Sunday 5 November 2023

Mary Ward, 1827-69

My article about DOWNPATRICK GATE LODGE, Castle Ward, County Down, reminded me of Mary Ward and her wonderful gift as a watercolourist.

I've seen a delightful painting of the lodge and its surroundings taken by her in the mid-19th century:
The steeply-raked roof, twin lofty chimneys, white-washed walls and decorative woodwork finials and valances in the Bangor family's shade of golden yellow, as seen on their coat-of-arms. 
The fine railings appear dark green and one of the gates is wide open. The lawns at each side are newly-mown.

Downpatrick gate lodge must have been built prior to Mary Ward's untimely death in 1869.

MARY (1827-69), daughter of the Rev Henry King, of BALLYLIN HOUSE, King's County (Offaly), married, in 1854, the Hon Henry William Ward, son of Edward, 3rd Viscount Bangor, of Castle Ward, County Down, and had issue,
Henry Somerset (1857-60);
Edward William Henry (1863-87);
MAXWELL RICHARD CROSBIE, 6th Viscount Bangor;
Harriette Mary; Kathleen Annette Norah; Bertha Jane; Henrietta; Emily Georgiana.
Mary died tragically at BIRR CASTLE, King's County, in an accident involving a self-propelled vehicle being developed by Lord Rosse.

Had she survived, Mary Ward would have become the 5th Viscountess Bangor.

Her husband, the Hon Henry Ward, succeeded as 5th Viscount; and her son, the Hon Maxwell Ward, eventually succeeded as 6th Viscount.

First published in May, 2009

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

The accident actually happened when she was visiting her cousin Lord Ross, at Birr Castle in Co Offaly.

Anonymous said...

The car, in question was actually built as an experimental effort by Mary Ward's cousins. She came from a family of intelligent scientists and was very accomplished herself, in many fields.
On a visit to her own family, her cousins proposed a drive in their new invention. Sadly she fell from the car whilst it was travelling around a bend and was run over by the wheels.

Information gleaned from National Trust coverage of Castle Ward house, Ireland.