Woodlawn House

[corisande]

I understand that Woodlawn House has been sold in the last year or so. It was in the past the seat of Lord Ashtown (family name Trench)

My interest in the place is that my family were gatekeepers for many years

Does anyone know who the current owners are, and what their plans are for the house and estate. There have been a number of failed attempts to resurrect the place over the last 25 years.

[alistquin]

I too have an interest in Woodlawn House as several members of my wife's family were 'in service' there and Lady Ashtown is reputed to have sponsored an uncle when he joined the Royal Marines.

I'm not certain who owns the property but I do know from a recent visit, that if you venture too close to the main house, the CCTV cameras spot you and keep you in sight, followed by loudspeaker requests to remove yourself immediately.

Nice to know that they're at long last attempting to retain what is left.

If you follow the link below it takes you to a site run by the Friends of Woodlawn House, who I'm sure would be able to help you with further information.

http://www.finnachta.com/FOWHG_Contact_Form_.htm

Alistair

[corisande]

Alistair

I did join that site you suggest a few years ago, but it is not, as far as I can see, kept up to date.

I also get a lot of unwanted emails from the site owner, which I am unable to stop.

[corisande]

Lady Ashtown is reputed to have sponsored an uncle when he joined the Royal Marines. 

You can get RM records at Nat Archives (UK) as they were not destroyed in bombing. However they are not on ancestry, but if you use the Nat Archive search facility under RMs you can see if they have it, and buy it. The record should include the character references the man got on joining

[alistquin]

Thanks for the tip on character references at the National Archives. I have a growing list of military information needed for when I can organise a trip to Kew.

I'm visiting the environs of Woodlawn within the next couple of weeks to show a visiting 90 year old lady from Vancouver where her grandmother was in service. I'll ask about and see if I can find out the current owner.

Alistair

[corisande]

If you are visiting in the next few weeks, you should try to find the date of the interment of the ashes of the late Lord Ashtown (who recently died). You might like to go along. And could probably have a word with the new Lord Trench who will be there.

His family have arranged a service in the church, and the ashes will go in the mausoleum afterward. From what I understand the service is in May, but I do not know the date.

[alistquin]

I've just had a look online for any information, but wasn't even able to see any announcement of his death.

I have the telephone number of the Rev. George Flynn who looks after Woodlawn Church, so I'll call him and see when it's happening.

Thanks for the information.

Alistair

[corisande]

I have had an email from new Lord Ashtown, so its definitely on 

Times Obituary of Lord Ashtown and not a mention of Ireland

And a memorial notice in Irish Times (but as far as I can see no obituary)

[alistquin]

I keep saying thank you! But thanks again.

I did note that his mother was a Hamilton-Faulkner but could find little about her. I also have an interest in the Faulkners of County Tipperary, do you have any idea whether or not the Californian family had roots in Tipperary?

I've been taking a look at your Grant website and I must compliment you. I particularly like the fan, which has hyperlinks to notes on each individual. Is that your own design or have you used some proprietary software?

Apart from writing a short book for an American 'off-shoot' family and an ever increasing data-base in FTM, I often think about how best to collate in some ordered fashion, the information I have accumulated and hopefully will continue to accumulate for a few years yet. Yours is the first website I've looked at that appears to accomodate a broad family.

Alistair