Dromantine House

The Innes family claims descent from that of INNES of Leuchars, a younger branch of the ancient house of Innes, proprietors of the lands of that name in the year 1160; when by a crown charter of  KING MALCOLM IV, 

BEROWALD, styled " of Flanders," became first feudal baron or lord of Innes. 

His lineal descendant, 

JAMES, 16th feudal Baron of Innes, held the appointment of "Esquire" to KING JAMES III ; and among the family papers is still preserved a charter of some lands granted to him by that monarch, " for faithful service to us of our beloved Esquire, James Innes of that Ilk."

JAMES INNES, Laird of Innes, who in 1490 had the honour of entertaining King JAMES IV, and many distinguished personages of his court, at his mansion of Innes, married Lady Janet Gordon, daughter of Alexander, 1st Earl of Huntly, and had two sons,

Alexander, whose line subsequently failed, and

ROBERT INNES, of Cromy and Rathmackenzie, who married the daughter of William Meldrum, Baron of Fyvie, and had issue, his 2nd son,

ALEXANDER, of Blackhills, ancestor of the family of INNES of Leuchars, Fife. His grandson,

ALEXANDER INNES, of Cotts, and afterwards on the death of his half-brother in 1619, of Leuchars, and Baillie of the Regality and Constable of the Castle of Spynie, known in the family by the quaint sobriquet of "Craig-in-Peril ", married his cousin, Marjory, eldest daughter of William Gordon, Baron of Gight, great-great-grandson of George, 2nd Earl of Huntly, and his Countess, the Princess Annabella Stewart, youngest daughter of King JAMES I of Scotland.

Alexander Innes died in 1634, leaving with other issue, his eldest son,

JOHN INNES, of Leuchars, Baillie of the Regality and Constable of the Castle of Spynie (offices confirmed to him by Act of Parliament, 1641).

This gentleman joined, in 1625, the Scots Guards in the service of the King of France. He married, in 1622, Elizabeth, only daughter of Archibald Douglas, of Pittendreich, and died in 1645, leaving issue,

1. JOHN, of Leuchars, imprisoned by the Covenanters, and his estate sequestered until the Restoration.

2. Robert, killed by the Covenanters at Leuchars.

3. ALEXANDER. 

The last named,

ALEXANDER INNES, is called by some the 2nd, and by others, the 5th son, of John Innes.

He is said to have gone to Ireland at the Restoration, and from him is traced the Irish branch of the family.

He married the daughter of the Rev Edward Brice, Minister of Ballycarry, County Antrim, and by her had issue, his youngest son,

WILLIAM INNES, of Belfast and Dublin, who married his cousin Jane, daughter of Robert Brice, of Castle Chichester, County Antrim, and had, with two daughters, five sons. The eldest son,

WILLIAM INNES, of Glen Manor, now Dromantine, County Down, who married, in 1744, Dorothea, daughter of Charles Brice, of Castle Chichester, County Antrim. He died in 1785, having had issue, his eldest son,

CHARLES BRICE INNES, of Dromantine; High Sheriff of County Down in 1775; died unmarried in 1804, and was succeeded by his brother,

ARTHUR INNES, of Dromantine; Captain, Dragoon Guards, High Sheriff of County Down in 1814; married, in 1796, Anne, daughter of Major Edward Crow, of Tullamore, King's County, Dragoon Guards, and had issue, his son and heir,

ARTHUR INNES JP DL, of Dromantine; High Sheriff, 1832; Lieutenant, 3rd Dragoon Guards; married, in 1829, Mary Jervis, daughter and heir of William Wolseley, Admiral of the Red. He died in 1835, leaving issue,

ARTHUR CHARLES INNES-CROSS JP DL, of Dromantine; MP for Newry, 1865-68; born in 1834. His 2nd wife, Jane Beauchamp Cross, now of Dartan, daughter of the late Colonel Cross DL, of Dartan, County Armagh, whose name he assumed by Royal Licence.

He died in 1902, having had further issue,

ARTHUR CHARLES WOLSELEY INNES MC, of Dromantine; Captain, 4th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, b. 1888; married, in 1915, Etta, daughter of William Bradshaw, of 1 Wilbraham Place, London.

 DROMANTINE HOUSE

Dromantine House, near Newry, County Down, was described as "new" in 1834, replacing a former dwelling of 1741; and was re-modelled from 1860-64, to the designs of McCurdy.

Arthur Charles Innes-Cross, in the 1860s, extended the original house, making it even more stately and imposing.

In the early 20th century, the fortunes of the Innes family waned and they decided to sell Dromantine estate.

THE SOCIETY of African Missions (SMA), based in County Cork, was looking for a suitable property in which to prepare their students for missionary work in Africa. They bought Dromantine House and the 320 acre estate in 1926.

Paying special attention to a harmonious blend with the original architecture, work on St Patrick's wing on the east side commenced in November, 1931.

St Brendan's wing on the west side was built in 1935 and a new Chapel, which was added to the end of this wing, was consecrated by Bishop Mulhern in 1937.

St Colman's wing, with 62 study-bedrooms for students, and a new assembly/lecture hall, was opened in 1959.

In 1996, major renovation work was completed.

In 2004, the original 19th century courtyard building was sensitively and completely renovated to provide additional conference rooms and facilities.

The 320 acre, part-walled demesne is in a beautiful situation, in undulating drumlin country, and is well maintained.

In 1806 Arthur Innes built the original part of the existing house in Neo-classical style. When he died in 1820 he left a magnificent house within a beautifully landscaped demesne complete with a newly formed lake.

Parkland and stands of trees occupy most of the ground, which is laid out in the style of a landscape park, possibly designed for the present house.

There is a good deal of woodland. One area, known as Racecourse Wood, possibly used as such, has now gone.

Terracing at the house is now in lawns but a decorative fountain remains. There is a modest, late 19th century arboretum to the northeast of the house.

The gardens are mentioned in the Garden Annual & Almanac of 1908.

The walled garden is some distance from the house, to the southwest. It is no longer cultivated and ruinous glasshouse can be seen. The head gardener’s house has been modernised.

The site has been a missionary college since 1928.

There were two gate lodges and one remains. Dean refers to them as, ‘… neither of any merit.’ One was built pre-1834 and the other late Victorian.