3rd Viscount Palmerston

One of the topics chosen on the BBC's Mastermind programme this evening is the life and career of the Right Honourable Henry John [Temple], 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC.

I have written about the Temple family and their association with Classiebawn Castle.

The TEMPLES, and the ducal house of Buckingham & Chandos, maternally descended, are said to have been of Saxon origin, and to have sprung immediately from the son and heir of Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia.

SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE, knight, a learned and eminent person in the reign of ELIZABETH I, secretary to the unfortunate Earl of Essex, removed into Ireland, and was appointed provost of Trinity College, Dublin.

He received the honour of knighthood in 1622. His elder son,

SIR JOHN TEMPLE, knight, born in 1600, who was constituted master of the Rolls in Ireland. His youngest son,

SIR JOHN TEMPLE, knight, was solicitor and attorney-general, and speaker of the House of Commons in Ireland. His grandson,

HENRY TEMPLE ESQ, who was raised to the peerage, in 1722, with the dignities of Baron Temple and VISCOUNT PALMERSTON.

The 3rd Viscount was a statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century.

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Castle Durrow

THE VISCOUNTS ASHBROOK WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTIES KILKENNY AND OFFALY, WITH 16,768 ACRES

SIR WILLIAM FLOWER, knight, was a military man in service under Michael Jones, governor of Dublin, during the Irish rebellion in 1641, and was subsequently one of the Privy Council of CHARLES II.

Sir William was born at Whitwell, Rutland, in 1600. During the Irish rebellion, he was seized, in 1648, with other officers, on suspicion of affection to the Marquess of Ormonde (Lord Ormonde was their former general at that time, upon his return to the Kingdom), where they were sent prisoners to England. 

Sir William lived to see the restoration of CHARLES II, to whose first Parliament, In 1661, he was returned as member for Irishtown.

He was made captain of a company of foot and afterwards lieutenant-colonel to His Majesty's King George II Regiment of Guards, in Ireland.

He was appointed, in 1662, one of the trustees for "Satisfying the Arrears of the Commissiioned Officers" who served the King in Ireland before 5th June, 1649.

His nephew,

THOMAS FLOWER, of Durrow, County Kilkenny, married, firstly, in 1683, Mary, 4th daughter of Sir John Temple, attorney-general for Ireland. His elder son,

WILLIAM FLOWER, of Durrow, 1st BARON CASTLE DURROW, who represented County Kilkenny in parliament. His only surviving son,

HENRY, 2nd Baron, was created VISCOUNT ASHBROOK, in 1751.

CASTLE DURROW, near Durrow, County Laois, is an early 18th century mansion, with a high-pitched roof and tall chimney-stacks.

It was constructed by Colonel William Flower MP, later 1st Lord Castle Durrow. Colonel Flower commenced with the construction of the manor in 1712. The Flower family assumed residency of Castle Durrow in 1716.

The house consists of two storeys with a dormered attic in the roof; nine bays, of which the front is divided into three groups of three bays by huge Doric pilasters, formerly crowned with urns (now erected on the porch).

Later generations of the Ashbrooks adorned the house with 18th century plasterwork and 19th century stained-glass.

There is a notable castellated entrance gate in the square of the town of Durrow.

Castle Durrow was sold by the 9th Viscount in 1922.

Subsequently, the property was sold to a Mr Maher of Freshford, County Kilkenny, who was primarily interested in the rich timber reserves of the estate.

By 1928 the old hard wood forests of Durrow were scarce.

Eventually the Irish Land Commission divided up the arable portions of the property, and the forestry department took over many of the woods for further plantation.

During this time Castle Durrow was vacant for a few years.

In 1929, with the Bishop’s approval, the parish of Durrow acquired the estate for the purchase price of £1,800 and Castle Durrow was transformed into a school, St Fintan’s College and Convent.

Peter and Shelley Stokes bought the castle in 1998 and transformed it into a hotel.

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Theft Alert: 1932 Ford Coupe Stolen While Florida Man On Vacation

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

News broke today of a DeLeon Springs, Florida man who returned home from vacation to find that his 1932 Ford Coupe had been stolen from his garage. As our regular readers are aware, we've been running a weekly series, Keep Our Rides Safe, on classic car and muscle car theft prevention and protection. We had just written about the need to take active steps to protect your rides even in your own garage, and this is heartbreaking proof that these types of thefts DO occur where you feel most safe...your home.

Stolen Car: 1932 Ford 3-window Coupe
Estimated Date of Theft: Sunday 10-21-12 from DeLeon Springs, FL

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that David Gallentine discovered the theft when he "went to his garage to put some fishing poles and other equipment away Monday night when he noticed some items out of place. And completely missing was his restored 1932 Ford three-window coupe." Upon closer inspection he discovered that the thieves had pried the metal on the side of his shop to gain access. "They knew it was there, they knew I wasn't here, and they knew how to get into the shop," he said. And the car was the only thing missing. Nothing in the home was touched.

Gallentine estimates that he spent about 3,000 hours building the coupe over a three year period.  The car is estimated to be worth approximately $90,000. One neighbor reported hearing activity on Sunday, thinking it sounded like the car leaving the residence.

If you have any information, please contact the DeLeon Police Department at 386-734-1711.

RESOURCES FOR REPORTING:
DeLeon Police Department - DeLeon Police Dept Website

Hemmings - Hemmings Daily Blog Report a Theft Form

RESOURCES FOR THEFT PREVENTION:

Classic Car News - Preventing Class Car Theft: The Big Picture

Classic Car News - Take Caution Where You Take Your Classic Car Or Muscle Car

Classic Car News - Identifying The Potential Classic Car Thief - Know Who Your Friends Are
Classic Car News - How & Where To Park Your Classic or Muscle Car To Minimize The Threat of Theft
Classic Car News - Purchasing Classic Car Insurance - Why You Don't Want To Procrastinate!
Classic Car News - At Home Theft Prevention for Your Classic Car or Muscle Car
Classic Car News - On The Road Theft Protection - How to Keep Your Car Safe While Traveling

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

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Phoenix Lodge

CHARLEY OF SEYMOUR HILL

The family of Charley, or Chorley, passing over from the north of England, settled in Ulster in the I7th century, at first at Belfast, where they were owners of house property for two hundred years; and afterwards at Finaghy, County Antrim, where  

RALPH CHARLEY (1664-1746), of Finaghy House, was seated. His son,  

JOHN CHARLEY (1712-93), of Finaghy, died aged 81, leaving a son and successor,

JOHN CHARLEY (1744-1812), of Finaghy House, born in 1744; married in 1783, Anne Jane, daughter of Richard Wolfenden, of Harmony Hill, County Down. His 2nd son,

MATTHEW CHARLEY (1788-1846), of Finaghy House, married, in 1819, Mary Anne, daughter of Walter Roberts, of Colin House. His eldest son,

JOHN STOUPPE CHARLEY JP (1825-78), of Finaghy House, County Antrim, and Island of Arranmore, County Donegal; JP for counties Donegal, Antrim, and Borough of Belfast; High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1875-6; married, in 1851, Mary Stewart, daughter of Francis Forster JP, of Roshine Lodge, County Donegal. The 3rd son,

WILLIAM CHARLEY, of Seymour Hill, Dunmurry; married, in 1817, Isabella, eldest daughter of William Hunter JP, of Dunmurry, and died in 1838, aged 37. The eldest son,

JOHN CHARLEY, of Seymour Hill, died unmarried in 1843, aged 25, and was succeeded by his brother, 

WILLIAM CHARLEY JP DL (1826-1904), of Seymour Hill; married, in 1856, Ellen Anna Matilda, daughter of Edward Johnson JP, of Ballymacash, near Lisburn, and granddaughter of Rev Philip Johnson JP DL.

Mr Charley was juror of Great Exhibition, 1851; chairman of J & W Charley & Company. He wrote the book Flax And Its Products. He was succeeded by his son,

EDWARD JOHNSON CHARLEY (1859-1932), of Seymour Hill. His 6th son, 

COLONEL HAROLD RICHARD CHARLEY CBE DL (1875-1956), of Seymour Hill; officer, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles; fought in the Boer War, and First World War, with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, and was wounded and became a PoW.

In 1916 he started workshops for interned British servicemen at Murren. He was Officer-in-Charge for Technical Instruction for servicemen interned in Switzerland in 1917; Commissioner of British Red Cross Society, Switzerland, 1918; commander of the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles, 1919-23.

CBE, 1920; City Commandant, Ulster Special Constabulary, 1924-52; originator of the British Legion Car Park Attendants scheme (adopted throughout Great Britain); Honorary Colonel, 1938, Antrim Coast Regiment (Territorial Army). His eldest son, 
 
COLONEL WILLIAM ROBERT (Robin) HUNTER CHARLEY OBE, born in 1924; married Catherine Janet, daughter of William Sinclair Kingan, in 1960. 

In 1943 he was enlisted in the Royal Ulster Rifles; fought in 2nd World War, and the Korean War; Commanding Officer, OTC Queen's University, Belfast, 1965-68; Officer, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. 

He retired from the army in 1971; was on Staff in 1972 at Northern Ireland Polytechnic; lived in 1976 at Seymour Lodge, Larch Hill, Craigavad, County Down.

Colonel Charley was appointed OBE (civil) in 1989, for services to The Forces Help Society and Lord Roberts' Workshops.



IN 1837 THE ULSTER RAILWAY COMPANY opened its first line from Belfast to Lisburn. To encourage use of the railway, free passes were offered to people if they built new homes near the stations and halts.

It is thought that this may have influenced William Charley (1790-1838) to build Phoenix Lodge for his daughter Anne Jane in 1837, shortly before he died.

In 1842, Anne Jane Charley married William Stevenson of Belfast and they lived at Phoenix Lodge until his death in 1855. His widow then moved to live with her mother at Huntley.

In 1882 the name of the house was changed to The Lodge, after the Phoenix Park murders in Dublin when Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Burke, Chief Secretary & Under Secretary of Ireland, were assassinated.

Captain Arthur Charley JP (1870-1944), lived there with his wife Clare after the Great War until his brother, Edward Charley JP DL (1859-1932), died and he moved into Seymour Hill.

In the 1930s and at the beginning of World War II, The Lodge was rented by Lord and Lady Ampthill.

In 1940, Major-General Sir James and Lady Cooke-Collis lived there. He was the first Ulster Agent in London but died in 1941 as the result of a German air raid on his club in London.

Nextly it was occupied by Major-General Majendie, GOC Northern Ireland; and finally, in 1947, it was bought by Mrs Harland, the sister of Sir Milne Barbour Bt, of Conway House.

Despite being listed, the house was vested in the early 1960s after Mrs Harland died. The grounds taken over for the expansion of a nearby factory. 

A large, weeping ash tree dominated the front lawn of the Lodge.

The information has been sourced from Lisburn Historical Society. First published in March, 2011.

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1st Earl of Strafford

THE EARLS OF STRAFFORD WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY, WITH 7,647 ACRES

THE HON ROBERT BYNG (1703-40), 3rd son of 1st Viscount Torrington, MP for Plymouth, one of the commissioners of the Navy and afterwards governor of Barbados, married and had issue,

GEORGE BYNG, MP for Middlesex, of Wrotham Park, who married, in 1761, Anne, daughter of the Rt Hon William Conolly, of Castletown, in Ireland, by Lady Anne, his wife, eldest daughter of Thomas Wentworth, EARL OF STRAFFORD (2nd creation), and co-heir of her brother William, 2nd Earl; and had issue, the 3rd son, 

FIELD MARSHAL THE RT HON SIR JOHN BYNG GCB GCH (1772-1860), of 6 Portman Square, London, and Bellaghy, County Londonderry, inherited the significant Bellaghy Estate through his mother Anne.

Sir John was one of the most distinguished commanders in the Peninsular war. He entered the Army in 1793, and took a leading and brilliant part in the battles of the Peninsula, and at Waterloo.

He twice received the thanks of Parliament for his services in the Peninsula and at the battle of Waterloo; and from the Crown an honourable augmentation of his arms.

In 1828, Sir John was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ireland, and appointed to the privy council of Ireland the same year.

After leaving Ireland in 1831, he was appointed a GCB and turned his attention to politics, being elected MP for Poole, Dorset, a seat he held until he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Strafford in 1835.

In 1841, he was promoted to General.

Lord Strafford was further advanced to the dignity of an earldom, as EARL OF STRAFFORD (of 3rd creation), and Viscount Enfield (arms displayed above), in 1843, and inherited Wrotham Park from his eldest brother in 1847.

In 1855, Lord Strafford was further promoted to the highest military rank of Field Marshal.

Lord Stafford's Bellaghy estate included Dreenan along with most of Lavey, Bellaghy, Greenlough and parts of Maghera, including Fallagloon.

The Vintners' Company was associated with the other City Companies in JAMES I's scheme for the plantation of Ulster.

It owned estates known as Vintners' Manor, or Bellaghy, until 1737, when it sold them, subject to an annual rent charge of £200 and "a brace of good bucks."

The Vintners held in excess of 32,000 acres in County Londonderry. This area of land stretched from Lough Beg in the south, to outside Maghera in the north, the rivers Bann and Moyola being part of its eastern and western boundaries.

The Manor of Vintners, commonly called the Bellaghy Estate, comprised fifty townlands, the most distant of which was seven miles from the village of Bellaghy, where the manor court was held.

The Conolly Papers state that

The third major component of the Conolly estate, the Vintners proportion, resembled the Limavady estate in that it was freehold and was acquired outright (subject only to a chief rent of £200 a year).

It was centred on the village of Bellaghy, and was bounded on the north by the Mercers proportion; on the south by Lough Beg; on the west by the barony of Keenaght; and on the east by County Antrim. 

The lessees prior to Speaker Conolly were the 2nd and 3rd Viscounts Massereene, to whom the Vintners had granted a 61-year lease in 1673, subsequently extended by about ten years. Conolly seems to have bought the Massereene lease, possibly in 1718.

It was devised to four parties, represented by Lord Strafford, Lord Clancarty, Lord Lothian and Colonel Connolly [sic], as tenants in common.

In 1929, under the Northern Ireland Land Act, the Bellaghy Estate, which at that time belonged to Lord Deramore, the Hon Millicent Valla Alexander (wife of the Hon Herbrand Charles Alexander DSO) and Alice, Dowager Countess of Strafford (widow of the 3rd Earl), was sold to its tenants.

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On-The-Road Theft Protection - How to Keep Your Classic Car or Muscle Car Safe While Traveling

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

Last week, we looked at security when we're at home. It's our sanctuary and a place we keep our most cherished items (classic car, muscle car, antique, street rod, vintage truck, or our project car of course). Even though more than one third of all car thefts occur from a home or residence, we're very vulnerable when we travel, especially when far from home on a road trip. But, bad things can happen even when on the road not all that far from home as well!

Keeping Your Classic Car Safe On Road Trips

When you're traveling, you'll need to change priorities a bit. You'll be out of your element and will need to have take reasonable precautions. How far from home and for how long will play a big part in the types of things you'll need to consider, and the steps you may need to take to maximize your safety strategies.

Some steps are obvious while others are easy to overlook when it comes to preventing car theft when you're away from home!

Prepare With Accurate, Up-To-Date Records

In addition to the maps, hotel reservations and activity list, make sure you take the time to prepare a list of information you might just need if you get into any trouble on the road. Make, model and VIN numbers are a good start. Adding identifying numbers of your engine, paint and interior colors, rim and tire information, and any other identifiers which are unique or can help identify your car should be listed. When you're in crisis mode, it's easy to forget to list obvious ones that can aid officials in locating your ride. The more information they have the better.

In addition to making sure you have a way of reaching your insurance company 24/7, you might also want to write contact information of your repair or restoration shop, and bring along photos of your car (front, side, rear). These can aid in getting bulletins out quickly. Jot down the e-mail address for Hemmings Daily so you can notify them of a theft by simply filling out a brief form (see link below). They've been instrumental in getting the word out, as we do, to fellow enthusiasts who can keep an eye out!

Make Sure You Have Adequate Classic Car Insurance

Make sure you've got active insurance in place. If not, take a look at purchasing a classic car insurance policy, and make sure that it is active before any long trip. Talk with an agent who can help advise about potential loop-holes in coverage. If you're considering a long trip or cruise, make sure that it will cover the mileage and the possibility you may be out of state. The cost is low compared to auto insurance for your modern daily driver, and it can mean the difference of losing your cherished ride forever, or the possibility of being able to begin again with another without losing your shirt. And remember, the use of deterrents and active anti-theft devices can save you money on your premiums. Read the full article on insurance in the resources link below, and don't procrastinate in getting it.

Use An Alarm System

Today's assortment of alarms can seem overwhelming, and we'll be covering them in detail in a future installment in this series of theft prevention articles. There are passive alarms that signal a monitoring device, those that will page you, those that sound an audible alarm, those that will activate hidden cameras, and those that will trigger active GPS monitoring. We will take a look at each of these in detail, but for now remember that all the theft deterrents and alarms in the world won't help keep your ride safe unless you actively use them. Remember to activate them whenever you're not in your car, and especially when you are away from home and/or on a road trip.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings - Take Care Where You Park

The point here is to be aware of your surroundings, including where you park your car. Don't take it for granted that just because you're at a national show or event with fellow enthusiasts or on a popular cruise or road trip that something bad can't happen. Take preventive action by checking out your intended destination and taking the time to secure your old car or truck while on the road.

Guy Algar states, "Don't forget to take precautions even during short trips or visits to popular places. You may feel safe parking your ride because you've been there before or know people where you're going, but remember, that thieves can take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself, and will sometimes create their own opportunities as well! They can follow you from a cruise, a show, an event or even from a restaurant and plan a theft after watching you entering your hotel. If you have a ride that catches other people's attention, remember that it will also catch the wrong attention!" Keep these things in mind:

• Never park behind buildings. This tends to provide cover for thieves.
• If you can, park in plain sight of windows, doors, and areas with good foot traffic.
• Do not park next to thick bushes or shrubbery.
• Do not park next to alcoves, walls and areas where a person can hide. 
• Avoid extremely remote areas.
• Avoid unattended parking lots. Parking garages are safer choices.
• Select parking garages that are fenced in and secure. Preferably with good visibility into the lot.
• When parking on the street, select busy well-lit areas.
• Be especially cautious at night, which is a thief's preferred time.
• Check on your vehicle regularly.
• Never leave a spare set of keys in the car.
• Don't leave hotel keys in car.
• Don't leave travel plans, maps, hotel or travel pamphlets in plain sight.
• Do not leave personal items and baggage in plain sight whenever possible.
• Remove your GPS device or hide it.
• Never hide keys in/or about your car.
• Never leave your title in the vehicle.
• Never move valuables after you've arrived.
• Don't park in two spaces. This only brings attention to your car.
• Arm your car with your anti-theft measures and your multi-layered security system.

Use All Your Self Deterrents

Don't forget the basics in theft prevention. We'll take a closer look at each of these, and many more, in upcoming weeks:

• Lock all doors and windows.
• Use hood locks.
• Use steering wheel and/or brake locks.
• Use a kill switch.
• Disconnect the car's battery.
• Use a fuel cut-off switch.
• Remove the Distributor Cap and/or Ignition Rotor.
• Remove Fuel Pump Fuse.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: 
Guy and I realize that the safety of your classic car or muscle car is extremely important to most owners. Everyone wants to protect their ride with methods that work, and that won't bust the bank. Guy Algar was an Installation Technician for LoJack at one point in his career, and served as a troubleshooter for difficult installations. A complete list of links for Theft Prevention and Theft Protection will appear in my upcoming article. Have a story you'd like to share? Leave a comment and we may publish your story! - Andrea L. Algar

REFERENCES / RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Classic Car News - Preventing Class Car Theft: The Big Picture

Classic Car News - Take Caution Where You Take Your Classic Car Or Muscle Car

Classic Car News - Identifying The Potential Classic Car Thief - Know Who Your Friends Are
Classic Car News - How & Where To Park Your Classic or Muscle Car To Minimize The Threat of Theft
Classic Car News - Purchasing Classic Car Insurance - Why You Don't Want To Procrastinate!
Hemmings - Hemmings Daily Blog Report a Theft Form
No Nonsense Self Defense - Car Theft Prevention

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

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Gibb's Island Day

I have been on the go all day. This is the first opportunity I've had to update the blog.

I arrived at Gibb's Island at about nine-thirty this morning, despite a major diversion between Killyleagh and Delamont, County Down.

There were eight of us today, the task being to cut down a large patch of gorse. Two bonfires were lit.

For lunch I had home-made egg salad sandwiches, which were delicious: hard-boiled egg; cream cheese, onion; mustard; a little sugar; seasoning; and fresh wholemeal bread.

There were plenty of logs, so we all had a share of the spoils. I got two sackfuls.

As soon as I arrived home, I snatched my swimming apparel and dashed up to the sports club for the customary sixty lengths.

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