Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford VC KCIE (20 July 1847 - 30 December 1900

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Various Obituaries
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The Deepdene was originally part of the Knepp Estate, a property of the Howard family. Charles Howard, later 10th Duke of Norfolk, rebuilt the house in the Palladian style between 1769 and 1775. The House's appearance during this time can be seen in a painting today in the collection of the Marylebone Cricket Club. In 1802, upon his mother's death, Sir Charles Burrell inherited the Knepp Estate. In 1807 Sir Charles was permitted, by an Act of Parliament, to sell the Deepdene (then an entailed part of the Knepp Estate) to Sir Thomas Hope. Hope was a millionaire collector and major trendsetter of style in the early 19th century. He was born in Amsterdam in 1769, the son of a wealthy banking family that had emigrated from Scotland to Holland at the end of the 17th century. By the late 18th century their bank, Hope & Company, was a major influence in the national affairs of Holland and a power throughout Europe (the family fled Holland in 1795, just ahead of Napoleon’s forces, and settled in London). In 1802 Hope & Company, through its London office, helped finance the Louisiana Purchase, despite the fact that Britain was at war with France. Technically, the United States did not purchase Louisiana from Napoleon, but from Hope & Company and Barings Bank. Payment was made in US bonds, which Napoleon sold to Barings at a discount of 87 1/2 per $100. As a result, Napoleon received only $8,831,250 in cash. Alexander Baring, working for Hope & Company, met in Paris with the French Director of the Public Treasury, François Barbé-Marbois, then traveled to the United States to pick up the bonds and deliver them to France. Thomas Hope spent an amazingly long time (1787-95) on the Grand Tour, during which he was almost certainly inspired in his concept of design, particularly his idea of synthesizing many styles into a coherent whole. In 1799 Hope acquired his famous house on Duchess Street in London; the house was built in the 1760s to the designs of Robert Adam as part of the Portland Place development and featured the French style of a courtyard in the front with a garden in the back. Sir John Soane was a known admirer of Hope’s Duchess Street house; Soane’s Lincoln Inn’s Field house (now Sir John Soane’s Museum) is today the closest remnant we have of what Hope’s house was once like (the Duchess Street house was demolished in the 1850s and most of its famous contents moved to The Deepdene). The Duchess Street house had an impressive Picture Gallery that sported four Greek Doric columns, possibly the first use ever of such columns in a domestic British interior. Hope wrote the book "Household Furniture and Interior Decoration" in 1807 and thus coined the phrase interior decoration (in 1809 he authored another influential book entitled "Costume of the Ancients"). He Hope's influence, that he successfully maneuvered to get Wyatt's designs for Downing College Cambridge thrown out and replaced by the more "correct" Greek designs of William Wilkins. Hope employed William Atkinson to remodel The Deepdene in 1818; Atkinson was back again in 1823 to add a large South Wing to the House. Thomas Hope died on Feb 2, 1831 at the age of sixty-one. In the 1840s The Deepdene was further remodeled and enlarged in the Italianate style by Hope's son, Henry Thomas Hope, who added an 11-bay front with twin towers, in addition to a 2-story Entrance Hall. Disraeli wrote part of "Coningsby" at Deepdene. On the death of Henry Thomas Hope’s wife, Anne, in 1862, the Deepdene Estate was left to her grandson, Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later 8th Duke of Newcastle. Lord Francis was hopeless at managing his finances and was declared bankrupt in 1894. Subsequently, The Deepdene was leased to Lord William Beresford (the 3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford). From 1911 until 1914 the House was let to Almeric Paget. In 1917 the majority of the Hope Collection at The Deepdene was sold (see more about this in the “Collections” section). In 1920 the House and 50 acres were sold; in 1921 a further 2,200 acres were sold. In the Interwar years the House was operated as a hotel by Madame Coletta, who owned The Deepdene from 1918 until 1939. The Southern Railway Company purchased the House in 1939; the Southern was later nationalized and became a part of BritRail, which occupied the House until 1967, when it was sold to Federated Homes Ltd., a development company. In 1969 the House was demolished -- an office block now stands in its place.

Directions to Grave.

Proceeding up the Cork road we ride up Ballyaneeshagh Hill, and on the left see Butlerstown Castle, an ancient building: which, in the days of Cromwell, held out for sometime against his forces. At the Sweep we turn round to the right and run to the bottom of the hill. A little way from the end of the hill the right turn is to be taken again to Kilmeaden, 8 miles. The ride then is to Portlaw four miles away. Some fifty years ago this town was the seat of a great cotton industry. It has since fallen into decay, and the place looks like Goldsmith's "Deserted Village." Just outside the town is the magnificent demesne of Curraghmore, said to be the finest in the three kingdoms. The variety of scenery here is almost unsurpassed. Curraghmore is the property of the Marquis of Waterford. It is one of the great points of vantage to tourists and pic-nic parties. Passing through the demesne we come to the house itself, a modern and rather unpretentious structure. The court-yard is, however, very large, and is said to be capable of accommodating close upon 100 horses. Clonegam Church, where Lord William Beresford, uncle to the present Marquis of Waterford, was laid to rest, can be seen on the right glistening in the trees on the hill side. Through Curraghmore we ride to Clonea, about 5 miles further on, and then to the foot of the Comeragh Mountains, which occupy a centre of the county, and which are to be seen from all parts, as well as from a considerable portion of Tipperary. The greatest natural curiosity in this range is the appearance and site of an almost circular lake, by name Coomshinawin. From Coomshinawin to Kilmacthomas the distance is about 8 miles. Kilmacthomas Woollen Factory may be visited, and a good hotel accommodation can be had at Walsh's. From Kilmacthomas to Waterford is 16-1/2 miles over a good road, the full distance being 45 miles.

Doe's anyone have a photo of Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford's grave.

Admin found this. Its in the same Church as William, but nothing on him. Will keep looking...

Click on name: Florence Grosvenor Beresford memorial

Peter. I have found "Clonegam" Country Waterford on Google Earth. Had a run round in the Virtual on the road bubbles. But can't find any church. Will keep looking.

Admin. I have Spend days looking for this Grave. Nothing. So i'm giving up on this one. If i come across it by accident will post. But its been doing my head in.

Littlehand. Never had you down as a quitter. :lol!: Know what you mean. I starting to think there isn't one. But thanks for you help.

For what is worth. I have had no luck either.

Morning All,
The Keynshamlighthorse did visit his grave back in 2000, however the picture on the old site is not of very good quality, you cannot make out any inscription, he is in a light grey family vault at Clonagen Churchyard, Curraghmore.
Rai
Keynshamlighthorse

Rai. Thanks. Could you tell me is the vault is inside the church, or outside in the churchyard.

Hi Littlehand.
The Family vault is in the churchyard.
Rai

Found this. But not sure if it the one everyone is looking for.

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Thanks 24th. But to be honest. I don't know. Maybe Rai might know.

Hi All,
The photo has nothing to do with the Beresford VC family of Ireland.
Rai
Keynshamlighthorse

Thanks Rai. Keep looking 24th.

Hi All

I have just found the photograph from the The Keynshamlighthorse, who visited his grave back in 2000, however the picture on the old site is not of very good quality, you cannot make out any inscription, he is in a light grey family vault at Clonagen Churchyard, Curraghmore.

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1879Graves are you going to post this in the Graves section. Its a start

Hi Littlehand

Now posted in the Graves section aswell

This article appeared in The Irish Times - Thursday, June 24, 2010


€3.9m estate with a good pedigree
MICHAEL PARSONS

There are echoes of Zulu and Afghan battlefields on an aristocratic 110-acre Waterford estate now a private stud farm

EVER HEARD of Lieutenant-Colonel Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford, Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire? No? What on earth has happened to history teaching in our schools?

His Lordship, son of the 4th Marquess of Waterford, was a household name in late-19th century Ireland – well, at least in the better-class of household that took The Irish Times . Known affectionately as “Fighting Bill”, according to his biographer he joined the British army and won the Victoria Cross for gallantry during a battle with “savages” on July 3rd, 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand.

Back when men were men and sported handlebar moustaches rather than man-bags, he was famed for exploits as diverse as smuggling a polecat into Eton (where he was regularly flogged for bunking off to the races at Ascot) and taking his pet badger into Pratt’s (that’s the gentlemen’s club in St James’s, London – not the Fiat dealership in Carlow). He was an all-round sportsman who loved “fisticuffs, American cock-fighting, hunting, racing [and] polo”. What a splendid chap!

During a glittering military career with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers, which began in Cahir, Co Tipperary, he served with considerable distinction in India and was a “star” of the Afghan War. (Isn’t it dragging on?) He was a dab-hand at pig-sticking – his way of relaxing after polishing off scores of pesky tribesmen up the Khyber Pass.

In civilian life, he was a passionate – and hugely successful – racehorse owner. He died in 1900, aged 53, after succumbing to peritonitis brought on “by eating game that was too high” and is buried at Clonagam Churchyard, Co Waterford.

But the horsey old genes live on, because Lord Beresford’s old home – a Georgian estate, serendipitously called Georgestown House – near the Co Waterford village of Kill is today run as a private thoroughbred stud farm.

The listed, classic Georgian house, with 465sq m (5,000sq ft) of accommodation on an estate of 110 acres, is today owned by Dublin businessman Pat Garvey and his wife, Rita, and is for sale by private treaty with an asking price of €3.9 million. The agents are Robert Ganly and Celia Lamb at Knight Frank.

The vendors said they bought the estate 10 years ago and have “upgraded the property substantially” by buying extra land “to create a fine integrated stud farm with the best of equestrian facilities – in a wonderful part of the world”.

They are “moving on reluctantly” because of other business commitments and because their grown-up children have no real interest in the horse business.

The estate has good road frontage and three separate gated entrances.

The house is approached by an avenue, which curves around a natural, spring-fed lake, and over a stone bridge. A gravelled forecourt is sheltered by mature trees. A flight of 10 wide stone steps, flanked by Doric columns, leads to a double front door.

The six-bedroom house is in excellent condition, and is decorated in classic country house style. It has all the expected features, from fanlights and marble fireplaces to sash windows with working shutters.

The ground floor – which has large drawing and diningrooms — has been extended at the rear by the addition of a spacious, glass-walled sunroom opening onto a wisteria-clad patio. Four of the bedrooms are on the first floor of the main part of the house; with a further two in a west wing.

A “country” kitchen is fully fitted with granite tops, a central island, an Aga cooker and a roomy window seat. Off the kitchen is a large pantry/wine cellar, laundry/utilities room, walk-in linen room and a sittingroom/library.

Outbuildings are devoted to extensive stabling, horse walkers, staff quarters and even a gym to keep grooms in tip-top shape.

Behind the house, a large, gently sloping walled garden is dotted with fruit trees and flowering shrubs and contains a tennis court. A vegetable garden, discreetly boxed-in by hedge, is well-planted and provides crops of vegetables, herbs, redcurrants, gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries. The land is mainly devoted to fenced and watered paddocks.

The agents were keen to point out that “both the Waterford Foxhounds and the Woodstown Harriers are within easy boxing distance”.

The estate is also a haven for the pukka set with no less than two of Ireland’s 10 remaining polo clubs at hand: the Waterford Polo Club and the Curraghmore Polo Club.

By Jove! Lord William would find that not a lot has changed.

THE A.-D.-C.-IN-WAITING

"We have here an admirable summary of the highly important personal
duties of a tactful A.D.C. to an Indian Viceroy. Not the least
important being the superintendence of the Invitation Department. It
was in this very connection that an A.D.C. to an Indian Governor,
fresh from a West Indian appointment and Society somewhat on "Tom
Cringle's Log" conditions, by issuing invitations to a _Quality
Dance_, gave rise, in Southern India, to a social commotion which
reacted very unfavourably as regards the efficient working of various
departments of his Chief's general administration.

In pre-Mutiny days in India an officer who could not carve meat and
fowl well had a very poor chance of such an appointment. Happily the
institution of _a la Russe_ fashions in the service of the table has
or many years past rendered such qualifications unnecessary.

To the regret of a very wide circle, the "loud, joyful and
steeplechasing Lord "--the late Lord William Beresford--alluded to by
Ali Baba, died in England in 1900. From 1875 to 1881 he was A.D.C. to
Viceroys of India, and it was in the "distant wars" of the Jowaki
expedition, 1877-8, in the Zulu War, 1879, where he gained the
Victoria Cross, and in the Afghan War, 1880, that his military career
was spent.

From 1881 to 1894 Lord William Beresford very ably served Viceroys of
India as their Military Secretary. Services which were admirably
summed up by a speaker on Dec. 30, 1893, when he was entertained at a
farewell dinner at the Town Hall, Calcutta, by 180 friends, who
declared that "he had raised the office to a science, and himself from
an official into an institution, and acquired a reputation absolutely
unique."

The voluminous and noteworthy annals of Indian sport can show no
keener sportsman and successful rider of steeplechases and polo
player. He won the Viceroy's Cup six times and many other principal
events at race-meetings in India.

In 1894 Lord William retired from India, and in England maintained a
renowned racing stable, being in addition one of the first to own
American horses and employ American jockeys".

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© Bridgeman Art Library

Click Here to purchase

Impi. Thanks not a bad price either. Sent you a PM.

Hi Impi.
Thanks for the link to Bridgeman Art , I have ordered the Beresford picture post card size along with a few others .
Will post my thoughts on them when they arrive for those who may be interested .
cheers 90th.

Beresford and his poodle "Ponto"
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Clonagam Churchyard, Portlaw, County Waterford, Ireland