(506) Bearcroft of Mere Hall

Bearcroft of Mere Hall

By the late 17th century, this family (whose name was spelled in many different ways, including Barecroft, Barcroft, Berecroft and Bearecroft) were claiming to have been of gentry status from the late 14th century onwards. There seems little doubt that they owned a freehold estate in Hanbury parish in the late middle ages, but it did not have the status of a manor and may originally have been quite small, and they should perhaps be regarded as yeomen until the 16th century. The genealogy below begins with John Bearcroft (c.1550-1620), who was perhaps the first of his line to be described as 'esquire'. It would seem that he was responsible for building the present Mere Hall (then known as Mere Green Hall) in about 1611, although he would then have been quite an elderly man to take on a major building project. John married twice, but the eldest son of his first marriage died before him, and the surviving younger sons made careers in trade in Worcester. The heir to Mere Hall was the only son of his second marriage, Philip Bearcroft (c.1589-1643), who was educated as a gentleman at Oxford - where he took a degree - and the Middle Temple. Philip married the daughter of a neighbouring landowner who was also one of original members of the Virginia Company, and his eldest surviving son, John Bearcroft (c.1618-85) also went to Oxford and then to Grays Inn. He did not qualify as a barrister but was regarded later as 'learned in the law though not a public advocate'. During the 17th century the family's property gradually expanded as a result of sensible marriages and judicious purchases, and extended into both Droitwich and Feckenham parishes. John Bearcroft (1649-1700) lived at Shurnock Court in Feckenham during his father's lifetime, and there is little evidence that he ever moved into Mere Hall, although he does appear to have been responsible for some updating of the house.

Little is known about the career of his son, John Bearcroft (1681-1723), who does not seem to have attended a university or one of the inns of court, and who was living in Bristol at the time of his marriage in 1711. It seems possible that he was apprenticed to a Bristol solicitor and later followed that trade, but I have not found any clear evidence for this. He and his wife produced nine children in the twelve short years of their marriage, but of these only five survived to maturity. The heir to the Mere Hall estate was Edward Bearcroft (1715-93), who more certainly had a legal training but used it almost entirely as a tool to promote his own interests at the expense of his clients and even his own family. He has been described as 'cunning, violent, unscrupulous, and deliberately and systematically dishonest', and although he was not always successful in his schemes, his wickedness - which may well have extended to infanticide - never met with the come-uppance it deserved. Perhaps fortunately, he had no legitimate children, and when he died his estate passed to his niece, Frances Dickenson (1751-1820), who later married Capt. John Weir (d. 1812). She had no children either, with the result that the estate passed under her uncle's will to her third cousin once removed, Edward Henry Longcroft (1790-1832), on condition that he took the name Bearcroft.

Longcroft's father was a naval officer who retired on health grounds in 1784 and took up coastguard duties in Pembrokeshire, where he was involved in repulsing the attempted French invasion in 1798. Edward Henry Longcroft (later Bearcroft) was brought up in Haverfordwest and became a militia officer there. After he inherited Mere Hall he moved to Worcestershire and carried out an updating and remodelling of the old house which must have been much needed. His eldest son, Edward Bearcroft (1816-86) inherited Mere Hall in 1832 and only came of age five years later. His wife, from a Pembrokeshire family, died from complications following childbirth in 1852, and he never married again. He was a typical Victorian gentleman, filling a role in the militia and, more enthusiastically, on the magistrates' bench, and serving his term as High Sheriff. His only son, Edward Hugh Bearcroft (1852-1932) was from a similar mould, although in his case the militia was his main field of operations, and he saw active service in South Africa. He had no surviving children, and let Mere Hall to his wife Catherine (1855-1933) for life and then to his first cousin, once removed, Lt-Col. Ernest Charles Lister Bearcroft (1899-1970), an officer in the Royal Marines. His only son, Charles John Edward Bearcroft (1935-2003) found it impossible to maintain the house and estate, and was made bankrupt in 1972, after which the estate was sold out of the family.

Mere Hall, Worcestershire

The estate, originally known as Mere Green Hall, is reputed to have belonged to the Bearcrofts since the 14th century, and a much later bressumer on the current entrance front has the carved date 1337, which may be intended to refer to their acquisition of the property. The present house is a large and well preserved timber-framed manor house, consisting of a central hall range with two large gabled cross-wings, the timbers of which have provided a dendro-date of c.1611, which accords well with the stylistic evidence. The whole house is built of close studding, with large diagonal struts, although the jettied second storey of the hall range has herringbone struts and five charming little gables set above a continuous row of mullioned windows which either lit a long gallery or were intended to suggest that they did. The rear of the hall range has a stone chimney-breast with four star-shaped stacks, now surrounded by later additions. Inside, the house preserves much 17th century panelling, the best in the dining room in the west wing, which also has a fine wooden chimneypiece with arches and caryatids.

Mere Hall, Hanbury: the house in about 1910. Image: Country Life.

The first alterations were made to the house in about 1691, presumably for John Bearcroft (1649-1700). These included replacing the porch, originally set off-centre at the end of a screens passage, with the current open central porch, with thin barley-twist Corinthian columns and an open pediment; adding the pretty fretted central lantern that crowns the house; and laying out the attractive forecourt, which had brick walls topped with iron railings, two square corner pavilions with elegantly sweeping ogee roofs, and fine iron gates. The carved date of 1337 on the front of the house may have been cut at this time, since it is known that the family began asserting their ancient gentility at this time.

Mere Hall, Hanbury: the house from the north-east in c.1910, across the octagonal fish pond. Image: Country Life. 

The house was next altered in the early 19th century, when there were two phases of work. In the first, the delicate Gothick glazing on the entrance front was inserted, and soon afterwards, in 1828, Matthew Habershon carried out substantial alterations for Edward Henry Bearcroft, adding a large south-west service wing of painted brick and creating a new staircase hall. 

Mere Hall, Hanbury: the house from the north in 2019. Image: Jeff Gogarty. Some rights reserved.

In the 20th century, the forecourt lost its original late 17th century gates and railings, presumably as Second World War salvage. In their place, new more widely spaced brick piers were constructed, supporting simplified iron gates  and a lower overthrow. The house has been restored more recently by the present owners. 

Descent: Thomas Bearcroft (fl. 1542); to son, John Bearcroft (c.1550-1620); to son, Philip Bearcroft (c.1589-1643); to son, John Bearcroft (b. c.1618-85); to son, John Bearcroft (1649-1700); to son, John Bearcroft (1681-1723); to son, Edward Bearcroft (1715-93); to niece, Frances Dickenson (1751-1820), later the wife of Capt. John Weir (d. 1812); to third cousin once removed, Edward Henry Longcroft (later Bearcroft) (1790-1832); to widow, Elizabeth Bearcroft (1786-1848) for life and then to son, Edward Bearcroft (1816-86); to son, Edward Hugh Bearcroft (1852-1932); to widow, Catherine Elizabeth Bearcroft (d. 1933) and then to first cousin once removed, Lt-Col. Ernest Charles Lister Bearcroft (1899-1970); to son, Charles John Edward Bearcroft (1935-2003), who sold 1975 to Mr. & Mrs. Duggins; sold 1983 to Mr & Mrs Edward Stearn; sold 2000 to Edward Dean Butler (fl. 2021).

Bearcroft of Mere Hall

Bearcroft, John (c.1550-1620?). Eldest son of Thomas Bearcroft (fl. 1542) of Mere Hall and his wife Anne, daughter of Thomas Laker alias Foxley of Foxley (Lancs), born about 1550. He married 1st, 1 June 1579 at Leigh (Worcs), Margery (d. c.1587), daughter of Humphrey Archer (1528-62) of Tanworth in Arden, and 2nd, 6 May 1588 at Hanbury, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey Jennetts of Norgrove (Worcs), and had issue:

(1.1) John Bearcroft (d. 1595); he is said to have married Mary, only daughter of Sir John Herbert (c.1540-1617), Secretary of State and one of the Masters of Requests, and had issue a daughter, but her only recorded marriage (in 1595/6) was to Sir William Dodington (1572-1638), kt. and it seems likely that he was not old enough to marry before he died in the lifetime of his father, and was buried at Hanbury, 1 December 1595;

(1.2) Thomas Bearcroft (b. 1579), baptised at Hanbury, 3 December 1579; probably died young;

(1.3) Anne Bearcroft (b. c.1580), born about 1580; married, 26 October 1607 at Hanbury, Thomas Wylde of Hanbury Astwood and had issue three sons and one daughter;

(1.4) Richard Bearcroft (b. 1581), baptised at Hanbury, 22 December 1581; probably died young;

(1.5) Andrew Bearcroft (b. & d. 1583), baptised at Hanbury, 25 January 1582/3; died in infancy and was buried 7 February 1582/3;

(1.6) Margery Bearcroft (b. 1584), baptised at Hanbury, 14 March 1583/4; married, 26 January 1606/7 at Hanbury, Robert Hanley;

(1.7) Thomas Bearcroft (1584-1651), baptised at Hanbury, 30 March 1584; draper; married 1st, 10 June 1607 at Hanbury, Joan Cooke, and 2nd, 13 June 1613 at Hanbury, Bridget (d. 1656), daughter of John Hanbury of Hanbury (Worcs), and had issue nine sons and two daughters; died 1651;

(1.8) Richard Bearcroft (b. 1585), baptised at Hanbury, 6 February 1584/5; married and had issue one son and four daughters;

(1.9) Edward alias Edmund Bearcroft (1587-1639), baptised at Hanbury, 1 May 1587; clothier in Worcester; married but died without issue; buried at Hanbury, 13 July 1639;

(2.1) Philip Bearcroft (c.1589-1643) (q.v.);

(2.2) Elizabeth Bearcroft (d. 1595); buried at Hanbury, 29 January 1594/5;

(2.2) Elinor Bearcroft (b. 1593); married, 1 July 1617 at Hanbury, Philip Dobbins.

He inherited the Mere Hall estate from his father and probably built the present house c.1611.

He may be the John Berecroft, gent., buried at Hanbury, 27 September 1620. His first wife must have died in 1587 or early 1588. His second wife's date of death is unknown.

Bearcroft, Philip (c.1589-1643). Only son of John Bearcroft (c.1550-1620?) by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey Jennetts of Norgrove Court, Feckenham, born about 1589. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1607; BA 1609) and Middle Temple (admitted 1610). He married, reputedly in 1614 but perhaps a few years later, Elizabeth (fl. 1647), daughter and co-heiress of Sir Francis Egiock (d. 1622), kt., of Egiock in Inkberrow (Worcs), and had issue:

(1) John Bearcroft (1619-85) (q.v.);

(2) Francis Bearcroft (b. 1622), of Tibberton (Worcs), baptised at Hanbury, 23 June 1622; married, before 1649, Mary (b. c.1610; fl. 1682), daughter of Thomas Harris of Crowle (Worcs) and widow of Rev. Walter Glisson (d. c.1639) of Marnhull (Dorset), and had issue three sons and six daughters; living in 1682;

(3) Anne Bearcroft (b. 1628), baptised at Hanbury, 17 February 1627/8; married Edmund Coucher of Clifton and Ledbury (Herefs), and had issue three sons and at least one daughter;

(4) Philip Bearcroft (1630-69), of Worcester, baptised at Hanbury, 29 March 1630; married Edborow (d. 1681), daughter of Giles Smart of Gloucester, and had issue one son; buried at St Michael, Worcester, 28 September 1669;

(5) Eleanor Bearcroft (b. 1633), baptised at Hanbury, 23 May 1633; married John Tombs of Worcester;

(6) Humphrey Bearcroft (1635-69), of Bristol, baptised at Hanbury, 20 May 1635; married Alice, daughter of [forename unknown] Martin of Bristol, apothecary; died 1669;

(7) Mary Bearcroft (b. 1636), baptised at Hanbury, 24 August 1636.

He inherited Mere Hall from his father, probably in 1620.

He was buried 8 August 1643. His widow was living in 1647 but her date of death is unknown.

Bearcroft, John (1619-85). Eldest son of Philip Bearcroft (c.1589-1643) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir Francis Egiock (d. 1622), kt., baptised at Feckenham, 7 March 1618/9. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1635) and Grays Inn (admitted 1641). His allegiance in the Civil War is uncertain. JP for Worcestershire. He married, 5 September 1644 at Hanbury, Frances (c.1619-84), daughter of Edward Vernon (d. c.1658) of Hanbury Astwood (Worcs), and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Bearcroft (b. 1645), baptised at Hanbury, 19 May 1645; married, 6 August 1674 at Hanbury, Rev. George Fayting, rector of All Hallows in Worcester;

(2) Philip Bearcroft (1646-74), baptised at Hanbury, 31 December 1646; educated at Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1672); died unmarried in the lifetime of his father, 1674;

(3) John Bearcroft (1649-1700) (q.v.);

(4) Eleanor Bearcroft (1651-77), baptised at Hanbury, 18 September 1651; married, 24 April 1676 at All Saints, Worcester, Thomas Lacy of Feckenham (Worcs); buried at Feckenham, 30 January 1676/7;

(5) Frances Bearcroft (1654-91?), baptised at Hanbury, 22 April 1654; married, 23 September 1680 at Hanbury, John Mence of Woodrow Green, Hanbury, gent; perhaps the 'Frances Mence of Stoke Prior' buried at Hanbury, 20 July 1691;

(6) Edward Bearcroft (1656-57), baptised at Hanbury, 22 November 1656; died in infancy and was buried at Hanbury, 16 January 1656/7;

(7) Edward Bearcroft (1657-1744) (q.v.).

He inherited Mere Hall from his father in 1643.

He died 11 March and was buried at Hanbury. 13 March 1684/5, where he and his wife are commemorated by a monument. His wife died 16 November and was buried at Hanbury, 18 November 1684.

Bearcroft, John (1649-1700). Second, but oldest surviving, son of John Bearcroft (1619-85) and his wife Frances, daughter of Edward Vernon of Hanbury Astwood, baptised at Hanbury, 15 February 1648/9. Educated at Wadham College, Oxford (matriculated 1667; BA 1670; MA 1673). He married, 16 October 1677 at Wolverhampton (Staffs), Sarah (c.1659-1700), daughter of Richard Bracegirdle (d. 1677) of Wolverhampton, apothecary, and sister of the actress, Anne Bracegirdle (c.1663-1748), and had issue:

(1) Frances Bearcroft (b. 1678), baptised at Hanbury, 3 September 1678; living in 1711;

(2) John Bearcroft (1681-1723) (q.v.);

(3) Philip Bearcroft (b. 1685), baptised at Hanbury, 10 June 1685; died without issue.

He lived at Shernock Court (Worcs) and inherited Mere Hall from his father.

He died 1 January 1699/1700, and was buried at Hanbury, where he is commemorated on his father's monument. His widow died 19 December 1700 and was buried at Hanbury, 22 December 1700.

Bearcroft, John (1681-1723). Elder son of John Bearcroft (1649-1700) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Richard Bracegirdle of Wolverhampton (Staffs), baptised at Feckenham (Worcs), 23 March 1681. He married, 3 April 1711 at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Jane (1686-1768), daughter of Benjamin Perrott of Oldswinford (Worcs) and later of Bristol, glass maker, and had issue:

(1) John Bearcroft (b. & d. 1712), born at Temple Gate, Bristol, 28 July 1712; died in infancy and was buried at Hanbury, 20 September 1712;

(2) Jane Bearcroft (1713-51), born 21 July, and baptised at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, 26 July 1713; married, 9 August 1748 at All Saints, Evesham (Worcs), Thomas Dickenson (1717-51) of Worcester, grocer, and had issue a daughter (Frances Dickenson (1751-1820), who inherited Mere Hall for life from her uncle, married Capt. John Weir (d. 1812) and died without issue, whereupon the estate passed under her uncle's will to Edward Henry Longcroft (c.1790-1832), on condition that he took the name Bearcroft); buried at St Nicholas, Worcester, 11 August 1751;

(3) Edward Bearcroft (1715-93) (q.v.);

(4) Frances Bearcroft (1716-41), baptised at Hanbury, 19 July 1716; died unmarried and was buried at Hanbury, 30 July 1741;

(5) John Bearcroft (b. 1717), baptised at Hanbury, 6 August 1717; an officer in the Royal Navy (Lt. 1746); died unmarried;

(6) Mary Bearcroft (b. 1718), baptised at Hanbury, 22 July 1718; living in 1758 but probably died unmarried;

(7) Benjamin Bearcroft (1719-23), baptised at Hanbury, 3 October 1719; died young and was buried at Hanbury, 10 March 1722/3;

(8) Elizabeth Bearcroft (b. 1721), baptised at Hanbury, 2 November 1721; living in 1758 but probably died unmarried; 

(9) Sarah Bearcroft (1723-36), baptised at Hanbury, 18 November 1723; died young, 3 December 1736.

When first married he lived at Temple Gate, Bristol. He inherited Mere Hall from his father in 1700.

He was buried at Hanbury, 15 November 1723, where he is commemorated by a monument erected c.1800 to the design of W. Stephens of Worcester (which says, presumably incorrectly, that he died in September 1723). His widow is said to have been confined in asylum for a time as a result of her son's attempts to overturn the provision of her jointure; she died 26 January and was buried at Hanbury, 28 January 1768 (though the monument to her husband gives her year of death as 1769).

Bearcroft, Edward (1715-93). Second, but eldest surviving, son of John Bearcroft (1681-1723) and his wife Jane Perrott, born at Temple Gate, Bristol, 29 May and baptised at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, 1 June 1715. A solicitor, who has been characterised as "cunning, violent, unscrupulous, and deliberately and systematically dishonest", although he could evidently be charming and plausible when it suited his purpose. As a young man, he was charged at Bristol Assizes with the murder of his own illegitimate child, though he was evidently not convicted, reputedly because his mother spent a large sum of money on his defence. He subsequently challenged his mother’s jointure and this upset her so much that she was deemed insane and committed to an asylum. In 1754 he set up in business as a solicitor in Droitwich and set out to batten on the Compton family of Hindlip (Worcs) and Hartpury (Glos), for whom he acted for some years, scheming to gain control of their estates by exercising undue influence on the young Compton baronets, whom he had encouraged in drunkenness and dissipation.  In 1762 he eloped to Gretna Green with, and married, their sister, Catherine Maria (1741-75), daughter of Sir William Compton (d. 1758), 3rd bt., of Hartpury Court (Glos) and Hindlip Hall (Worcs), but they had no issue and separated after he became violent towards her and threw her out of his house. After her brother's death in 1773 he inherited a moiety of the Compton estates in her right. A chance meeting with his wife in 1774 led him to attempt to abduct her and force her to sign over property she held in her own right to him, but in this he was foiled. In his later years, he established a mistress called Betty Heming at one of his properties, Broughton House, Broughton Green, but there is no evidence they had any children. 

He inherited Mere Hall from his father in 1723, and progressively enlarged the estate through the purchase of adjacent farms. He lived in Droitwich rather than at Mere Hall, which was probably let to farming tenants.

He was buried at Hanbury, 11 January 1793; his will was proved in the PCC, 29 April 1793. His wife was buried at Hindlip (Worcs), 8 May 1775.

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Bearcroft, Edward (1657-1744). Fourth and youngest son of John Bearcroft (1619-85) and his wife Frances, daughter of Edward Vernon of Hanbury Astwood, baptised at Hanbury, 10 January 1657/8. A lawyer at Clements Inn and an official in the Chancery Office. He married, 1691 (licence 28 April), Susanna (b. 1668), daughter of Henry Byne (1629-97) of Carshalton (Surrey), and had issue:

(1) Edward Bearcroft (c.1693-1721) (q.v.).

He evidently lived in London and later at Carshalton.

He was buried at Carshalton, 2 May 1744; his will was proved in the PCC, 28 May 1744. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Bearcroft, Edward (c.1693-1721). Only recorded son of Edward Bearcroft (1657-1744) and his wife Susan, daughter of Henry Byne of Carshalton (Surrey), born about 1693. Educated at Queen's and Merton Colleges, Oxford (matriculated 1709; BA 1712; MA 1715) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1713), and then undertook a Grand Tour, visiting Venice and Padua in 1717, when he was described as 'fellow in Oxford'; he was probably briefly a fellow of Merton College, Oxford. While in Venice he had a meeting with the Old Pretender, and was suspected of Jacobite sympathies. He married, c.1718, Elizabeth [surname unknown] (c.1692-1780), and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Bearcroft (c.1720-c.1790) (q.v.).

He lived at Merton (Surrey).

He was buried at Carshalton (Surrey), 15 August 1721. His widow died aged 88 and was buried at Kew (Surrey), 31 May 1780.

Bearcroft, Elizabeth (c.1720-c.1790). Only recorded daughter of Edward Bearcroft (c.1693-1721) of Merton (Surrey), and his wife, born about 1720. She married, 12 April 1743 at Charterhouse chapel, Finsbury (Middx), Robert Longcroft (1714-85), a grocer, merchant and privateer of Portsmouth (Hants) (bankrupt, 1745), who was later a potter at Brentford (bankrupt again, 1754) and later of Kew (Surrey) and Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick (Middx), son of Thomas Longcroft, and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Longcroft (1745-1816), baptised at Portsea (Hants), 2 August 1745; married 1st, 12 July 1763 at Chiswick (Middx), James Powell (c.1733-67), and had issue two sons and one daughter; married 2nd, 11 December 1777 at St Clement Danes, London, Rev. John Smythies (1733-1816), rector of St Mary Magdalene, Colchester and younger son of the Rev. Palmer Smythies of Colchester, and had further issue one son and one daughter; died soon after her husband, 30 October 1816;

(2) Mary Longcroft (1746-1834), baptised at Kew, 16 September 1746; died unmarried and was buried at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath, 27 December 1834; 

(3) Edward Longcroft (1750-1812) (q.v.);

(4) Susan  Longcroft (1756-1847), born 16 August and baptised at Chiswick (Middx), 4 September 1756; died unmarried in Bath aged 91 and was buried at St Swithin, Walcot, 13 November 1847; will proved 2 December 1847;

(5) Thomas Longcroft (1760-1811), born 24 February and baptised at Chiswick, 4 March 1760; travelled to India as personal assistant to the painter, Johann Zoffany (who was a neighbour of his parents in Chiswick), 1783, and became his pupil and a talented amateur artist; after several years he quarrelled with Zoffany and bought some land on which to establish an indigo plantation at Koil near Aligarh, which seems to have been moderately successful; he took an Indian mistress (Moburrick Johan), to whom he left much of his property when he died, 31 July 1811, but there is no evidence that he had any children.

She and her husband lived first at Portsmouth, and later at Kew and Chiswick.

She probably died before 1792. Her husband died 10 September and was buried at Chiswick, 21 September 1785.

Longcroft, Capt. Edward (1750-1812). Elder son of Robert Longcroft of Kew (Surrey) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Bearcroft, baptised at Kew (Surrey), 9 January 1750/1. An officer in the Royal Navy (Midshipman, 1769; Lt., 1778; Cmdr., 1782; Capt., 1809); retired from active service on health grounds, 1784, and was subsequently a Coastguard officer in Pembrokeshire, where he was involved in repelling the attempted French invasion of 1797. He may have married 1st, 28 May 1775 at Bermondsey, Mary White, and 2nd, 30 May 1782 in Kingston (Jamaica), Elizabeth (c.1760-1809), daughter of [forename unknown] Baylis, reputedly of the Lloyney, Beguildy (Radnors.), and had issue:

(1.1) Edward Longcroft (b. 1776), baptised at St Olave, Bermondsey, 7 January 1776; died young;

(2.1) Richard Thomas Longcroft; perhaps born in Jamaica; said to have died in infancy;

(2.2) Edward Henry Longcroft (later Bearcroft) (1790-1832) (q.v.);

(2.3) Elizabeth Augusta Longcroft (1792-1869), baptised at Laugharne, 16 March 1792 and again at Haverfordwest, 12 June 1799; married, 7 May 1815 at Haverfordwest, Capt. William Butler (c.1792-1867), an officer in the Royal Pembrokeshire Fusiliers, and had issue six sons and five daughters; died 22 December and was buried at Haverfordwest, 28 December 1869; administration of goods granted to a daughter, 3 May 1870 (effects under £100);

(2.4) Frances Longcroft (d. 1799); died in infancy and was buried at Haverfordwest, 22 April 1799;

(2.5) Charlotte Longcroft (1799-1866), baptised at Haverfordwest, 12 June 1799; married, 23 March 1819 at Haverfordwest, Thomas Lloyd (1793-1857) of Coedmore, Llangoedmore (Cardigans.), Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire, son of Thomas Lloyd (d. 1810) of Coedmore, and had issue four sons and one daughter; died 5 May 1866; her will was proved 10 July 1866 (effects under £14,000);

(2.6) Charles Richard Longcroft (1804-88), of Llanina House (Cardigans.), baptised at Llanarth, 4 November 1804; High Sheriff of Cardiganshire, 1834-35; inherited Llanina House with his sister Charlotte from their godfather, Edward Warren Jones; married 1st, before 1836, Sarah [surname unknown], and had issue; married 2nd, 12 June 1886 at Llanina (Cardigans.), Amelia, daughter of Petro Dusar, teacher of languages; died 20 May and was buried at Llanarth (Cardigans.), 25 May 1888.

He lived latterly at Llanina House (Cardigans), the home of his close friend, Edward Warren Jones, who left it to his younger son and daughter.

He died 16 August, and was buried at Llanarth, 20 August 1812; his will was proved in the PCC, 27 April 1813. His first wife's date of death is unknown. His widow died 23 February and was also buried at Llanarth, 28 February 1809.

Longcroft (later Bearcroft), Edward Henry (1790-1832). Second but eldest surviving son of Edward Longcroft (1750-1812) and his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of [forename unknown] Baylis, reputedly of the Lloyney (Radnors), baptised at Laugharne (Pembs), 24 July 1790. An officer in the Royal Pembroke Militia (Capt., 1811) and Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry (Capt., 1831). He changed his name from Longcroft to Bearcroft in 1822 after inheriting the Mere Hall estate. He married, 8 October 1812 at Aberteifi (Cardigans), Elizabeth (1786-1848), daughter of James Bowen of Pantyderi (Pembs), and had issue:

(1) Frances Elizabeth Bearcroft (1814-87), baptised at Haverfordwest, 30 March 1814; a keen amateur toxophilist; lived at Broughton Court, Hanbury; died unmarried, 28 November, and was buried at Hanbury, 2 December 1887;

(2) Charlotte Augusta Bearcroft (1815-16), baptised at Haverfordwest (Pembs), 5 April 1815; died in infancy and was buried at Haverfordwest, 9 April 1816;

(3) Edward Bearcroft (1816-86) (q.v.);

(4) Rev. James Bearcroft (1817-98) (q.v.);

(5) Rev. Thomas Bearcroft (1818-77), baptised at Haverfordwest, 26 December 1818; educated at Bromsgrove Grammar School and Queen's College, Oxford (matriculated 1838; BA 1842; MA 1847); ordained deacon, 1844 and priest, 1845; curate of Pontesbury (Shrops.) and rector of Fitz (Shrops.), 1867-77; a keen amateur toxophilist; married, 2 January 1868 at Edstaston (Shrops.), Mary Hester Lilly Rosalie (1828-97), daughter of Sir Orde John Honyman, 3rd bt., and had issue a daughter; died 2 February and was buried at Edstaston, 7 February 1877;

(6) Henry Bearcroft (1820-89), of Droitwich, baptised at Haverfordwest, 6 December 1820; solicitor; clerk to Droitwich Board of Guardians, 1847-89; also farmer and hop-grower; married, 1852, Ellen (1831-1902), daughter of George Vernon of Hanbury, and had issue one son and two daughters; died 26 May and was buried at Hanbury, 30 May 1889; will proved 2 December 1889 (estate £18,832);

(7) twin?, Charles Philip Bearcroft (1824-41), baptised at Hanbury, 1 January 1825; died young and was buried at Hanbury, 14 May 1841;

(8) twin?, Charlotte Augusta Bearcroft (1825-65), baptised at Hanbury, 1 January 1825; married, 1 September 1857 at Hanbury, James William Bowen of Clynfiew (Carmarthens) and Middle Temple, barrister-at-law, and had issue one son and one daughter; died 14 January 1865;

(9) Marianne Bearcroft (1826-1916), baptised at Hanbury, 12 September 1826; a keen amateur toxophilist; married, 26 September 1865 at Hanbury, as his second wife, Rev. Theodore John Cartwright (c.1806-67), rector of Preston Bagot (Warks); died aged 89 on 15 August 1916; will proved 18 October 1916 (estate £286).

He inherited Mere Hall from his distant cousin, Frances Weir, in 1820. After his death the house passed to his widow for life and she let it for some years to Edwin Shelton, a retired Birmingham businessman, before returning to the house at the end of her life.

He died 5 November and was buried at Hanbury, 13 November 1832; his will was proved in the PCC, 31 May 1833. His widow died 14 December and was buried at Hanbury, 22 December 1848.

Bearcroft, Edward (1816-86). Eldest son of Edward Henry Bearcroft (1790-1832) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Bowen of Pantyderry (Pembs), baptised at Haverfordwest (Pembs), 1 June 1816. Educated at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. An officer in the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1836). JP (from 1843) and DL for Worcestershire; Chairman of Droitwich Petty Sessions c.1859-84; High Sheriff of Worcestershire, 1854-55. A Conservative in politics. He suffered from blindness in his later years. He married, 11 February 1850 at Cilgerran (Pembs), Eliza (c.1821-52), third daughter of John Colby of Ffynone (Pembs), and had issue:

(1) Edward Hugh Bearcroft (1852-1932) (q.v.).

He inherited Mere Hall on the death of his mother in 1848.

He died 31 December 1886 and was buried at Hanbury, 6 January 1887; his will was proved 8 June 1887 (estate £8,770). His wife died of complications following childbirth on 23 June and was buried at Hanbury, 29 June 1852.

Bearcroft, Edward Hugh (1852-1932). Only child of Edward Bearcroft (1816-86) and his wife Eliza, third daughter of John Colby of Ffynone (Pembs), born 25 March 1852. Educated at Eton. An officer in the Worcestershire militia (Lt., 1871; Capt., 1877; Maj., 1887; Lt-Col., 1897; hon. Col., 1897), who served in South Africa; appointed CB, 1903. JP for Worcestershire. He married, 10 July 1877 at Abergwili (Carmarthens), Catherine Elizabeth (1855-1933), only daughter of Capt. Grismond Philipps of Cwmgwilly, and had issue:

(1) Eliza Mary Bearcroft (b. & d. 1878), born 15 July 1878; died in infancy, 11 August 1878.

He lived at the Manor House, Feckenham until he inherited Mere Hall from his father in 1886. At his death the house passed to his widow, and on her death the following year to his first cousin once removed, Lt-Col. E.C.L. Bearcroft.

He died 27 January 1932; his will was proved 9 August 1932 (estate £47,398). His widow died 5 December 1933; her will was proved 29 January and 4 July 1934 (estate £44,904).

Bearcroft, Rev. James (1817-98). Second son of Edward Henry Bearcroft (1852-1932) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Bowen of Pantyderi (Pembs), born 10 January 1817. Educated at Oriel College, Oxford. Ordained deacon 1841 and priest, 1842. Curate of St Peter, Droitwich, 1841-42; Rector of Hadzor (later Hadzor with Oddingley) (Worcs), 1842-98; he also ran a small boarding school in his rectory. He married, 10 October 1848 at Feckenham (Worcs), Margaret Ann (1823-1901), daughter of Rev. Richard Ingram, rector of St Peter, Droitwich, and had issue:

(1) Philip Bearcroft (1849-1912), born about 10 December 1849 and baptised at Hadzor, 7 January 1850; educated at Keble College, Oxford (matriculated 1871; BA 1874; MA 1879); schoolmaster at Giggleswick School (Yorks WR); died unmarried, 1 June 1912; will proved 19 June 1912 (estate £3,424);

(2) Adm. John Edward Bearcroft (1851-1931), born 18 August and baptised at Hadzor, 15 September 1851; an officer in the Royal Navy (entered Navy, 1864; Sub-Lt., 1870; Lt., 1871; Cmdr. 1888; Capt., 1895; Rear-Adm., 1906; Vice-Adm. 1910; Adm. 1913; retired from active service, 1906); Admiral-Superintendent of contract-built ships on River Clyde, 1906-11; in retirement lived at Torwood, Bowling (Dunbartons.); appointed CB, 1900 and MVO, 1904; married, 26 April 1892, Katherine (c.1858-98), daughter of William P. Howell of Mydrim (Carmarthens.), but had no issue; died 5 September 1931; will confirmed in Scotland, 17 November 1931 (estate £4,760);

(3) Reginald Bearcroft (1853-1914), born 24 April and baptised at Hadzor, 25 May 1853; engineer; manager of the Pimlico Wheel Works in 1881; a freemason from 1886; married 1st, 18 September 1879 at St Silas, Glasgow, Elise Jessie (c.1853-80), second daughter of Henry Dubs of Glasgow, and 2nd, c.1885, perhaps in America, and again, 27 August 1908* at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), Millicent Agnes (d. 1938), daughter of Henry Wigmore, mining engineer, and widow of [forename unknown] Fullwood, but had no issue; died 24 January and was buried at Smarden (Kent), 30 January 1914; will proved 24 March 1914 (estate £4,041);

(4) Arthur James Bearcroft (1855-1920), baptised at Hadzor, 10 June 1855; solicitor; a freemason from 1893; married, 12 October 1898 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster (Middx), Mary Elizabeth (1859-1920), daughter of James William Bowen, barrister-at-law, but had no issue; died 1 January 1920; will proved 6 February 1920 (estate £1,358);

(5) Henry Ingram Bearcroft (1857-1912), baptised at Hadzor, 6 November 1857; an officer in the merchant navy (apprentice, 1873; second mate, 1877; mate, 1880; master mariner, 1886) and Royal Naval Reserve (2nd Lt., 1881); died unmarried, 10 August 1912; administration of goods granted to his brother Arthur, 19 June 1912 (estate £891);

(6) William Fortescue Bearcroft (1859-1919), locomotive engineer; married, 26 October 1890 in Malta, Catherine (c.1854-1905), daughter of Rev. John Till, vicar of Gnosall (Staffs), and had issue one daughter; died in Egypt, 4 January 1919; will proved 3 September 1919 (estate £2,478);

(7) Charles Richard Douglas Bearcroft (1866-1930) (q.v.).

He died 26 March 1898; his will was proved 23 July 1898 (effects £3,430). His widow died 17 October 1901; her will was proved 28 December 1901 (estate £1,259).

* The marriage in 1908 appears to have been regularising a long-standing but perhaps informal or undocumented relationship; in the 1911 census the couple say they have been married for 26 years.

Bearcroft, Charles Richard Douglas (1866-1930). Seventh and youngest son of Rev. James Bearcroft (1817-98) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Rev. Richard Ingram, born 21 January and baptised at Hadzor (Worcs), 1 April 1866. Electrical engineer. A freemason from 1903. He married, 10 May 1894 at Yaverland (IoW), Marion Emily (1862-1930), daughter of James Brown Simpson (later Lister) (d. 1871) of the Inner Temple and Dunsa Bank, Kirkby Ravensworth (Yorks NR), and had issue:

(1) Margaret Nora Bearcroft (1895-1968), born 5 March and baptised at Teddington (Middx), 1 April 1895; served in Second World War with Red Cross (Commandant, Surrey); married, 10 August 1921 at Wimbledon (Surrey), Raymond Charles Tottenham (1890-1967), son of Rev. Charles Francis Bosvile Tottenham, but had no issue; died 6 June 1968;

(2) Lt-Col. Ernest Charles Lister Bearcroft (1899-1970) (q.v.).

He died 19 February and was buried at Wimbledon (Surrey), 22 February 1930. His widow died 26 March and was also buried at Wimbledon, 29 March 1930.

Bearcroft, Lt-Col. Ernest Charles Lister (1899-1970). Only recorded son of Charles Richard Douglas Bearcroft (1866-1930) and his wife Marion Emily, daughter of James Lister of Dunsa Bank, Kirkby Ravensworth (Yorks NR), baptised at St James, Hampton Hill (Middx), 4 February 1899. An officer in the Royal Marines, who served in the First and Second World Wars (2nd Lt., 1916; Lt., 1919; Capt. 1927; Maj., 1936; Lt-Col., 1940; retired 1943); JP (from 1939) and DL (from 1963) for Worcestershire; High Sheriff of Worcestershire, 1947. A freemason from 1920. He married, 21 December 1926, Enid Frances Charlotte (1902-73), eldest daughter of Dr. John Llewellyn Rees of Pontardawe (Glam.), and had issue:

(1) Joan Enid Lister Bearcroft (b. 1931), born in Malta, 25 September 1931; emigrated to Kenya; married, 24 October 1957, Peter Bayley Ransom (1934-2001), farmer and amateur jockey, and had issue one son;

(2) Charles John Edward Bearcroft (1935-2003) (q.v.).

He inherited Mere Hall from his first cousin once removed in 1933.

He died 21 May 1970; his will was proved 11 January 1971 (estate £13,656). His widow died 22 April 1973; her will was proved 10 September 1973 (estate £17,279).

Bearcroft, Charles John Edward (1935-2003). Only son of Lt-Col. Ernest Charles Lister Bearcroft (1899-1970) and his wife Enid Frances Charlotte, eldest daughter of Dr. John Llewellyn Rees of Pontardawe (Glam), born 8 April 1935. Farmer; made bankrupt, 1972 (discharged 1977). He married, Apr-June 1963 (div.), Caroline F. Pereira (b. 1942), and had issue:

(1) Edward Patrick Charles Bearcroft (b. 1964), born 9 June 1964; IT consultant; married, Oct-Dec 1994, Catherine A. Marriott (b. 1966), and had issue one son and one daughter;

(2) Catherine Elizabeth Bearcroft (1966-67), born Jan-Mar 1966; died in infancy, Jan-Mar 1967. 

He inherited Mere Hall from his father but was obliged by bankruptcy to sell it in the 1970s.

He died 2 May 2003. His ex-wife is now living.

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1952, p. 137; J. Nash, History of Worcestershire, vol. 1, 1781, p. 553; R.H. Silcock, 'County Government in Worcestershire, 1603-60', PhD thesis, University of London, 1974; A.D. Harris (ed.), Registers of the church of St Mary the Virgin, Hanbury (Worcestershire), 1577-1715, 1981; J. Berkeley, 'The Compton family of Hartpury Court', Trans. Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, vol. 131 (2013), pp. 13-24; J. Phillips-Evans, The Longcrofts: 500 years of a British family, 2014;

Location of archives

Bearcroft of Mere Hall: deeds and family papers, c.1300-20th cent. [Worcestershire Archives, 705:95 3964; 16050]

Coat of arms

Sable a chevron between three bears' heads razed argent with three swans sable upon the chevron.

Can you help?

• Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
• If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 31 January 2022 and updated 1-2 February 2022.

(505) Beamish of County Cork

Beamish of County Cork

This extensive family trace their origins to the Elizabeth plantation of Munster following the Earl of Desmond's rebellion of 1579-83. One of the original planters was Phane Becher of London, who was granted some 14,000 acres west of Bandon (Co. Cork) on condition that he settled English tenants on the land. The Beamishes seem to have been among these settlers, and they managed to retain their holdings through both the Nine Years War of 1594-1603 (when a Capt. Beamish was leading a company of 100 men in the Queen's army) and the rebellion of 1641 (when Francis Beamish, with whom the genealogy below begins, and his brother Thomas held commissions in the Bandon militia). Their mother, Catherine, who was either the widow or more probably the daughter-in-law of the first Beamish settler, died in 1642, and after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, the family's lands in Co. Cork were confirmed to her sons Richard, Francis and Thomas: all the branches of the family traced below descend from Francis Beamish (d. 1679). 

The core of the family's estate was Kilmalooda near Timoleague (Co. Cork), which passed from Francis Beamish (d. 1679) to his son (d. 1682) and grandson (d. 1749) of the same name. The third Francis died without issue and left the estate to his cousin Francis Beamish (c.1700-62), son of John Beamish (fl. c.1670-1750), the second son of Francis (d. 1679). Francis (d. 1762) in turn left it to his eldest son, Francis (c.1734-c.1810). It was probably his son, Sampson Beamish (1773-1843), who built the present Kilmalooda House in about 1815. His two sons, Thomas (c.1802-74) and Sampson (c.1806-81), married two sisters from the Poole family of Kilrush, and both families seem to have lived at Kilmalooda. Thomas had no children, and Sampson outlived his eldest son, so in 1881 the estate passed to his grandson, Sampson Thomas Beamish (1870-1950), who came of age in 1891. He sold Kilmalooda in 1945 and moved to Ballyadam House, which was retained by his son, Thomas Peter Worthington Beamish (1930-96) until the late 1970s, when it too was sold.

The second branch of the family begins with Richard Beamish (b. c.1720), the fourth son of John Beamish (fl. c.1670-1750), mentioned above, who bought or inherited the Cashelmore estate at Desertserges (Co. Cork) and built a modest house there. Richard was succeeded by his son John Beamish (c.1745-1827), who also acquired the Hare Hill estate nearer to Bandon, where either he or more probably his son John (c.1769-1848) built a larger and more elegant house in the late 1820s. Both properties descended to Thomas Beamish (1802-86), who divided them between his two sons. Cashelmore passed to the elder son, John Beamish (1840-1908), but in this era of agricultural depression the reduced holding could not support his large family, and most of his sons emigrated to make new lives in the colonies. When he died in 1908, his eldest son, Thomas Richard Beamish (1873-1956), returned from South Africa and ran the farm with his youngest brother for a few years, but in about 1912 he sold the estate and moved to Nottinghamshire, where he became a fruit farmer. Hare Hill passed in 1886 to Thomas Beamish's second son, Richard Thomas Beamish (1853-1939). The house was damaged in an arson attack during the Irish Civil War in 1923 but he restored it and continued to live there until his death in 1939. He had no children to inherit the property, however, and it was sold after his death.

The third branch of the family descends from Richard Beamish (b. c.1675), the third son of Francis Beamish (d. 1679). He purchased two estates in County Cork in 1696, which he renamed Willsgrove and Mount Beamish, which he settled on his younger sons, George Beamish (d. 1765), who received Mount Beamish, and William Beamish (c.1714-72), who received Willsgrove. The latter was probably never more than a farm, and William Beamish made a career in the Royal Navy before retiring to Cork. His eldest son, Francis Bernard Beamish (1752-1805), was educated as a barrister, and from 1776-83 served as MP for Rathcormac in the Irish parliament, but his career seems to have been cut short by syphilis or by the mercury treatment he received for it, which made him mentally ill. He sold the Willsgrove estate to the Earl of Bandon before his death. William's third son, William Beamish (1760-1828) was an administrator and an entrepreneur. After a short career in the army, when he saw service in America, he returned to Cork and set up in business as a merchant. In 1791 he formed another partnership to take over a small porter brewery in Cork, which grew rapidly under his direction to be the largest brewery in Ireland (until the 1830s, when it was overtaken by the Guinness brewery in Dublin). His profits enabled him to build a far grander house than any of his family had yet possessed on the outskirts of Cork, which he called Beaumont. When he died in 1828 his share of the brewery company was valued at over £90,000, and was divided among his five surviving younger sons. His eldest son, William Beamish (1790-1838) inherited Beaumont and his second son, Robert Delacour Beamish (1791-1877), a lawyer, may have inherited other investments, as he was able to purchase the Ditchley estate on Little Island (Co. Cork) for himself in the 1830s. The younger William Beamish had two sons, and when he died in 1838 Beaumont passed to the elder, William Beamish (1821-47). He unfortunately died of a fever without marrying or producing a family, with the result that the estate passed to his alcoholic younger brother, John de Courcy Beamish (1822-48), who drank himself to death the following year. After much litigation, the estate then passed to his sister, Anne Thompson, who sold it in the 1850s. Robert Delacour Beamish's estate at Ditchley passed to his son, James Caulfield Beamish (1844-96), who sold it c.1890 after inheriting lands in Co. Mayo and Co. Sligo in right of his second wife. His son, William Robert Delacour Beamish (1879-1946), also inherited property in Scotland from his mother's family, but lived chiefly in London, where he seems to have worked as an engineer, although he also had links to the theatrical world.

The fifth son of William Beamish (1760-1828), the brewer, was North Ludlow Beamish (1796-1872), who pursued a military career during his father's lifetime, and was later in the Hanoverian service. He inherited a fifth of the family's share in the brewery and was the family's representative in the partnership from 1841-63. He was clearly a man of many talents, reflected in his authorship of several books on diverse subjects, a Fellowship of the Royal Society, and a prominent role in the founding of Queen's College, Cork and the Munster Institute. Perhaps as a result of his contacts at the Hanoverian court, he acquired a Swedish wife, thus establishing links with Sweden that endured through several generations. He seems not to have owned a country house of his own, but leased Lota Park and later Annemount (both Co. Cork) after he settled in Ireland. His son, North Ludlow Axel Beamish (1842-1923) had a similarly peripatetic existence, although he apparently settled at Vianstown House near Downpatrick (Co. Down) towards the end of his life.

The sixth son of William Beamish, the brewer, was Richard Beamish (1798-1873), who appears to have enjoyed a turbulent relationship with his parents. After they had scotched his appointment as ADC to Sir Stamford Raffles and refused to countenance his proposed marriage, he determined to make his own way in the world. He moved to England and retrained as a civil engineer, working with Isambard Kingdom Brunel on tunnel and railway projects. Unfortunately he enjoyed poor health, and there were long periods when he was unable to work in the engineering industry but supported himself with teaching. He retired in 1850 and devoted his later years to writing and wide-ranging interests in alternative medicine and philosophy. His elder son, Richard Pigott Beamish (1832-99) returned to Ireland and succeeded his uncle as the family's representative on the board of the Beamish & Crawford brewery. He bought a house called Ashbourne at Glounthaune (Co. Cork) and like his uncle married a Swedish wife. Their elder son, Richard Henrik Beamish (1861-1938) was chairman of the brewery company for the first thirty years of the 20th century. Their daughter, Huldine (1859-1931) married the Swedish Baron Carl Fock (1854-1938) and had five daughters, one of whom later became the beloved first wife of the leading Nazi, Field Marshal Hermann Göring.

The final branch of the family begins with George Beamish (c.1700-65), who was settled at Mount Beamish by his father. He left two sons, and Mount Beamish passed to the elder, the Rev. Samuel Beamish (1754-1834), a clergyman who was vicar of Kinsale, 1799-1826, and sixteen times provost (i.e. mayor) of Bandon. His two eldest sons predeceased him, so Mount Beamish passed to his third son, Dr. John Samuel Beamish (c.1776-1852), who lived and practised in Cork. Described after his death as 'haughty and proud', it is clear that his children lived in fear of him. His eldest son, the Rev. Samuel Swayne Beamish (c.1804-44), formed an attachment to a shop girl which he knew his father would never approve, and so persuaded her to a secret marriage (performed by himself). This led to extensive legal proceedings after his father's death, when attempts were made to establish his son by this liaison as the legitimate heir to the estate. In the end, however, a case in the House of Lords (which established the principle that a clergyman cannot perform his own marriage ceremony) resulted in his brother, Benjamin Swayne Beamish (1806-79) proving his title to the property. However, Benjamin, who had no children, sold it in about 1870.

Kilmalooda House, Kilmalooda, nr. Timoleague, Co. Cork

Kilmalooda House:  the entrance front. Image: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

A handsome if big-boned five-bay house of two storeys over a basement, with a hipped roof and sash windows, reputedly built in 1815 for Sampson Beamish (1770-1843). In 1872, the second Sampson Beamish (d. 1881) commissioned designs from William Henry Hill of Cork for a new house of white brick with stone dressings, the cost of which was estimated at £3,000.

Kilmalooda House: unexecuted scheme for a new house, 1872. Image: Cork Libraries.

However, nothing was done to realise this scheme, and the Georgian house was modernised in 1892 by Kearns D. Roche of Cork, who added a single-storey extension at the rear, roughcast the facades and added plastered quoins and rusticated window surrounds. The broad fan-lit doorcase with side-lights was, of course, the original. Inside, the hall had a fan-lit doorway to the inner hall, from which rose a curving timber staircase, lit by a round-headed window in the rear wall. The rich foliate plasterwork friezes and the joinery with fluted architraves and paterae corner blocks were presumably original. To either side of the hall were large drawing and dining rooms. Tragically, the house was burned down in November 2022, leaving just the four external walls standing.

Descent: Francis Beamish (d. 1679); to son, Francis Beamish (d. 1682); to son, Francis Beamish (c.1680-1749); to cousin, Francis Beamish (c.1700-62); to son, Francis Beamish (c.1734-1810); to son, Sampson Beamish (1770-1843); to son, Thomas Beamish (c.1802-74); to brother, Sampson Beamish (c.1806-81); to grandson, Sampson Thomas Beamish (1870-1950); sold 1945 to Francis Denis MacCarthy-Morrogh (1902-76), who sold 1950 to Sidney Burnett (d. 1972); sold 1975 to Cmdr. Charles Sheridan Moseley (1923-93); to widow, Ursula Anne Marie Moseley (1923-2010); sold 2013...burnt down 2022.

Cashelmore, Desertserges, Co. Cork

A modest three bay two storey gentleman farmer's house of stone, apparently of the 18th century. A round-headed window in the rear wall lights a staircase and indicates the gentility of the builders. A projecting rear wing is also of stone but partly rendered. It is now abandoned, derelict, and superseded by a modern house a little nearer to the road.

Descent: Richard Beamish (b. c.1720); to son, John Beamish (c.1745-1827); to son, John Beamish (c.1769-1848); to son, Thomas Beamish (1802-86); to son, John Beamish (1840-1908); to son, Thomas Richard Beamish (1873-1939), who sold c.1912...

Hare Hill, Bandon, Co. Cork

Hare Hill, Bandon: entrance front. Image: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

A low, five bay, two-storey house, apparently of the late 1820s, probably built for John Beamish (c.1770-1848). It has a low-pitched hipped roof and a central side-entry porch. The house was partially burnt at the end of the Irish Civil War in 1923 but restored c.1925-26 by W.H. Hill & Son of Cork for Richard Beamish.

Descent: probably built for Thomas Beamish (1802-86); to son, Richard Thomas Beamish (1853-1939); sold after his death to Paddy Canniffe of Cappa.

Beaumont, Ballintemple, Cork, Co. Cork

Beaumont House, Ballintemple: the entrance front.

A rather grand three-storey, five-bay house, linked by low wings to taller but still single-storey pavilions with broad bow fronts: the centre of the facade was marked by a six-column portico with a balustraded parapet, but the house lacked a pediment, which would have given it greater coherence. The house had landscaped grounds, with two conservatories. The house became a school in the mid 19th century and was later leased out for a variety of purposes, before being demolished in the 1930s; two primary schools were built on the site c.1968.

Descent: built for William Beamish (1760-1828); to son, William Beamish (1790-1838); to son, William Beamish (1821-47); to brother, John de Courcy Beamish (1822-48); to sister, Anne Jane Margaret (1819-92), wife of Rev. William Hamilton Thompson, who sold c.1855 to Beaumont College; sold 1864... sold after 1900 to Presentation Brothers; demolished 1930s.

Mount Beamish, Co. Cork

The house was described in 1815 as 'much improved and enlarged by its present possessor', the Rev. Samuel Beamish (1753-1834). I have been unable to find any record of its appearance, but the footprint on the 1st edition 6" map suggests that it had a three or five bay front, with a less regular wing to the rear. A gate lodge, set unusually at an angle to both the road and the drive, was in existence by 1841. The house was advertised to be let in 1834 and to be let or sold in 1870, but seems to have remained in the family until at least the late 19th century. It was demolished in the 20th century.

Descent: Richard Beamish (b. c.1675; fl. 1758); to son, George Beamish (c.1700-65); to son, Rev. Samuel Beamish (1753-1834); to son, Dr. John Samuel Beamish (c.1776-1852); to son, Benjamin Swayne Beamish (1806-79), who sold c.1870...

Ditchley House, Little Island, Co. Cork

Ditchley House, Little Island: the house after its conversion to an hotel.

A substantial but plain rendered house, alternatively known as Castle View, of about 1800, perhaps built for Henry St. Leger, who was apparently resident in 1814. It consists of two storeys above a basement, with an entrance front of six bays (five on the ground floor) and eight-bay side elevations. It has a hipped roof behind a solid parapet that sits on a moulded cornice. The severe facades are enlivened by an Ionic fan-lit doorcase in a shallow recess with fluting to the arch-head. 

Ditchley House: the entrance and staircase halls, since conversion to hotel use.

The interiors continue the severe tone of the exterior, with simple late neo-classical friezes, plain ceilings, and joinery with beaded panelling. An archway between the inner and outer halls is a little more elaborately treated, with Ionic pilasters framing the archway and plaster fans filling the spandrels of the arch. A plain staircase with stick balusters rises in a curve against the back wall of the house. The house was sold for redevelopment as an hotel in 1998, and has been greatly extended in a Modernist style, although with sufficient tact to set back the overwhelming three-storey new buildings from the main facades.

Descent: sold c.1840 to Robert Delacour Beamish (1791-1877); to son, James Caulfield Beamish (1844-96), who sold c.1890...sold 1998 for redevelopment as an hotel.

Beamish family of Kilmalooda

Beamish, Francis (d. 1679). Second son of [forename unknown] Beamish, and his wife Catherine (d. 1642). He garrisoned his residence at Kilmalooda during the rebellion of 1641. He married Catherine (d. c.1695), fifth daughter of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon, and had issue:

(1) Francis Beamish (c.1660-82) (q.v.);

(2) John Beamish (b. c.1670; fl. 1750) (q.v.);

(3) Richard Beamish (b. c.1675; fl. 1758) [for whom see Beamish of Willsgrove, Beaumont House and Ditchley House, below];

(4) Thomas Beamish; died unmarried;

(5) Jane Beamish; married, 1700, Simon Leigh;

(6) Catherine Beamish; married William Honnor;

(7) Elizabeth Beamish; married, 1676/7, John Owgane.

He is the first of his family to be recorded as living at Kilmalooda, which was one of a series of estates confirmed to him and his brothers by letters patent under the Act of Settlement, 24 April 20 Charles II, but it seems likely that it was the original seat of the first Beamish settler at the end of the 16th century.

He died in 1679. His widow died in about 1695, when a grant of administration of her goods was made.

Beamish, Francis (c.1660-82). Eldest son of Francis Beamish (d. 1679) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon, born about 1660. He married, 1677/8, Anne (b. c.1655), daughter of John Freke of Garretstown (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Francis Beamish (c.1680-1749) (q.v.);

(2) Anne Beamish (d. c.1699); married, 1697 (licence), James Coppinger (who m2, 1699, Sarah Bayly and 3rd, 1718, Anne Youd, and had further issue) of Timoleague, gent, and had issue one daughter; died in or before 1699.

He inherited Kilmalooda from his father in 1679.

He died in 1682. His widow married 2nd, 1685, John Smith, and had further issue one son; her date of death is unknown.

Beamish, Francis (c.1680-1749). Only son of Francis Beamish (c.1660-82) and his wife Anne, daughter of John Freke of Garretstown (Co. Cork), born about 1680. He married, 3 January 1726/7 at St Nicholas, Cork, Elizabeth (d. 1728), younger daughter of Joseph Jervois (1653-1737) of Brade House, Leap (Co. Cork) and widow of Capt. Percy Smyth of Headborough, Tallow (Co. Waterford), but had no issue.

He inherited Kilmalooda from his father in 1682 and came of age in about 1701. At his death the estate passed to his cousin, Francis Beamish (c.1700-62) (q.v.).

His will was proved in 1749. His wife died in 1728, when administration of her goods was granted.

Beamish, John (b. c.1670; fl. 1750). Second son of Francis Beamish (d. 1679) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon. He married, 1698, Jane Wood of Kinneigh (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Francis Beamish (c.1700-62) (q.v.);

(2) John Beamish, of Lisgibba (Co. Cork); emigrated to America with his son; married, 1736, Mary Good of Kilmeen (Co. Cork), and had issue one son (Richard Beamish, who sold Lisgibba and Kilbelogy to his uncle Francis Beamish and emigrated to America with his father); died in America;

(3) Thomas Beamish; died without issue;

(4) Richard Beamish (b. c.1720; fl. 1758) [for whom see below, Beamish of Castlemore and Hare Hill].

Some accounts of the family also include:

(5) William Beamish; died without issue.

He lived at Keelworough (Co. Cork).

He was living in May 1750 but probably died soon afterwards. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Beamish, Francis (c.1700-62). Eldest son of John Beamish (fl. 1750) and his wife Jane Wood of Kinneigh (Co. Cork), born about 1700. He married, 1726, Mary Warren (d. c.1777) of Kilmichael (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Beamish; married, 1749 (licence 13 September), as his second wife, John Croker (d. 1794) of Nadrid (Co. Cork), and had issue four sons;

(2) Jane Beamish; married, December 1748, Rev. George Wood (d. c.1792), rector of Garryvoe (Co. Cork), and had issue;

(3) Francis Beamish (c.1734-c.1810) (q.v.);

(4) Mary Beamish; married, 1765, William Banfield of Shinnah (Co. Cork), son of William Banfield, but probably had no issue.

He inherited the Kilmalooda estate from his first cousin in 1749, and purchased Lisgibba and Kilbelogy from his nephew Richard Beamish on the latter's emigrating to America.

He was buried at Ballymodan, 27 October 1762. His widow died in about 1777, when her will was proved.

Beamish, Francis (c.1734-c.1810). Only son of Francis Beamish (c.1700-62) and his wife Mary Warren of Kilmichael (Co. Cork), born about 1734. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1752). He married, 16 April 1758, Elizabeth (d. 1803), elder daughter of John Sealy of Richmount (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Francis Beamish (c.1760-1805), of Myrtle Grove, Youghal (Co. Cork), born about 1760; married, 1784, Mary (d. 1817), daughter of Francis Townsend (d. 1774) of Clogheen (Co. Cork), and had issue two sons and three daughters; he died in the lifetime of his father; will proved in 1805;

(2) Eleanor Beamish (c.1762-1838), born about 1762; married, 1784, William Austin (d. 1835), son of William Austin of Waterfall (Co. Cork), and had issue one daughter; died 29 August 1838;

(3) Mary Anne Beamish (c.1765-1803), born about 1765; married, 1797 (licence 14 January), Dr Boyle Travers MD (d. 1825) (who m2, 1822, as her first husband, Dorothy, daughter of Henry Heagarty of Springmount (Co. Cork) and had further issue two sons), second son of Boyle Travers of Ballymacowen (Co. Cork), and had issue three daughters; died 20 May 1803;

(4) Elizabeth Beamish (c.1768-1822), born about 1768; married, 24 May 1788, Richard Gillman (1752-96) of Bandon and Gurteen (Co. Cork), eldest son of John Gillman of Gurteen, and had issue three daughters; died August 1822;

(5) Sampson Beamish (1770-1848) (q.v.);

(6) Dr. John Beamish (1774-1842), baptised at Ballymodan (Co. Cork), 11 July 1774; educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1789) and Edinburgh University (admitted 1793; MD, 1796); physician; lived at Killanear House (Co. Cork) and Bandon (Co. Cork); married, 5 January 1808, Maria, eldest daughter of John Teulon (1791-1861) of Cork, and had issue six sons and five daughters; apparently died in 1842, when his will was proved.

He inherited the Kilmalooda estate from his father in 1762.

He was living in January 1808 but probably died soon afterwards; his will was proved in 1810. His wife's will was proved in 1803.

Beamish, Sampson (1770-1843). Second son of Francis Beamish (b. c.1730; fl. 1808) and his wife Elizabeth, elder daughter of John Sealy of Richmount (Co. Cork), born 1770. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1786; BA 1790). JP for Co. Cork. He married, June 1800, Catherine (d. 1849), second daughter of the Rev. Thomas Waller Evans (d. 1797), rector of Dunmanway (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Catherine Beamish (c.1801-19), elder daughter, born about 1801; died unmarried, 14 May 1819;

(2) Elizabeth Beamish (1801-89), born 1801; married, 30 April 1825 at Timoleague (Co. Cork), Francis Bennett (1794-1873), attorney, of Clonakilty (Co. Cork), and had issue four sons and ten daughters; died 14 December 1889; will proved 4 July 1890 (effects £61);

(3) Thomas Beamish (c.1802-74) (q.v.);

(4) Sampson Beamish (c.1806-81) (q.v.).

He inherited the Kilmalooda estate from his father in or soon after 1808.

He died in Dublin, 21 May 1843. His widow died 19 September 1849.

Beamish, Thomas (c.1802-74). Elder son of Sampson Beamish (1770-1843) and his wife Catherine, second daughter of Rev. Thomas Waller Evans, rector of Dunmanway (Co. Cork), born about 1802. JP for Co. Cork. He married, 3 January 1829, Lydia Mary (d. 1869), eldest daughter of Capt. Andrew Poole of Kilrush (Co. Cork), but had no issue.

He inherited the Kilmalooda estate from his father in 1843; at his death it passed to his younger brother, with whom he appears to have cohabited.

He died 3 April 1874; his will was proved 4 May 1874 (effects under £25,000). His wife died 30 January 1869; her will was proved 6 April 1869 (effects under £3,000).

Sampson Beamish (c.1806-91) 

Beamish, Sampson (c.1806-81). Younger son of Sampson Beamish (1770-1843) and his wife Catherine, second daughter of Rev. Thomas Waller Evans, rector of Dunmanway (Co. Cork), born about 1806. JP for Co. Cork by 1847; Secretary of the Timoleague Dispensary. He married, 8 October 1833 at Desertserges (Co. Cork), Elizabeth (d. 1898), second daughter of Capt. Andrew Poole of Kilrush (Co. Cork), and sister of his brother's wife; they had issue:

(1) Thomas Beamish (1839-78) (q.v.);

(2) Lydia Maria Beamish (1841-80), born 28 December 1841; died unmarried, 6 October 1880; administration of her goods was granted 2 December 1880 (effects under £500);

(3) Andrew Poole Beamish (1843-79), born 25 June 1843; an officer in the South Cork militia (Lt., 1872; Capt., 1879); died unmarried of tuberculosis, 28 September 1879;

(4) Elizabeth Rebecca Poole Beamish (1846-1907), born 12 March 1846; succeeded her brother at Lettercollum House; married, 29 June 1865 at St Ann, Dublin, Warren Gillman Crooke (1822-88) of Old Town, Couchford (Co. Cork), son of Simon Davis Crooke (d. 1862), and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 24 March 1907; administration of goods granted 14 December 1907 (effects £977);

(5) Mary Charlotte Poole Beamish (1849-1930), born in 1849; lived latterly at Southsea (Hants); died unmarried, 17 January 1930; will proved 22 February 1930 (estate £110);

(6) Francis John Beamish (1856-97), baptised 2 April 1856; JP for Co. Cork; a freemason from 1892; lived at Lettercollum House, Timoleague (Co. Cork) and later Essex House, Hoddesdon (Herts); married, 19 June 1877 at Ross Cathedral (div. 1892 and annulled 1893 on grounds of non-consummation), Alice (who m2, 1898 at Muswellbrook, New South Wales (Australia), Kenneth Stuart Hungerford, fifth son of Thomas Hungerford of Baerami, New South Wales), elder daughter of Henry Jones Hungerford of Cahirmore (Co. Cork), but had no issue; died 6 May 1897; will proved 20 May 1897 (effects £4,878).

He inherited the Kilmalooda estate from his brother (with whom he apparently cohabited) in 1874.

He died 4 February 1881; his will was proved 27 April 1881 (effects under £13,000). His widow died 6 September 1898; her will was proved 20 December 1898 (effects £283).

Beamish, Thomas (1839-78). Eldest son of Sampson Beamish (c.1806-81) and his wife Elizabeth, second daughter of Capt. Andrew Poole of Kilrush (Co. Cork), born 19 February 1839. JP for County Cork. He married, 23 September 1869 at St Nicholas, Cork, Hannah (c.1836-1932), only child of Rev. John Madras, and had issue:

(1) Sampson Thomas Beamish (1870-1950) (q.v.);

(2) Mary Madras Beamish (1871-72), born 10 November 1871; died in infancy, 4 January 1872;

(3) Lydia Maria Poole Beamish (1873-1965), born 17 January 1873; married, 31 March 1897, Spencer Eaton Travers (1868-1931), registrar of the High Court of Probate, of Kilgariffe House, Clonakilty (Co. Cork) and Dooneen, Patrickswell (Co. Limerick), youngest son of Robert Augustus Travers of Timoleague House (Co. Cork), and had issue one son and one daughter; died aged 92 at Clancool House, Bandon (Co. Cork), 1 June 1965, and was buried at Timoleague; her will was proved 25 July 1972 (estate £1,752);

(4) Hannah Madras Beamish (1875-1964), born 19 April 1875; married, 7 June 1904 at Kilmalooda, William Verling Taylor (1871-1964), stockbroker, son of William Parker Taylor of Glenbrooke (Co. Cork), paymaster to Royal Navy, and had issue one son and one daughter; died 2 April 1964.

He died in the lifetime of his father, 26 March 1878; administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 16 May 1878 (effects under £3,000). His widow died aged 95 on 23 July 1932; her will was proved 26 October 1932 (estate £4,482).

Beamish, Sampson Thomas (1870-1950). Only son of Thomas Beamish (1839-78) and his wife Hannah, only child of Rev. John Madras, born 17 November 1870. JP for Co. Cork. A freemason from 1894. He married 1st, 5 October 1904, Alice Eleanor Somerville (1875-1906), elder daughter of Corliss Hawkes of Lackeroo, Passage West (Co. Cork) and 2nd, 12 January 1921, Winifred (1896-1978), younger daughter of Henry Walter Maude of Clonakilty (Co. Cork) and Seaton (Devon), and had issue:

(2.1) Elizabeth Daphne Beamish (b. 1927), born 9 October 1927; living, unmarried, in 1950;

(2.2) Thomas Peter Worthington Beamish (1930-96), born 5 October 1930; educated at St. Columba's College; inherited Ballyadam House from his father in 1950 but sold it in 1980; married, 1982, June Rosaleen Lily Macdonald alias Beamish (d. 1993); died 7 October 1996; will proved 7 March 1997.

He inherited the Kilmalooda estate from his grandfather in 1881 and came of age in 1891. He sold Kilmalooda in 1945 and lived latterly at Ballyadam House, Carrigtwohill (Co. Cork).

He died of tuberculosis, 25 June 1950; his will was proved 21 August 1951 (estate £25,563). His first wife died 24 December 1906; administration of her goods was granted to her husband, 9 May 1907 (estate £96). His widow died 17 February 1978; her will was proved in London, 4 February 1980 (estate in England & Wales, £2,179).

Beamish family of Cashelmore and Hare Hill

Beamish, Richard (b. c.1720; fl. 1758). Fourth son of John Beamish (b. c.1670; fl. 1750) and his wife, Jane Wood of Kinneigh (Co. Cork), born about 1720. He married, 1741 (licence), Mary, daughter of Charles Vincole of Kilgariffe (Co. Cork), and had issue, with two further daughters whose names are unknown:

(1) John Beamish (c.1745-1827) (q.v.);

(2) Anne Beamish; married, 1802, John Wren (c.1756-1846) of Keel, Desertserges (Co. Cork), but had no issue;

(3) George Beamish (c.1760-1855?), perhaps born about 1760; made a Freeman of Bandon in 1797, at the same time as his elder brother and nephew; married, 1789, Catherine (c.1763-1822), second daughter of Henry Baldwin of Lisada, Crookstown, and Old Court (Co. Cork), and had issue six sons and five daughters; said to have died in 1855.

He acquired the Cashelmore estate in Desertserges (Co. Cork) and built a modest house there.

He must have been living about 1758, but his date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Beamish, John (c.1745-1827). Elder son of Richard Beamish (fl. 1741) and his wife Mary, daughter of Charles Vincole alias Vignoles of Kilgariffe (Co. Cork), born about 1745. Freeman of Bandon (Co. Cork), 1797. MFH of the Cashelmore Hounds, 1787-1820. He married, 1767 (licence 10 August), Eliza (d. 1838?), younger daughter of Thomas Poole of Mayfield (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) John Beamish (c.1769-1848) (q.v.);

(2) Mary Beamish (c.1772-1817), born about 1772; died unmarried and was buried at Ballymoney, 10 October 1817;

(3) Lydia Beamish (c.1776-1863), born about 1776; married, 1806 (licence September), Andrew Poole (c.1776-1846) of Kilrush (Co. Cork), son of Andrew Poole of Kilrush, and had issue two daughters (one of whom married Thomas Beamish of Kilmalooda House); died 19 September 1863; will proved 4 November 1863 (effects under £1,400);

(4) Elizabeth Poole Beamish (1780-1849), born 1780; died unmarried, 13 February, and was buried at Ballymoney, 16 February 1849; her will was proved in 1849.

He inherited Cashelmore from his father and acquired the Hare Hill estate near Bandon.

He was buried at Ballymoney, 8 April 1827. His widow is said to have died in 1838.

Beamish, John (c.1769-1848). Only son of John Beamish (c.1745-1827) and his wife Eliza, younger daughter of Thomas Poole of Mayfield (Co. Cork), born about 1769. JP for County Cork from 1792; made a Freeman of Bandon at the same time as his father, 1797. MFH of the Cashelmore Hunt, 1820-48. He married 1st, 1795, Jane, daughter of John Howse of Glounnavorane (Co. Cork), and 2nd, 21 September 1811 in the chapel of the foundling hospital attached to St Ann, Shandon (Co. Cork), Mary (d. 1856), eldest daughter of Thomas Hewitt of Cork, and had issue:

(1.1) John Howe Beamish (1796-1836), born 1796; died unmarried in the lifetime of his father, 14 October 1836;

(1.2) Richard Beamish (d. c.1832); died unmarried in the lifetime of his father, in or before 1832;

(1.3) Thomas Beamish (1802-86) (q.v.);

(1.4) Elizabeth Beamish (d. 1868); married, 5 January 1839 at Desertserges (Co. Cork), Bernard Beamish (d. 1871) of Palace Anne (Co. Cork), son of Richard Beamish of Raheroon (Co. Cork), but had no issue; died 1868;

(1.5) Jane Beamish (d. 1827?); probably died unmarried and was buried at Ballymoney, 24 June 1827;

(1.6) Mary Beamish (c.1804-94), born about 1804; died unmarried aged 90 at Hare Hill, 7 November 1894;

(2.1) Catherine Beamish (b. c.1815), born after 1813; died unmarried.

He inherited the Cashelmore and Hare Hill estates from his father, and probably built the house at Hare Hill in the late 1820s.

He died 29 January and was buried at Ballymoney, 1 February 1848. His first wife died before 1811. His widow died in 1856.

Beamish, Thomas (1802-86). Third but only surviving son of John Beamish (c.1769-1848) and his first wife Jane, daughter of John Howe of Glounnavorane (Co. Cork), born 1802. MFH of the Cashelmore Hunt, 1848-65 and The Carbery Hunt, 1865-80. A Guardian of the Bandon Poor Law Union. He married, 11 October 1832 at Castle Freke (Co. Cork), Margaret Helena (d. 1886), youngest daughter of Richard Smyth of Castle Dooneen (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Barbara Jenison Beamish (1834-1918), born 9 June 1834; married 1st, 8 December 1859 at Desertserges, Alfred Henry Hannay (d. 1862), son of Capt. James Hannay of Ballinlough (Co. Antrim); married 2nd, 21 March 1870 at Ballywilliam, Portrush (Co. Antrim), Andrew Scott of Edinbugh, writer to the signet, but had no issue; died 8 August 1918;

(2) Jane Howe Beamish (1836-c.1922), born 15 April 1836 and baptised at Ross Cathedral; married, 15 December 1861 at Desertserges, Henry George Beamish (1835-1909) of Muckruss House, Clonakilty (Co. Cork), farmer, elder son of Henry Baldwin Beamish of Dunmore, Clonakilty, and had issue three sons and three daughters; said to have died about 1922;

(3) Elizabeth Mary Beamish (b. 1838), born 14 August 1838; died young;

(4) John Beamish (1840-1908) (q.v.);

(5) Mary Elizabeth Beamish (1843-1926), born 3 April 1843 and baptised at Ross Cathedral; emigrated with her husband to Yale, British Columbia, Canada, 1882, and became a Canadian citizen; married, 23 September 1879, Rowland Campion Stowards (d. 1925), huntsman, son of Moses Stowards, and had issue three sons; died November 1926 and was buried at Enderby Cliffside Cemetery, British Columbia;

(6) Margaret Helena Beamish (1845-84), born 19 January and baptised at Ballymodan, 27 January 1845; married, 30 April 1867 at Desertserges, Michael French of Westwood (Co. Cork), son of Philip French JP, and had issue three sons and three daughters; died of tuberculosis, 28 June 1884;

(7) Catherine Hewitt Beamish (1847-1900), born 13 January 1847; married, 23 April 1895, Edward Lawrence Bevir of Dublin, magazine editor, son of Edward J. Bevir QC, but had no issue; died 19 January 1900;

(8) Eleanor Roche Beamish (1849-1907), born 5 February 1849; married, 26 April 1883 at Cork Registry Office, Edward Pim (1843-1921) of Mountmellick (Co. Leix), merchant, son of Samuel Pim, merchant, but had no issue; died 23 August 1907; will proved 11 October 1907 (estate £323);

(9) Alice Elizabeth Beamish (1851-84), born 10 July 1851; died unmarried, 6 February 1884; administration of her goods granted to her father, 1 August 1884 (effects £90);

(10) Richard Thomas Beamish (1853-1939) (q.v.).

He inherited the Cashelmore and Hare Hill estates from his father in 1848.

He was buried 26 March 1886; administration of his goods was granted 10 June 1886 (effects £1,559) and a further grant was made 20 April 1887. His widow was buried 13 August 1886; her will was proved 2 November 1886 (effects £1,096).

Beamish, John (1840-1908). Elder son of Thomas Beamish (1802-86) and his wife Margaret Helen, youngest daughter of Richard Smyth of Castle Dooneen (Co. Cork), born 22 September 1840. Landowner and farmer. He married, 10 October 1871 at Myros (Co. Cork), Elizabeth Townsend (c.1853-82), daughter of Dr. James Edward Somerville MD of Park Cottage, Union Hall (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Thomas Richard Beamish (1873-1956) (q.v.);

(2) James Edward Somerville Beamish (1876-1942), born 28 March 1876; railway traffic agent with the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (retired 1935); a freemason from 1905; lived latterly at Tullagh House, Baltimore (Co. Cork); died unmarried, 3 February 1943; administration of his goods granted 22 July 1943 (estate £1,196);

(3) Eileen French Beamish (1877-1941), born 29 August 1877; trained as nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary (Yorks WR); married, 22 February 1911, Lt-Col. Robert de Stretton Berkeley Herrick DSO (d. 1966) of Indian Army Medical Service, third son of Rev. George Herrick, rector of Nohoval (Co. Cork) and had issue two sons; lived latterly at Lee-on-Solent (Hants); died 14 February 1941; will proved 22 April 1941 (estate £1,152);

(4) John Alfred Beamish (1879-1939), born 5 January 1879; emigrated to Lynn Valley, British Columbia (Canada), 1901, where he worked as a logger and a railway linesman; married, 23 September 1919, Agnes Rosetta (1887-1979), daughter of Thomas Morris Hoskins of Islington (Middx), greengrocer, and had issue three sons and one daughter; died 29 September 1939 and was buried in North Vancouver Cemetery;

(5) Edward Richard Townsend Beamish (1880-1965), born 12 March 1880; emigrated to Fife, British Columbia (Canada), before 1901; married, 10 October 1911 at Stevens, Washington (USA), Ethel Landerville (b. 1894), housekeeper; died 16 June 1965 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Beaverdell, British Columbia;

(6) Neville St. John Beamish (1881-1967), born 22 June 1881; farmer at Cashelmore until c.1912, then emigrated to Canada; died at Calgary, Alberta (Canada), 1967, and was buried at Queens Park Cemetery.

He inherited the Cashelmore estate from his father in 1886.

He died 28 September 1908; his will was proved 16 February 1909 (estate £433). His wife died on 20 May 1882, from head injuries received when the horse pulling the phaeton she was driving bolted and the carriage ran into a ditch near Cashelmore and overturned; she was buried 24 May 1882.

Beamish, Thomas Richard (1873-1956). Elder son of John Beamish (1840-1908) and his wife Elizabeth Townsend, daughter of James Edward Somerville MD of Park Cottage, Union Hall (Co. Cork), born 7 August 1873. Emigrated to South Africa and served as an officer in the Cape Colonial Forces but returned to Ireland before selling Cashelmore and settling in England, where he became a fruit grower. He married, 23 April 1903 at Hex River, Cape Colony (South Africa), Sarah Elizabeth (1876-1959), daughter of John Hagues, and had issue:

(1) Richard Patrick Beamish (1904-89), born 17 March 1904 at Hex River, Northern Cape (South Africa); married, 1938, Enid Mary Howsam (1917-2007) and had issue one son; died 22 January 1989;

(2) Eileen Sarah Rouse Beamish (1906-75), born 13 March 1906 at Hex River, Northern Cape (South Africa); trained as a nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary; SRN 1934 and midwife, 1937; died unmarried, Oct-Dec 1975;

(3) Thomas Frederick Neville Beamish (1908-93), born 4 October 1908 at Hex River, Northern Cape (South Africa); died February 1993;

(4) Alice Catherine Beamish (1912-85), born at Bandon (Co. Cork), 7 July 1912; died unmarried, 20 February 1985; will proved 3 May 1985 (estate under £40,000);

(5) John Cashel Beamish (1913-2009), born 26 November 1913; gardener; married, 7 September 1939 at Harworth (Notts), Sybil Joyce Fazakerley (1916-96), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 2009 and was buried at Harworth Cemetery.

He inherited the Cashelmore from his father in 1908 but sold it after 1911. He lived latterly at Little Carlton, South Muskham (Notts). 

He was buried 31 August 1956. His widow died in Apr-Jun 1959.

Beamish, Richard Thomas (1853-1939). Younger son of Thomas Beamish (1802-86) and his wife Margaret Helen, youngest daughter of Richard Smyth of Castle Dooneen (Co. Cork), born and baptised at Desertserges (Co. Cork), 24 December 1853. JP for Co. Cork; MFH of The Carbery Hunt. He married, 23 January 1889 at Kilbrogan (Co. Cork), Amy Oliver (1860-1924), daughter of William Smithwick of Summerhill, Bandon (Co. Cork), but had no issue.

He inherited Hare Hill from his father in 1886, and restored it in 1925-26 after an arson attack in 1923 in the Irish Civil War, but it was sold after his death.

He died 26 September 1939 and was buried at Christ Church cemetery, Bandon (Co. Cork). His wife died 28 June and was buried at Christ Church cemetery, Bandon, 2 July 1924.

Beamish family of Willsgrove, Beaumont House and Ditchley House

Beamish, Richard (b. c.1675; fl. 1758). Third son of Francis Beamish (d. 1679) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon. Merchant in Cork. He married, 1695, Mary Townsend of Clonakilty (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Rev. John Beamish (1698-1776), born 1698; educated at Trinity College, Dublin (BA 1720; MA 1723); ordained deacon, 1723 and priest, 1724; vicar choral of St. Fachina's, Ross Carbery, 1736; inherited the Maulbrack estate from his cousin John Beamish; married, 1740, Elizabeth, daughter of William Morris of Benduff (Co. Cork), and had issue three sons and one daughter; buried, 22 June 1776;

(2) George Beamish (d. 1765) [for whom see below, Beamish family of Mount Beamish];

(3) William Beamish (d. 1772) (q.v.);

(4) Thomas Beamish (d. 1773), attorney at Cork; married, 1738, Dorothea (d. 1771), daughter of Samuel Swete of Kilgas (Co. Cork) but had no issue; died in Cork, 2 February 1773; will proved 1773;

(5) Jane Beamish; married, 1728, Thomas Beamish of Raheroon (Co. Cork), eldest son of Thomas Beamish (fl. 1764) of Raheroon, and had issue one son and three daughters.

He purchased Garranloughane (alias Willsgrove) and Upper Bolteen (alias Mount Beamish) with other lands in Co. Cork from Charles Alleyn in 1696.

He was living in 1758 but must have died soon afterwards. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Beamish, Capt. William (c.1714-72). Third son of Richard Beamish (fl. 1758) and his wife Mary Townsend of Clonakilty (Co. Cork). An officer in the Royal Navy (Lt. 1741), employed in the Impress Service at Cork, 1758-62 and 1771-72. He married, 29 September 1751, Alice (d. 1792), daughter of Maj. William North Ludlow Bernard of Castle Bernard (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Francis Bernard Beamish (1752-1805) (q.v.);

(2) Rose Beamish (1753-1834), born 1753; married, 18 June 1774 at Rathcoony church, Cork, William Cuthbert (c.1740-1820) of Bloomfield (Co. Cork); died January 1834; administration of goods granted 14 May 1868 (effects under £450);

(3) Richard Beamish (1755-76), born 11 February 1755; died unmarried, in or before November 1776;

(4) William Beamish (1760-1828) (q.v.);

(5) Rev. Charles Beamish (c.1761-1842), born about 1761; educated at Glasgow University (MA 1782); ordained deacon, 1783 and priest, 1784; curate of Turkdean (Glos), 1783; later lived in Paris for many years; married 1st, 1780 in Scotland, Ursula Smith, and had issue one son; married 2nd, 11 November 1814, Susannah, only daughter of Mrs. Susan Harvey of Paris, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died at Pisa (Italy), 30 September 1842 and was apparently buried at Livorno (Italy);

(6) Mary Beamish (1763-1839), born 16 December 1763; married, 19 November 1785 at Christ Church, Cork, Thomas Ware JP of Woodford (Co. Cork), only son of Thomas Ware, and had issue; died April 1839;

(7) James Beamish (b. 1764), born 1764; died unmarried;

(8) Isaac Beamish (d. 1767), born 1767; died unmarried.

He inherited Willsgrove from his father..

He died 7/14 February 1772; his will was proved in the PCC, 30 July 1772. His widow died in Mallow (Co. Cork) in 1792; her will was proved in Dublin, 1792.

Beamish, Francis Bernard (1752-1805). Eldest son of Capt. William Beamish (c.1714-72) and his wife Alice, daughter of Maj. William North Ludlow Bernard of Castle Bernard (Co. Cork), baptised at Ballymodan (Co. Cork), 31 July 1752. Educated at the Middle Temple (admitted 1769) and Kings Inns, Dublin (called 1775). He was made a freeman of Bandon (Co. Cork) in 1775. Barrister-at-law; MP for Rathcormac, 1776-83, in the Irish parliament; in 1782 he was reported to be 'out of his senses from the effects of Mercury' (the conventional treatment for venereal disease) and in 1783 simply 'mad'. He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited Willsgrove from his father in 1772, but sold the estate to the Earl of Bandon and lived latterly at Butlerstown.

He died in 1805.

William Beamish (1760-1828) 

Beamish, William (1760-1828). Third son of Capt. William Beamish (d. 1772) and his wife Alice, daughter of Maj. William North Ludlow Bernard of Castle Bernard (Co. Cork), born 10 May 1760. Joined the Royal Navy but exchanged into the 19th Foot (Ensign, 1778; Lt., 1780; retired c.1783) and served in American War of Independence. By 1785 he had become a merchant in Cork in partnership with William Crawford and John Keating and he was made a freeman of Cork in 1790. In 1791 he and Crawford joined two brewers, Richard Barrett and Digby O’Brien, as partners in the Cork Porter Brewery. The brewery, known as Beamish & Crawford, rapidly became the largest in Ireland, and continued to operate under family control until 1961, finally closing in 2009. He was noted for his liberal views, and in 1817 supported the suggestion of the Catholic Bishop of Cork for the establishment of a savings bank in the city. He also contributed handsomely to the cost of building a Catholic church in Blackrock in 1822, even though he was himself a Protestant. He married, 19 September 1789 at Mallow (Co. Cork), Anne Jane Margaret (d. 1852), elder daughter of Robert Delacour of Mallow (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) William Beamish (1790-1838) (q.v.);

(2) Robert Delacour Beamish (1791-1877) (q.v.);

(3) Charles Beamish (c.1793-c.1800), probably born about 1793; died young before 1801;

(4) Hugh Beamish (c.1795-c.1800), probably born about 1795; died young;

(5) North Ludlow Beamish (1796-1872) [for whom see Beamish family of Annemount, Ashgrove, and Ashbourne below]

(6) Richard Beamish (1798-1873) [for whom see Beamish family of Annemount, Ashgrove and Ashbourne below]

(7) Dorcas Beamish (c.1799?-1873), perhaps born about 1799; married, 13 May 1829 at Douglas church, Cork, Maj-Gen. Frederick Meade (d. 1865) of Belmont, Innishannon (Co. Cork), fourth son of Rev. Richard Meade, rector of Innishannon, but had no issue; died 17 April 1873; will proved 13 May 1873 (effects under £9,000);

(8) Charles Beamish (1801-67), of Delacour Villa, born 1 January 1801; a sleeping partner in the Beamish & Crawford brewery from 1828; JP for Co. Cork; freeman of the City of Cork, 1824; was in a relationship with Louisa Howard and had illegitimate issue three sons and one daughter between 1838 and 1846; married, 27 October 1853, Caroline (who m2, 21 April 1868, Isaac Stamers Heazle of Cork, barrister-at-law, son of William Heazle), daughter of Thomas Smith, and had issue one son and three daughters; died 18 January 1867; will proved 18 February and 15 March 1867 (effects under £50,000);

(9) Francis Bernard Beamish (1802-68), of Grenville House (Co. Cork) and Beaumont Lodge, Bridgetown, Totnes (Devon), born 5 April 1802; educated at Rugby School; acting Beamish partner in the Beamish & Crawford brewery, 1828-41, when he was removed for overdrawing on his brewery account (and allowing his brother James to do likewise), for his absences to attend Parliament, and for his mismanagement of the business; he remained indebted to his partner-brothers until 1862; JP and DL for Co. Cork; High Sheriff of Co. Cork, 1852-53; Whig (later Liberal) MP for Cork, 1837-41, 1853-65; a friend of Daniel O'Connell and a supporter of Catholic emancipation; married, 3 May 1837 at Salcombe (Devon), Hon. Catherine Savery de Lisle de Courcy (d. 1874), only daughter of Capt. Hon. Michael de Courcy, and sister of 28th Baron Kingsale, and had issue one son; died 1 February 1868 and was buried at Berry Pomeroy (Devon); will proved 15 May 1868 (effects under £25,000);

(10) James Caulfield Beamish (1803-62), born 1 May 1803; educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1821); a sleeping partner in the Beamish & Crawford brewery after 1828, when he became a freeman of Cork city; yacht owner and racer in Plymouth (Devon); married, 12 October 1832, Louisa Erskine (1813-1907), second daughter of Lt-Col. Archibald Macdonald CB, adjutant-general in India, and had issue one son; died 26 March 1862;

(11) Godfrey Clarke Beamish (1807-20), born 3 July 1807; joined the Royal Navy as a cadet, but died unmarried of fever, about September 1820;

(12) Alice Beamish (b. 1808?), perhaps the daughter born 16 September 1808; died young.

(13) Arthur Beamish (b. c.1809), perhaps born about 1809; died young.

He built Beaumont House on the outskirts of Cork in about 1790.

He died 17 April 1828 and was buried at Desertserges (Co. Cork), but was also commemorated by a monument in St Michael, Blackrock, designed by John Hogan and erected in 1844. His will was proved in 1829 and left his share of the brewery partnership, valued at £93,750, to his five youngest surviving sons. His widow died 8 August 1852 and was also buried at Desertserges.

Beamish, William (1790-1838). Eldest son of William Beamish (1760-1828) and his wife, Anne Jane Margaret, elder daughter of Robert Delacour of Mallow (Co. Cork), born 19 July 1790. Educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1809; BA 1813). He apparently joined his father's brewery company on leaving Cambridge, and was paid a salary of about £2,000 a year until 1823, when he seems to have left the company. He married, 15 September 1814 at Lochnaw Castle (Wigtowns), Hon. Mary (d. 1825), fourth and youngest daughter of John de Courcy (d. 1822), 26th or, by some computations, 21st Baron Kingsale, and had issue:

(1) Susan Beamish (1815-31), born 4 December 1815; died young, 23 May 1831;

(2) Anne Jane Margaret Beamish (1818-92), born 3 May 1818; inherited Beaumont following the death of her brothers and sold it, c.1855; married, 28 April 1846 at St Peter, Pimlico (Middx), Rev. William Hamilton Thompson (1814-95), rector of Stoke Dry (Rutland), 1855-93, son of Very Rev. William Thompson, Archdeacon of Cork, and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 18 January 1892 and was buried at Stoke Dry;

(3) William Beamish (1821-47) (q.v.);

(4) John de Courcy Beamish (1822-48) (q.v.).

He inherited Beaumont House from his father in 1828.

He died at Leamington Spa (Warks), 1 October 1838; his will was proved in 1839. His wife died 17 April 1825.

Beamish, William (1821-47). Elder son of William Beamish (1790-1838) and his wife, the Hon. Mary, youngest daughter of John de Courcy, 26th Baron Kingsale, born 27 February 1821. Educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge (admitted 1838; MA 1842). He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited Beaumont House from his father in 1838.

He died of a fever, 23 March 1847.

Beamish, John de Courcy (1822-48). Younger son of William Beamish (1790-1838) and his wife, the Hon. Mary, youngest daughter of John de Courcy, 26th Baron Kingsale, born 5 May 1822. Joined the Royal Navy, but while at sea he became addicted to intemperate habits. When he came into possession of his father and brother's property, he was rarely sober and was generally regarded as incompetent to manage his affairs. At this time, he was induced to sign a series of documents making over his property to the management of his uncle, North Ludlow Beamish (vide infra), who was concerned to ensure that he did not ruin the family, but after his death these were set aside by the Court of Chancery and his property passed to his surviving sister as his heiress-at-law. He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited Beaumont House from his elder brother in 1847.

He died 'of delirium tremens' at Beaumont, 18 June 1848.

Beamish, Robert Delacour (1791-1877). Second son of William Beamish (1760-1828) and his wife, Anne Jane Margaret, elder daughter of Robert Delacour of Mallow (Co. Cork), born 16 July and baptised at Mallow (Co. Cork), 31 July 1791. Educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1808; BA 1813; MA 1818), Lincolns Inn (admitted 1811) and Kings Inns, Dublin (admitted 1813; called 1818). Barrister-at-law. Made a freeman of the city of Cork, 1819. High Sheriff of Co. Cork, 1842-43. He married, May 1829 at Douglas church, Cork, Maria Anne (c.1810-95), eldest daughter of Lt-Col. Archibald Macdonald CB, adjutant-general in India, and had issue:

(1) Maria Anne Beamish (1835-36), born 12 August 1835; died in infancy, 15 December 1836;

(2) Maria Louise Beamish (b. & d. 1837), born 24 August 1837; died in infancy, 4 September 1837;

(3) Robert Delacour Beamish (1839-40), born 2 February 1839; died in infancy, 18 March 1840;

(4) William Delacour Beamish (1841-72), born 16 January 1841; a freeman of the City of Cork, 1868; a freemason from 1870; an officer in the Royal Cork City Artillery Militia (Lt., 1871); died unmarried, 21 November 1872 and was buried at Caherlag cemetery; administration of his goods was granted to his mother, 20 January 1873 (effects under £300);

(5) Archibald Macdonald Beamish (1842-77), born 27 May 1842; educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1860; BA 1864); an officer in 37th Foot (Ensign, 1864; Lt., 1865; Capt., 1871; retired 1873); a freemason from 1866; died unmarried of smallpox, 22 June 1877; administration of his goods granted to his mother, 21 May 1884 (effects £15,465) and a further grant made to his brother Grenville, 13 May 1895;

(6) James Caulfield Beamish (1844-96) (q.v.);

(7) Lt-Col. Grenville Pigott Beamish (1851-1906), born 22 March 1851; lived at Eastcliffe, Glanmire (Co. Cork); died unmarried, 3 March 1906; will proved 7 May 1906 (estate £6,812).

He purchased Ditchley House (Co. Cork) in or before 1840.

He died 27 May 1877 and was buried at Caherlag, Glounthane (Co. Cork); his will was proved 25 July 1877 (effects under £18,000). His widow died 10 March 1895; administration of her goods was granted 24 April 1895 (effects £1,615).

Beamish, James Caulfield (1844-96). Fourth son of Robert Delacour Beamish (1791-1872) and his wife Maria Anne, eldest daughter of Lt-Col. Archibald Macdonald CB, adjutant-general in India, born 20 November 1844. JP for Co. Cork and Co. Sligo. An officer in the Cork Artillery Militia (Sub-Lt., 1873; Lt., 1876; Capt., 1878). He married 1st, 28 August 1868 at Balrothery (Co. Dublin) (div. by private Act of Parliament, 1877, on the grounds of her adultery with John Browne*), Elizabeth (k/a Lizzie) Ivers (c.1848-86), daughter of Richard Beare Tooker, and 2nd, 14 December 1878 in Edinburgh, Elizabeth (1852-97), daughter and heiress of Peter Niddrie of Comphull, Dromore West (Co. Sligo) and Over Howden Oxton (Berwicks), and had issue:

(1.1) Alice Maude Beamish (1870-1949), born 12 March 1870; lived with her sister at Eastcliffe, Glanmire (Co. Cork); died unmarried, 13 May 1949; will proved in Cork, 13 May 1949 (effects in Ireland, £4,067) and in London, 22 October 1949 (effects in England, £3,991);

(1.2) Maria Isabella Beamish (1871-1924), born 11 April 1871; lived with her sister at Eastcliffe, Glanmire (Co. Cork); died unmarried, 4 April 1924; will proved in London, 7 June 1924 (estate in England, £2,219) and in Cork, 7 July 1924 (estate in Ireland, £992);

(2.1) William Robert Delacour Beamish (1879-1946) (q.v.).

He inherited Ditchley from his father in 1877, and Comphull (Co. Sligo) in right of his second wife. He lived latterly at Lough Mask House (Co. Mayo).

He died 18 May 1896; his will was proved 8 September 1896 (effects £2,007). His first wife emigrated to Australia with her lover before her divorce, married James Reginald Bray (1849-81) and died in Queensland, 25 June 1886. His widow died 10 October 1897; her will was proved 6 July 1899 (estate £4,251).

* An earlier action brought in 1874-75 by Beamish against Capt. Arthur Langley for 'criminal conversation' with his wife, was evidently dropped.)

Beamish, William Robert Delacour (1879-1946). Only child of James Caulfield Beamish (1844-96) and his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Peter Niddrie of Comphull, Dromore West (Co. Sligo) and Over Howden (Berwicks), born in Edinburgh, 29 September 1879. An officer in the Royal Engineers (2nd Lt., 1899; Lt., 1902; Capt.). He later described himself as an engineer, but seems to have worked at least partly in the theatre industry. He is said to have married in 1905 (but no marriage around that time can be traced), Elizabeth May Dunn (b. 1880) and had issue:

(1) William Robert Beamish (1907-59), born 10 June 1907; married, Jul-Sept 1939 at Fulham (Middx), May Hilda Hawthorne; died 15 February 1959; administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 7 October 1959 (estate £746);

(2) Elizabeth Patricia Beamish (1913-85), born 19 July 1913; died unmarried, 13 December 1984; will proved 16 April 1985 (estate £123,020);

(2) James Caulfield Beamish (1915-68), born 15 February 1915; educated at Uppingham; married, 7 February 1942, Isabella Poole, and had issue one daughter; died 6 November 1968; will proved 30 April 1969 (estate £32,075).

He lived at Comphull (Sligo), Over Howden, Oxton (Berwicks) and had houses or flats in Edinburgh and Chelsea (Middx).

He died 1 October 1946; his will was confirmed in Scotland and sealed in London and Belfast, 1947. His widow committed suicide, 13 December 1946; her will was proved 22 January 1947 (estate £1,043).

Beamish family of Annemount, Ashgrove and Ashbourne

North Ludlow Beamish (1796-1872) 

Beamish, North Ludlow (1796-1872). Fifth son of William Beamish (1760-1828) of Beaumont House, Cork (vide supra), and his wife Anne Jane Margaret (d. 1852), elder daughter of Robert Delacour of Mallow (Co. Cork), born 29 December 1796. Educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. An officer in the 4th Dragoon Guards (Cornet, 1816; Lt., 1817; Capt., 1823; Maj., 1826; retired 1830) and later a Lt-Col. in the Hanoverian service (retired 1839); author of military works, including a History of the King's German Legion (1834-37), and a novel, Peace campaigns of a Cornet (1829); elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1827, and appointed KH by the King of Hanover in 1837. He was a sleeping partner in Beamish & Crawford, 1828-41, but then became the active family partner on the board until 1863, when he was succeeded by his nephew, Richard Pigott Beamish (q.v.). JP for Co. Cork; High Sheriff of Co. Cork, 1855-56; President of the Cork Scientific & Literary Society and the Cork & Bandon Railway; Vice-Chairman of a committee which lobbied for the establishment of a university at Cork, realised in 1849 with the creation of Queen's College, Cork; he was subsequently an active member of the College's Farm Committee, whose work led to the foundation of the Munster Institute in 1853.  In the 1830s, he was Secretary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. After his retirement from a military life he became interested in the long-distance sea voyages of early medieval Norsemen, and published The discovery of America by the Norsemen in the Tenth Century (1841), which was a popular abridgement of an earlier work on the same subject by a Danish scholar. In 1847, when his drunkard nephew John de Courcy Beamish (vide supra) unexpectedly inherited Beaumont and associated lands, he took robust steps to persuade his nephew to transfer the property to him to ensure that it was out of his nephew's power to ruin the family, but following his nephew's death the Court of Chancery set aside these documents. He married, 27 May 1841 at Stockholm (Sweden), Aline Marie (c.1816-1900), daughter and co-heiress of Rev. John Eric Forsstrom, Dean of Munktrop (Sweden), and had issue: 

(1) North Ludlow Axel Beamish (1842-1923) (q.v.);

(2) William Adolphus Beamish (1844-1930), born 16 June 1844; educated at Cheltenham and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; an officer in the 31st Foot (Ensign, 1865; Lt., 1867; retired 1872); subsequently known as 'Major Beamish', which was apparently an assumed rank; bankrupted 1883; lived chiefly in England after his bankruptcy; married, 10 September 1881 at Passage West R.C. church (Co. Cork), Margaret (d. 1897), daughter of Thomas Murphy of Glenbrook (Co. Cork), and had issue four sons and three daughters; died in Crouch End (Middx), 23 August 1930;

(3) George Horace Townsend Beamish (1847-1923), of Spy Hill, Queenstown (Co. Cork), born 8 December 1847; trained as a civil and mechanical engineer in Tyne Piers Office and Aberdeen Harbour Office, 1866-70, and was later employed on railway projects in Co. Cork; elected an associate of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1873; died unmarried at Spy Hill, 13 January 1923; will proved 27 March 1923 (estate £796);

(4) Aline Mathilda Hulda Beamish (c.1851-1933), born about 1851; died unmarried at Bellevue, Cobh (Co. Cork), 30 November 1933; will proved 26 March 1934 (estate £1,007);

(5) Alice Beamish (1852-62), born 18 August 1852; died young and was buried 10 September 1862. 

He leased Lota Park (Co. Cork) from John Courtney, 1859-64 and later Annemount (Co. Cork).

He died 28 April 1872; administration of his goods was granted at Cork, 29 May 1872 (effects under £5,000). His widow died 13 February 1900; her will was proved 19 March 1900 (estate £3,612).

North Ludlow Axel Beamish
(1842-1923) 

Beamish, North Ludlow Axel (1842-1923). Eldest son of North Ludlow Beamish (1796-1872) and his wife Aline Marie, daughter and co-heiress of Rev. John Eric Forsstrom, Dean of Munktrop (Sweden), born 13 June and baptised at the church of Jakob & Johannes, Stockholm, 4 July 1842. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (matriculated 1859; BA 1863). A sleeping partner in Beamish & Crawford of Cork, brewers, 1864-95, and following incorporation of the brewery as a limited company, he became a Director. His interests included agricultural improvement and cattle breeding, and he was for many years Treasurer of the Munster Agricultural Society. JP for Co. Cork. He was Chairman of the Cork Carnegie Library Committee and a member of the committee of the Cork International Exhibition, 1902. He married, 16 November 1869 at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate (Middx), his cousin, Edith Anne (1847-1932), elder daughter and co-heiress of Rev. William Hamilton Thompson, rector of Stoke Dry (Rutland), and had issue:

(1) Ludlow Hamilton Beamish (1871-1951), born 26 January 1871 and baptised at Carrignavar (Co. Cork); emigrated to Canada, 1891, and settled at White Rock, British Columbia; married, 9 June 1909 at Vancouver, British Columbia, Mabel Anne (1877-1964), daughter of William Macnaughten of Salisbury, New Brunswick (Canada), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 17 October 1951 and was buried at White Rock;

(2) Edith Anne Elizabeth Beamish (1871-73), born 29 December 1871 and baptised at Carrignavar; died in infancy, 25 October, and was buried 28 October 1873;

(3) Ethel Hulda Frances Beamish (1873-96), born 8 January 1873; died unmarried of tuberculosis, 5 July 1896;

(4) Harold Delacour Beamish (1874-1934), born 22 June 1874; an officer in 2nd Battn, Leicestershire Regt. (2nd Lt., 1897; Capt., 1903; retired 1913) and served in Boer War with mounted infantry, then with the Egyptian army in the Sudan; served in Sinai Peninsula as inspector and later Governor for six years; returned to army (Maj., 1915) and served with Remount Services, Ireland; married, 17 July 1917 at Lusk (Co. Dublin), Emily Mary Sophia (1883-1942), daughter of Robert Henry Sturrock Reade of Wilmont, Dunmurry (Co. Antrim), but had no issue; died 20 June 1934; will proved in Belfast, 20 May 1935 (effects in Northern Ireland, £1,577) and in London, 24 May 1935 (effects in England, £5,416).

He lived at Ashgrove, Cobh (Co. Cork) and Vianstown House, Downpatrick (Co. Down), which passed to his younger son at his death. His widow lived latterly at Watford (Herts).

He died in Dublin, 16 May 1923; his will was proved at Cork, 3 August 1923 (estate £59,395). His widow died 20 February 1932; her will was proved at Dublin, 21 December 1932 (effects £1,270).

Beamish, Richard (1798-1873). Sixth son of William Beamish (1760-1828) of Beaumont House, Cork (vide supra), and his wife Anne Jane Margaret, elder daughter of Robert Delacour of Mallow (Co. Cork),  born 16 July 1798. Educated at Clifton College, Bristol and the Royal Military College, Marlow (Bucks), and spent most of his holidays with Col. Pigott at Doddershall Park (Bucks). An officer in the Coldstream Guards (Ensign & Lt., 1814; retired on half-pay, 1819), but after disputes with his parents about becoming ADC to Sir Stamford Raffles and a proposed marriage, he resolved to become financially independent and built on his military surveying and mathematical skills to retrain as a civil engineer; he qualified in 1826 and moved to London, where he worked with Isambard Kingdom Brunel as an assistant on the Thames Tunnel. After inheriting some property from his father in 1828 he returned to Ireland and worked as an engineer on public projects for six years. In 1834 he moved back to England to work as resident engineer on the Thames Tunnel, but from 1836 he suffered from indifferent health and spent some ten years preparing engineering students for their apprenticeships. An improvement in his health allowed him to be again associated with Brunel on the Forest of Dean Railway, 1846-50, after which he retired. He became a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 1829 and a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1836, and was the author of a Statistical Notice of the Town and Parish of Cheltenham (1856) and a Memoir of the life of Sir Marc Isambard Brunel (1862), and other works. Perhaps because of his delicate health he was interested in a wide range of alternative therapies and pseudo-scientific studies, including homeopathy, phrenology, palmistry, mesmerism and spiritualism. He appears to have had an inclination to profligacy, which led him into debt at several periods of his life, and in his later years he regularly appealed to his eldest son for financial help. He married, 27 September 1831 at Quainton (Bucks), Theodosia Mary (1811-74), only daughter and heiress of Lt-Col. Augustus Charles Heise CB KH, and had issue:

(1) Richard Pigott Beamish (1832-99) (q.v.);

(2) Anne Theodosia Beamish (b. & d. 1834), born at Sans Souci (Co. Cork), 8 October 1834; died in infancy, 18 November 1834;

(3) Anne Theodosia Beamish (1836-1905), born 18 June and baptised at St Mary, Rotherhithe (Surrey), 15 August 1836; married, 2 November 1880 at St Paul, Upper Norwood (Surrey), as his second wife, Capt. the Rev. & Hon. Edward Plantagenet Airey Talbot (1817-1904), vicar of Evercreech-cum-Chesterblade (Som.), sixth son of James Talbot, 3rd Baron Talbot de Malahide, but had no issue; died 10 January 1905; will proved 6 March 1905 (estate £11,194);

(4) Emily Isabella Beamish (1838-1933), born 20 May 1838; married, 6 March 1884 at St Gabriel, Warwick Sq., London, Col. Robert Emil le Bauld de Nans (c.1827-1909), an officer in the Prussian Army, Knight of the Red Eagle and the Prussian Crown, but had no issue; having become German by marriage, she was re-naturalised as a British citizen in 1915; she died aged 95 on 30 December 1933; will proved 22 March 1934 (estate £712);

(5) Alten Augustus William Beamish (1841-1902), born 24 September and baptised at Prestbury (Glos), 13 October 1841; educated at Cheltenham College and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; an officer in the Royal Engineers (Lt., 1862; Capt., 1877; Maj., 1883; Lt-Col., 1891; retired 1896); attached to Ordnance Survey, 1876-83 and to Prison Dept. of the Home Office, 1883-96; married, 20 December 1892, May Ross (d. 1906), daughter of Sir John Gillespie WS of Edinburgh, and had issue three sons; died at Gibraltar, 21 March 1902; will proved 7 June 1902 (estate £908).

After retiring, he moved around a good deal, and is recorded living at Newnham-on-Severn (Glos), 1851, in Germany (with his wife's relatives), 1852-54; in Cheltenham, 1854-61, and latterly in the Isle of Wight and at Woolston Lawn, Southampton (Hants). 

He died at Bournemouth (Hants), 20 November 1873; administration of his goods was granted to his elder son, 18 December 1873 (effects under £18,000). His widow died 23 April 1874 and was buried at West Hill Cemetery, Winchester; her will was proved in Dublin, 6 July 1874 (effects in Ireland under £1500) and in London, 12 August 1874 (effects in England under £1000).

Beamish, Richard Pigott (1832-99). Elder son of Richard Beamish (1798-1873) and his wife Theodosia Mary (d. 1874), only daughter and heiress of Lt-Col. Augustus Charles Heise CB KH, born 21 June 1832. Active partner in Beamish & Crawford Ltd. of Cork from 1863. An officer in the West Cork Militia (Lt., 1856; Capt., 1856); DL (from 1884) for Co. Cork. Vice-President of the Cork Musical Society and the Cork Mercantile Association. He was a keen yachtsman and a member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. He was also a senior member of the Cork County Club, and in 1893-94 was embroiled in a high profile legal case after a member of the club, who had been a personal friend, was accused of cheating at cards, and brought an action for slander and libel against him for raising the matter formally in the club, but he was acquitted and his legal costs were met by a subscription among the club membership. He married, 20 May 1858 at Glanmire (Co. Cork) Hulda Elizabeth Constance (d. 1892), only daughter and heiress of Prof. Charles Gustavus Mosander, knight of the North Star of Sweden and professor of chemistry at Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, and had issue:

(1) Huldine Beamish (1859-1931), born 27 October 1859; married, 15 September 1880 in Stockholm, Baron Carl Alexander Alfred Henric Edvarsson Fock (1854-1938), a Captain in the 1st Royal Swedish Foot Guards, knight of the Sword of Sweden, and had issue five daughters (including Carin Alexina Hulda Fock (1888-1931), who married, as her second husband, Field Marshal Hermann Wilhelm Göring (1893-1946), the leading Nazi); died at Stockholm (Sweden), 25 September 1931;

(2) Richard Henrik Beamish (1861-1938), born 16 June 1861; educated at Haileybury College; chairman and managing director of Beamish & Crawford of Cork, brewers, 1901-30; DL for Co. Cork; High Sheriff of the City of Cork, 1907, 1911; Mayor of Cork, 1906; an alderman of Cork City Council until 1931; a member of the Irish Dail, 1923; freeman of the city of London, 1918; married, 14 October 1903 at St Paul, Knightsbridge (Middx) (div. 1914 on the grounds of her adultery), Violet Edith (c.1884-1939), daughter of Lt-Gen. Sir William Pitcairn Campbell KCB of London, and had issue one son and two daughters; died 23 February 1938; will proved 13 June 1938 (estate £772);

(3) Gustav William Beamish (1864-1915), born 5 January 1864; educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1883); died unmarried at Engsholm, Drottningholm (Sweden), 21 May 1915; his will was proved in Dublin, 6 December 1915 (estate £5,237).

He lived at Harmony Lodge, Carrigtwohill (Co. Cork), and later purchased Ashbourne (formerly Toureen Lodge), Glounthaune (Co. Cork).

He died 7 June 1899; his will was proved 20 October 1899 (estate £57,904). His wife died in Stockholm, 24 December 1892.

Beamish of Mount Beamish

Beamish, George (c.1700-65). Second son of Richard Beamish (b. c.1675; fl. 1758) of Willsgrove (vide supra) and his wife Mary Townsend of Clonakilty (Co. Cork), born about 1700. He married 1st, 1746, Rebecca Scholfield of Fanlobbus (Co. Cork), and 2nd, 1748, Frances (d. 1777?), daughter of Henry Jones of Dromberg (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(2.1) Rev. Samuel Beamish (1753-1834) (q.v.);

(2.2) George Beamish, of Barley Hill and Holly Hill (Co. Cork); wool merchant; married, 1 November 1786 at Christ Church, Cork, Anne Leonora (c.1769-1826), daughter of John Gahan of Castletownshend (Co. Cork), and had issue one son and two daughters; died before 1809 as he was noticed as 'defunctus' at his son's admission to Trinity College, Dublin;

(2.3) Dorothy Beamish (b. 1755), baptised at Desertserges, 22 November 1755; married, 1776, Robert Edmondstone, and had issue one son;

(2.4) A daughter.

He inherited Mount Beamish from his father c.1750.

His will was proved in 1765. His first wife died between 1746 and 1748. His widow was probably the lady of this name who died in Cork in August 1777.

Beamish, Rev. Samuel (1753-1834). Elder son of George Beamish (c.1700-65) and his second wife, Frances, daughter of Henry Jones of Dromberg (Co. Cork), born 1753. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (matriculated 1769; BA 1774). Ordained deacon, 1774 and priest, 1777. Curate of Templebryan, 1775-99; vicar of Kinsale, 1799-1826. JP for Co. Cork. He was Provost of Bandon (Co. Cork) sixteen times between 1792 and 1833, and was made a freeman of the City of Cork, 1804. He married 1st, 1774 (licence 1 July), Mary (d. 1789), daughter of John Stamer of Rockcastle (Co. Cork), and 2nd, 11 June 1791 at Dunmanway (Co. Cork), Mary (d. 1807), elder daughter of Joshua Hamilton, and had issue:

(1.1) George Beamish (c.1775-98), born about 1775 but baptised at Ballymodan, 28 August 1782; said to have been an officer in the army; died unmarried, 27 October 1798;

(1.2) Samuel Beamish (d. by 1802); died unmarried before 1802;

(1.3) Dr. John Samuel Beamish (c.1776-1852) (q.v.)

(1.4) William Beamish (1779-1819), of Mount Prospect, born 1779 but baptised 28 August 1782; solicitor in Cork; made a freeman of the City of Cork, 1813; married, 1 September 1809, Harriet (d. 1849), sixth daughter of Adam Newman of Dromore (Co. Cork), and had issue four sons; administration of goods granted 1819;

(1.5) Sarah Beamish (fl. 1805); married, January 1805, Maj-Gen. Edward Rogers of the 3rd Foot, and had issue;

(1.6) Frances Anne Beamish (d. 1856), born in or before 1789; married, 12 August 1812, Gen. Nicholas Hamilton KH (c.1781-1859) of 5th Foot, Colonel of 82nd Foot (who lost a leg at the siege of Flushing, 1809), son of Capt. John Hamilton, and had issue two sons; buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery (Co. Dublin), 8 May 1856;

(2.1) Mary Hamilton Beamish (c.1794-1868), born about 1794; married, 17 September 1818, Rev. Richard Francis Webb (c.1794-1872), rector of Caheragh (Co. Cork) and later of Dunderrow (Co. Cork), eldest son of Rev. Richard Webb of Ringrone (Co. Cork), and had issue four sons and two daughters; died 24 November 1868;

(2.2) Rev. Henry Hamilton Beamish (1796-1872), born 1796; educated at Trinity College, Dublin (matriculated 1812; BA 1817); ordained 1819; curate of Kinsale until he succeeded his father as vicar of Kinsale, 1826-32; rector of Taxas, 1829-63; incumbent of the Irish Chapel (where the service was read in the Irish language), London, 1832-36 and Trinity Chapel, Conduit St., London, 1832-63; vicar of Old Cleeve (Som.), 1863-65; rector of Lillingstone Dayrell (Bucks), 1865-69; chaplain to 2nd and 3rd Earls of Bandon; JP for Co. Cork from 1823; made a freeman of the City of Cork, 1823; author of controversial religious works; married 1st, August 1820 at Ballymartle church (Co. Cork), Anne Isabella (1799-1847), only daughter of Rev. Edward Spread, rector of Youghal (Co. Cork), and had issue five sons and six daughters; married 2nd, 22 January 1850, Frances Maria Nugent (1812-91), daughter of John Udny, judge of the Supreme Court of Calcutta and widow of John Dick of the Indian Civil Service, and had issue one daughter; died 23 February 1872; his will was proved 25 May 1872 (effects under £300).

He inherited Mount Beamish from his father in 1765.

He died 11 or 18 March and was buried at Desertserges, 21 March 1834. His first wife died in June 1789. His second wife died 14 November 1807.

Beamish, Dr. John Samuel (c.1776-1852). Third son of Rev. Samuel Beamish (1753-1834) and his first wife Mary, daughter of John Stamer of Rockcastle (Co. Cork), born about 1776. Educated at Edinburgh University (admitted 1793; MD 1796). He was made a freeman of the city of Cork, 1805. In the legal proceedings about the descent of the family property after his death, he was described as 'haughty and proud'. He married, 23 September 1802, Arabella (d. 1839), third daughter of Benjamin Swayne of Aghada House (Co. Cork), and had issue:

(1) Rev. Samuel Swayne Beamish (c.1804-44), born about 1804; educated at Trinity College, Dublin (matriculated 1823; BA 1827); ordained deacon, 1828 and priest, 1829; curate of St Paul, Cork; made a freeman of the city of Cork, 1826; died, apparently unmarried, in April 1844; in 1854 it was alleged that in 1831 he formed an attachment to Isabella Fraser, a young person whose position in society was much inferior to his own, but who was of good character, and a member his own church; being apprehensive that if he openly married her his father would disinherit him, he induced her to consent to a clandestine marriage, performing the ceremony himself in private, without witnesses; there were several children of the marriage, but only one son, Henry Albert Beamish, who in the 1850s sought recognition by the courts as rightful heir to the family estates; he was successful in the lower courts but the decisions in his favour were overturned by a judgement of the House of Lords in 1861, which established the principle that a clergyman cannot conduct his own marriage service; 

(2) Elizabeth Beamish (c.1805-80), born about 1805; married, 3 July 1837 at Cove (i.e. Cobh) (Co. Cork), Henry Herrick (c.1793-1875) of Farnalough and Belmont (Co. Cork), and had issue; died 20 February 1880; 

(3) Benjamin Swayne Beamish (1806-79) (q.v.); 

(4) John Beamish (c.1808-31), born about 1808; made a freeman of the city of Cork, 1829; died unmarried and was buried at Desertserges (Co. Cork), 8 November 1831;

(5) Arabella Margaret Swayne Beamish (c.1810-75), born about 1810; married, 3 February 1846 at St Finbar's Cathedral, Cork, Henry Edward Jones (c.1801-76) of Mardyke, Cork, solicitor, and had issue; died at Blackrock (Co. Dublin), 18 July 1875;

(6) George Beamish (1811-81), born 1811; solicitor; married, 30 November 1844 at Dunleckney* (Co. Carlow), Lucy, daughter of Samuel Crosthwaite of Bagenalstown (Co. Carlow), but had no issue; died at Donnybrook (Co. Dublin), 31 December 1881; will proved 16 May 1882 (effects £5,477);

(7) Dr. William Beamish (c.1813-87), born about 1813; educated at Edinburgh University (MD 1836); elected LRCS (Edinburgh), 1836; physician and surgeon in Cork; lecturer at Cork School of Medicine; author of works on the treatment of cholera; married, 2 May 1840 at St Luke, Cork, Ellen Prudence (c.1818-1905), daughter of Lt-Col. David Gregory of 45th Foot, and had issue four sons and six daughters; died at Blackrock (Co. Dublin), 7 March 1887; his will was proved in Dublin, 18 April 1887 (effects £2,107);

(8) Harriet Beamish (c.1820-1902?), born about 1820; married, 26 January 1854 at St Peter, Dublin, her cousin, Capt. William Hamilton (c.1819-78) of 37th Foot, son of Gen. Nicholas Hamilton KH, but had no issue; said to have died in 1902;

(9) Frances Anne Beamish (1822-46), baptised 9 May 1822; married, 10 June 1845 at St Finbar's Cathedral, Cork, Dr. Frederick Caleb McCarthy (1817-51) (who m2, 21 September 1847, Jane O'Driscoll and had issue one son and one daughter), son of Justin McCarthy of Carrignavas (Co. Cork), but had no issue; died February 1846.

He inherited Mount Beamish from his father in 1834. After his death it passed to two of his sons in turn; it was probably sold about 1870.

He died 16 December and was buried 20 December 1852. His wife died at Cork, 17 November 1839.

* Some sources say the marriage was at Shankill (Co. Kilkenny).

Beamish, Benjamin Swayne (1806-79). Second son of Dr. John Samuel Beamish (c.1776-1852) and his wife Arabella, third daughter of Benjamin Swayne of Aghada House (Co. Cork), born 1806. Educated at Cork and apprenticed to James Byrne, attorney, 1823; admitted a solicitor, 1828 and subsequently practiced in Cork, of which he became a freeman in 1828. From 1854-61 he was embroiled in a struggle in the courts for control of the family estates, and eventually secured a judgement in the House of Lords in his favour. He married, March 1842, Cherry alias Charity Margaret (d. 1891), daughter of Thomas Little of Sligo, but had no issue.

He inherited Mount Beamish from his father in 1852 and probably sold it in 1870. 

He was buried 12 November 1879; his will was proved 4 February 1880 (effects under £4,000). His widow died 31 August and was buried 14 September 1891.

Principal sources

Burke's Irish Family Records, 1976, pp. 86-99; D. O'Drisccoil & D. O'Drisccoil, Beamish & Crawford, 2015; F. Keohane, The buildings of Ireland: Cork city and county, 2020, p. 462, 490.

Location of archives

Beamish & Crawford, brewers, of Cork: company records, 1787-1956 [Cork City and County Archives]

No significant accumulation of family papers is known to survive, but there may be material in private hands.

Coat of arms

Argent, a lion rampant between three trefoils slipped gules.

Can you help?

• If anyone can provide further drawings or photographs of the houses associated with this family, I should be very pleased to see them. I would be particularly keen to see images of Mount Beamish and the front elevation of Cashelmore.
• Can anyone provide further information about the ownership or occupation of the houses described above after they were sold by the Beamish family?
• Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
• Does anyone know more about the business career or theatrical interests of William Robert Delacour Beamish (1879-1946)?
• If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 16 January 2022 and updated 27 November 2022.