and had issue,

ALEXANDER JAMES, his heir;
Acheson;
Nathaniel;
Robert;
James;
Anna Maria; Sydney; Ellen.

Nathaniel Montgomery-Moore, who sat in the last Irish Parliament for County Tyrone, and voted for the Union, was succeeded by his son,

ALEXANDER JAMES MONTGOMERY-MOORE (1786-1836), of Garvey and Fassaroe, who wedded, in 1832, Susanna, youngest daughter of George Matcham, of Ashford Lodge, Sussex, by Catherine his wife, sister of Horatio, 1st Viscount Nelson, and had issue,

ALEXANDER GEORGE, his heir;
Acheson.

Mr Montgomery-Moore was succeeded by his elder son,

GENERAL SIR ALEXANDER GEORGE MONTGOMERY-MOORE KCB JP DL (1833-1919), of Gypsy Lodge, South Norwood, Croydon, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1904, who wedded, in 1857, Jane Colborne, youngest daughter of Field-Marshal the Lord Seaton GCB.

General Montgomery-Moore was Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of Land Forces in Ireland, commanded the 4th Hussars, was Assistant Adjutant-General of the Dublin District, commanded the Belfast and South-east Districts, and the troops in Canada from 1893 to 1898; was in command of Aldershot District, 1899-1900.

© Copyright Kenneth Allen

GARVEY HOUSE, Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, was a large, three-storey, late-Georgian mansion of 1812, by Francis Johnston, for Nathaniel Montgomery-Moore MP.

It had a seven-bay front with a breakfront centre; and a six-bay side elevation.

the plan was symmetrical with twin stairs at the sides of the hall.

Garvey House was said to have cost so much to build that it bankrupted its owner.

It was subsequently abandoned and a roofless shell by 1821.

First published in December, 2016.

The Colquhoun Baronets

THE COLQUHOUN BARONETS WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN DUNBARTONSHIRE, WITH 67,041 ACRES

This is a Scottish family of great antiquity, which has enjoyed a Scottish baronetcy since 1625. The earliest surname under which the family of COLQUHOUN can be traced is that of Kilpatrick.

Sir John Colquhoun of Luss was a descendant of Umfridus de Kilpatrick. That patent was resigned, however, in 1704, by Sir Humphrey Colquhoun, 5th Baronet, upon condition of its being renewed to his son-in-law, James Grant (1679-1747), who thereafter assumed the name of Colquhoun.

SIR JAMES GRANT or COLQUHOUN (1714-86), of Luss, after considerable litigation with his brother, Sir Ludovic, succeeded to the Colquhoun estates as heir under the entail of 1706, built the modern mansion of Rossdhu, and was created a Baronet of Great Britain, 1786, designated of Luss.

He married, in 1740, Helen, daughter of William, Baron Strathnaver, and sister of 17th Earl of Sutherland, and had, with other issue,

JAMES, his successor;

Ludovic.

His successor,

SIR JAMES COLQUHOUN, 2nd Baronet (1741-1805), of Luss, wedded, in 1773, Mary, daughter and co-heir of James Falconer, of Monktown, Edinburgh, and had, with other issue,

JAMES, his successor;

Jane; Wilhelmina; Catherine.

Sir James was succeeded by his eldest son.

• Sir James Colquhoun, 3rd Baronet (1774-1836)
• Sir James Colquhoun, 4th Baronet (1804-73)
• Sir James Colquhoun, 5th Baronet (1844-1907)
• Sir Alan John Colquhoun, 6th Baronet (1838-1910)
• Sir Iain Colquhoun, 7th Baronet, KT DSO (1887-1948)
• Sir Ivar Iain Colquhoun, 8th Baronet JP DL (1916-2008)
• Sir Malcolm Rory Colquhoun, 9th Baronet (b 1947).

Rossdhu House (Image: Visitor's Guide to Scotland)

ROSSDHU HOUSE, near Luss, Dunbartonshire, was built in 1773 to replace a castle the Colquhouns had inhabited since the 15th century.

In 1772, (Sir) James Colquhoun had begun to build the present house, which was originally what is now the central block, and completed it in the following year.

Later that year, the celebrated Dr. Johnson and Mr. Boswell were entertained at Rossdhu on their renowned tour of the Hebrides.

His son, Sir James, 2nd Baronet, was a friend and correspondent of Horace Walpole, to whom he gave a goat's horn snuff-mull, was a connoisseur and collector of paintings, landscapes in particular, engravings, ancient coins and rare old china.

The 3rd Baronet lived with discernment during the good taste of the Regency: He enlarged the house, adding two wings and the portico, using the stone from the old castle.

Sir James made the long south drive along the lochside, and built its two superb entrance lodges joined by a beautiful archway surmounted by the Colquhoun heraldic emblems, that form together an architectural gem on the side of the main road.

Draining the marshy "moss" that had guarded the landward side of the castle in the Middle Ages, but was no longer needed to protect the house, Sir James turned it into a deer park and enclosed the policies within a park wall.

Sir James, 4th Baronet and 28th Chief, tragically drowned in Loch Lomond in 1873. He was Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, as was was his son, Sir James, 5th Baronet, who was visited at Rossdhu by Queen Victoria in 1875.

The 5th Baronet's second wife inherited and sold many of Rossdhu's ancestral treasures when he died in 1907 and was succeeded by his cousin Sir Alan, 6th Baronet and 30th of Luss, KCB (1838-1910).

The Colquhouns signed a 100-year lease for the Estate -  to be made into a golf course -  to Tom Weiskopf's design, with Rossdhu serving as the Clubhouse.

Loch Lomond Golf Club opened in 1994, and has hosted the revived Scottish Open for a number of years.

The Colquhouns only moved a few hundred yards closer to Luss, to take up residence in the former Rossdhu dower house at Camstradden.

The Luss Estate today extends to some 45,000 acres.

Former London residence ~ 20, Lower Belgrave Street.

First published in December, 2013.

Lissen Hall

THE HELY-HUTCHINSONS OWNED 766 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DUBLIN

THE RT HON JOHN HELY-HUTCHINSON (1724-94), an eminent lawyer and statesman of Ireland (son of Francis Hely, of Gortroe, County Cork, by the daughter of Christopher Earbury), married, in 1751, Christiana, daughter of Lorenzo Nickson, of Munny, County Wicklow, and niece and heir of Richard Hutchinson, of Knocklofty, County Tipperary (in consequence of which marriage he assumed the additional surname of HUTCHINSON), and had issue,

Richard Hely, cr EARL OF DONOUGHMORE ;
John, successor to his brother as 2nd Earl;
FRANCIS, of whom we treat;
Augustus Abraham;
Christopher;
Lorenzo;
Christiana; Mary; Prudence; Margaret.

Mr Hely-Hutchinson's wife, Christiana, was elevated to the peerage, in 1783, suo jure, in the dignity of BARONESS DONOUGHMORE, of Knocklofty, County Tipperary.

The third son,

FRANCIS HELY-HUTCHINSON (1759-1827), MP for Dublin University, 1790-98, Naas, 1798-1801, wedded Frances Wilhelmina, daughter and heir of Henry Nixon, of Belmont, County Wexford, and had issue,

John, 3rd Earl;
Henry, Lieutenant-Colonel;
COOTE, of whom hereafter;
George;
Richard;
Anne Louisa; Catherine Henrietta; Charlotte Sophia; Louisa Frances.

The third son,

THE HON COOTE HELY-HUTCHINSON, Captain, Royal Navy, espoused, in 1834, Sophia, youngest daughter of the Rev Sir Samuel Synge-Hutchinson Bt, and had issue,

Samuel, died in infancy;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
Francis Henry;
Sophia Dorothy.

Captain Hely-Hutchinson died in 1842.

His third son,

JOHN HELY-HUTCHINSON JP DL (1826-1919), of Seafield and Lissen Hall, County Dublin, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1872, married, in 1865, Mary Louisa, eldest daughter of Robert Tottenham, of Annamult, second son of Charles Tottenham, of Ballycurry, County Wicklow, and had issue,

COOTE ROBERT, his heir;
Richard George, a military officer;
Ethel Mary; Cecil Frances Katharine; Eleanor Blanche.

The elder son,

COOTE ROBERT HELY-HUTCHINSON OBE (1870-1930), Lieutenant-Colonel, Reserve Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, wedded, in 1914, Julia Harriet Vere, daughter of William Clayton Browne-Clayton, and had issue,

JOHN;
Michael;
David Coote;
Mary Caroline; Julia Louisa.

The eldest son,

JOHN HELY-HUTCHINSON (1914-85), died unmarried.

LISSEN HALL, Donabate, County Dublin, was constructed in at least two different periods.

The original house was a long, plain, gable-ended dwelling of the late-17th or early 18th century.

Slightly later, though still in the first half of the 18th century, Lissen Hall was extensively remodelled and a new front built at right angles to the earlier house to form a large T-shaped building.

The new five-bay façade shows a typical mid-Georgian design, with a tripartite door-case and a Venetian window above.

Lissen Hall (Image: Historic Houses of Ireland)

The tripartite arrangement is repeated on the upper storey, where the central window is flanked by two blind sidelights.

There are projecting bows, with semi-conical roofs at either end, while the walls of the façade continue upwards without a cornice to form a parapet, adorned with urns and eagles.

These embellishments were clearly aimed at replicating Mantua, a neighbouring house now long demolished, which faced Lissen Hall across the tidal estuary of the Meadow Water.

Architectural drawings from 1765 can be seen in the house, which at that time was owned by John Hatch, MP for Swords in the old Irish Parliament before it voted itself out of existence in 1801.

Lissen Hall later passed to the politically influential Hely-Hutchinson family, of nearby Seafield House.

In the 1870s the grounds comprised 78 acres.

In 1950 Terence Chadwick purchased Lissen Hall from the Hely-Hutchinsons, and it was subsequently inherited by his daughter, Lady Davis-Goff, of Ballinacor.

As a result Lissen Hall has been sold only once in over two hundred and fifty years.

The Irish Times has published an interesting article about the Hely-Hutchinsons.

First published in January, 2018.  Donoughmore arms courtesy of European Heraldry.  Select bibliography: Irish Historic Houses Association.