Smyths Of The Bann
written by Paul McCandless

BELMONT BRANCH

Belmont House was built, according to a date stone, in 1838 for Robert McClelland, owner of the 'Bann Weaving Factory.' The architect was the well-known Thomas Jackson who is believed to have been responsible for the designs of Milltown, Brookfield and Bellfield Houses. Sir Charles Brett describes it as "a fine square two-storey merchant's mansion of horizontally rusticated golden freestone, an excellent example of the Greek revival style at its late best." It has moulded eaves and cornice on paired console brackets and a single storey Ionic portico with fluted columns similar to those of its sister houses, Milltown and Huntly.

The only Smyth to have owned Belmont House was William Anderson. William Anderson was born on 17th May 1861 at Brookfield House, the eldest son of William from his first marriage, although there was an earlier connection with Belmont and the Smyths in that Robert McClelland's daughter, Anna, married John Smyth (Snr) of Milltown House. William Anderson was better known as 'Jumbo' due to the fact that he weighed 20 stone and was 6ft 2ins tall. He attended Banbridge Academy, then situated in Library Lane and whose principal at the time was the highly respected Andrew Mullan. From there he went to Lurgan College, as did Thomas, Howard, Stanley and Norman Ferguson whose sister married George Smyth of Milltown, where he would have been under the tutelage of the famous W T Kirkpatrick. After Lurgan College he attended Coleraine Academical Institution before going to Tettermall, an English public school. On leaving Tettenhall he served his apprenticeship with 'John Preston & Son' who. as was stated earlier, had strong connections with the Smyth family. However a future in the linen trade was cut short because, like his grandfather Brice (4), Jumbo became blind.

When Jumbo was only 10 years old his mother died. She came from a wealthy family and when she died, according to family tradition, the bulk of her estate was left to Jumbo, though it would seem more likely that it was left in trust until he became an adult. Consequently his father took Jumbo, or rather his trustees, to court to gain control of his dead wife's estate. William lost the case and relations between father and son were never the same again. While living at Brookfield, Jumbo converted an old building in the inner courtyard into a billiards room.

In his younger days he hunted with the Iveagh Harriers and the County Down Staghounds, as well as taking part in hare coursing with his greyhound 'Sir Sankey', of which a portrait exists and is still in the ownership of the Smyth family, Jumbo won the Waterloo Purse. Jumbo also won the Waterloo Cup which his son Brice (8) inherited. Jumbo later became interested in Terrier coursing and owned a fine breed of dogs.

Like his brother Brice (7), Jumbo was a keen yachtsman, winning many cups. He owned a steam yacht named the 'Satanella', which measured 32ft in length and he travelled extensively on it, sailing as far afield as America, Canada and the Mediterranean. When he wasn't cruising the seven seas, the 'Satanella' was anchored at Bangor where Jumbo was a member of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. He was especially fond of Monte Carlo and from cruises in the Middle East he brought back rugs, carpets, pictures and other souvenirs, all of which would eventually end up decorating Belmont House. It was on a cruise of the Scottish Isles that he met his wife, Katherine Elizabeth Ida McNeill, who lived on the Isle of Barra and was a member of that famous clan. They married in 1901, Katherine aged 22 years and Jumbo 40 years old.

Jumbo and Katherine had four children - Katherine Ethel born on 25th August 1902 (mentioned more fully in the Milltown section), Edna Rosaline (Edna) and Gwendoline Ida (Gwen) both born on 24th February 1904. A history of twins ran on their mother's side of the family, Katherine having had a twin sister who died at the age of 18 years. Lastly there was William Brice, who was known as Brice (8), and was born on 9th February 1913.

In keeping with Smyth family tradition, Jumbo was a staunch Conservative and a devout member of Scarva Street Presbyterian Church where he served as a Trustee. He also served as a Committee member of Banbridge Football Club in 1885.

Jumbo and Katherine led a somewhat extravagant lifestyle which unfortunately was to catch up with them in the 1920s when the bank manager called to inform them to cut down on their expenses. A saying used at Brookfield was, "What we have at Brookfield they have it better at Belmont." In the end they had little money left.

Jumbo died on 14th May 1927 and was buried on what would have been his 66th birthday, his birthday falling on 17th May, in Banbridge Municipal Cemetery. On the Sunday following his death, a memorial service was held in Scarva Street Presbyterian Church conducted by the Rev William Moore MA, at which Jumbo's favourite hymns were sung, 'Rock Of Ages', 'O God Of Bethel' and ‘For Ever With The Lord.' The Rev Moore spoke of him as "a dear friend and loyal church member."

Belmont House was sold after his death for £2,700, inclusive of 20 acres of land, to the Finney family. Gone were the days when Brookfield, Belmont and Iveagh would compete with one another to see who could grow the first asparagus of the season - something that, according to Brice (8), Belmont always won!

The splendid contents were auctioned including his cars, one being a 31hp, eight cylinder Cadillac, registration number IJ 90 that had been specially shipped from America. It was a seven-seater tourist car with canvas sides and top and was probably one of the first, if not the first, Cadillac in Ireland. The other car was a 38hp, seven-seater Daimler Landaulette, registration number IJ 613.

Katherine was very actively involved in many organisations which gave support to soldiers during the First World War. She was a prominent member of the Nursing Society. She also gave liberally of money to the Armed Forces Funds.

Katherine was also a keen gofer and was President of the Banbridge Ladies Branch for a number of years in the early 1920s.

Brice (8) recalled that his mother was always late and when she decided to go to Belfast, which she usually did by train, the station had to be telephoned to hold the train until Katherine arrived. He remembered how one day she got Cairns the chauffeur to drive her to the city, something that proved comical. Cairns had never been there before and ended up driving behind a tram. Katherine, getting impatient, said to him: "For goodness sake Cairns, hurry up and pass that tram", to which he replied: "Is that what it is? I've been waiting for it to move over."

After Jumbo's death Katherine went to live with her daughter Edna in Cheshire, eventually returning to live at Shrewsbury Gardens, Belfast. While on holiday in 1937 she became ill and died on 22nd November of the same year aged 58 years.

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM ANDERSON AND KATHERINE

Neither Katherine, Edna or Gwen attended a school in their early years, instead they were educated at home with no less than eight governesses. Like many of their cousins and contemporaries, the girls were eventually sent away to school. Katherine was sent to the Alexandra Ladies' College, Dublin in September 1918, leaving it five months later on 14th February 1919, while Edna and Gwen went to Hillcourt, a school they dearly loved. Eventually all three girls were sent to Belmont House, Ripley, in Kent which they absolutely hated as the English girls looked down on them and believed that everyone Irish kept pigs and hens in their houses. The Smyth children did not keep pigs or hens; instead, they kept goats! Edna and Gwen's goats were named Leah and Rachael, while the one belonging to Brice (8) was called Maisy and was renowned for butting everyone.

After the visit from the bank manager in the 1920s the family's lives changed dramatically, but the girls probably felt this more keenly than anyone else. Their horses had to be sold and then the unimaginable; they were sent out to work. This was probably difficult for the girls to accept as none of the other families had to send their daughters to work. Nevertheless they coped admirably and got jobs that they thoroughly enjoyed.

Katherine Ethel married her cousin James Douglas Smyth, both of whom are mentioned more fully in the Milltown section.

Gwen took a one-year course in farming in England, returning to Northern Ireland and getting a job on a farm. She met Captain George Hamilton Coey of Ashfield House, Dromore, County Down at a hunt. They were married on 16th April 1925 in Scarva Street Presbyterian Church. Captain Coey's best man was Edward Coey and Katherine and Edna Smyth were bridesmaids. They had two children - Mary, born on 19th April 1926, and who married Dr William Scott McBride, a very highly esteemed doctor in the area, and William, born on 15th September 1927 and died on 14th October 1992. Captain Coey died on 19th August 1969. Their mother Gwen died on 23rd May 1994 aged 90 years and was buried in the Coey plot in Banbridge Municipal Cemetery. Mary still resides at the family home, Ashfield House.

Edna studied gardening at Cirencester Agricultural College where she came seventh out of all Great Britain in the final exams. Afterwards she got a job with a Mrs Stone of Cheshire who gave her a small house in the grounds. Her mother would often come and stay with her, as would Brice (8) while on holidays from his school, Wrekin College. Edna married Derek Martin when she was 32 years old, the couple going to live at The Spa, Ballynahinch and later at the Favour Royal Estate, County Tyrone. Edna moved in her latter years to Corick House, County Tyrone.

Edna was very highly thought of in the family even though she could be quite domineering, to the amusement of other family members. One such example was when the minister came to visit; he had no choice other than to read the passages of the Bible that Edna had chosen, rather than the ones he wanted to read. Her views on children were also somewhat amusing (she had none of her own) her opinion being that "they should be seen and not heard!" She died on 13th September 1994 aged 90 years, the same age at which her twin Gwen died. She was buried in the grave of her grandfather, William Anderson (Jumbo) Smyth.

(William) Brice (8) was born on 9th February 1913, the only son of Jumbo and Katherine. Anyone visiting the Belmont Hotel today should look for a Monkey Puzzle tree at the side of the driveway. This was planted to commemorate the birth of Brice (8).

Brice recalled having a wonderful nursemaid named Maria Proctor whose family were furniture makers based in Newry Street. Many of their pieces of high quality furniture were bought by the Smyths for Belmont House. Indeed, Brice (8) had one of their pieces in his house until his death. Maria would often take Brice (8) on long walks and during the First World War years she was sure the Germans were going to invade, Brice (8) always checking under his bed at night to make sure there were no Germans hiding there!

At the age of five years he was sent to a local school where he was in a class of four - two boys and two girls. They were taught copybook writing and were made to write, "Spare the rod and spoil the child" over and over again.

As a child Brice (8) often visited his cousins. One such cousin was Geraldine Ferguson who lived not far from Belmont House at Iveagh House with whom he played 'horse', recalling that this was unfortunate for him as Geraldine always insisted that he be the 'horse.' Another of the games he played was 'hares' which was simply running over the fields, his companions being William Smyth and Lloyd Cowdy. One day the game reached the River Bann and to the amazement of Brice (8) and William, Lloyd swam across the river to the other side. Other friends included Hilda Cowdy (Lloyd's sister) and Billy Alexander, the bank manager's son. Several times a year Brice (8) visited his cousins William and Teddy at Brookfield, something he enjoyed immensely as they had splendid toys. He also enjoyed himself when he visited Dr Brice Smyth in Belfast, as Dr Smyth would take him to the pantomime.

A lasting memory for Brice (8) was having his appendix removed. He often delighted in showing the massive scar the operation had caused. The reason it was thought a good idea to remove children's appendixes was due to the fact that King Edward VII's Coronation had to be postponed as he had almost died from appendicitis. Jumbo bought an operating table, which was set up in the dining room and hired a surgeon to do the operation, the girls also being operated on. Brice (8) recalled being told one morning to stay in bed, something he thought unusual at the time. The next thing he knew, the surgeon entered the room and knocked him out with Chloroform. When he awoke he had 10 large stitches in his side. The operation took place on 6th December and he did not get downstairs again until Christmas Day. The time he had off school to recover gave him time to talk a lot to his father whose company he enjoyed very much, as his father did his, although he stated that his father never spoke of his early life. Brice (8) would often read the newspaper to him, Jumbo being totally blind at this stage; the 'Belfast Newsletter' in the morning (especially the racing section) and 'The Irish Times' at lunchtime.

Each Sunday Brice (8), his sisters, his mother (who was a very religious lady) and father walked to Scarva Street Presbyterian Church where they sat in the front pew, as his father was hard of hearing as well as blind. On Sunday afternoons after church the only amusement the children were allowed was a jigsaw of the Ten Commandments, whilst in the evenings they each had to sing a hymn, their mother accompanying them on the piano.

When he was seven years old Brice (8) attended his first point-to-point race. His mother considered him too young to go but Cairns, the chauffeur, with whom Brice (8) had a very good rapport, persuaded Katherine to let him go, much to the annoyance of the girls who said: "Mother, you spoil that child; we were never allowed to go to the races when we were his age!" Brice (8) was given five shillings, one for each of the five races. In the third race he bet on a horse called 'Clifton Lass' ridden by Dermot Campbell, a friend of the family who was later killed during the Second World War. Brice (8) placed his bet with Hugh and Tom McAlinden, also friends of the family, the horse winning and Brice (8) pocketing 11 shillings for his winnings, this causing his sisters to be aggrieved.

In 1921 Brice (8) was sent to Elm Park Preparatory School just outside Armagh at Killylea, of which he had fond memories. The school was founded by two ex-masters of Rockport Preparatory School which, unlike Elm Park, is still operating. The two joint headmasters were H E Seth Smith and Willoughby Weaving. Both men had served in the Great War and had impeccable service records, Smith having been awarded the Military Cross. Elm Park was run along the lines of the English public schools, to which many of the boys were expected to go to from Elm Park. At the age of eight years Brice (8) was studying Latin and at nine years old Greek. During the winter term the boys played soccer; Easter term, hockey, and summer term, cricket. As well as this there was an outdoor swimming pool. Eventually the school's numbers increased to 14 and they were able to form a cricket team, their first cricket match being against Rockport, by whom they were beaten. They had mixed hockey matches with the girls from a neighbouring school, Brice (8) recalling that the girls were fortunate to have shin pads but the boys of Elm Park did not.

On Sundays they walked one and a half miles to Killylea Church of Ireland, whilst in the afternoons they would go to the glen and play cowboys and Indians. During the summer they rode their bicycles to Armagh Cathedral for the service. Also on Sundays the boys looked forward to having cake, made by their mothers. Brice (8) always had a coffee cake and many times he won first prize for it, whilst another of the boys' mothers always made seed cake, which no-one could eat. One day 'Shot', the school's pointer dog, got a real treat when the matron left a coffee cake belonging to Brice (8) sitting unguarded on a table. When no-one was looking Shot finished off the entire cake!

The boys held Willoughby Weaving in great respect. Often at night 'Willow', as he was known to them, would come around to switch off the lights and entertain them with great stories he had made up about the Wild West, ending every story with the hero about to fall off a crevice. However, only the dormitory with the least convict marks from the previous week were treated to Willow's tales. On his retirement he went to live at Oxford, where Brice (8) visited him often.

Brice (8) left Elm Park in 1926. During the Second World War the school was used to house children who had been evacuated due to the Blitz. Unfortunately, after the War it fell on hard times and eventually closed in 1953. However, reunions are still being held. The first was in 1975 in Malone Golf Club and was organised by Brice (8) and Ernie Cooke, Brice (8) being the Chairman. There were 75 'old boys' in attendance, Brice (8) being the eldest. The second dinner was held in the Ulster Reform Club in 1995 and again 75 attended. Brice (8) and Willy Carson were the eldest in attendance. Upon the death of Brice (8) his position as eldest 'old boy' was filled by the late Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Desmond Woods, MC and Bar. At each and every subsequent reunion Brice (8) would relate old experiences to everyone's delight, especially the marmalade story:- during breakfast on the first morning he was there, Brice (8) asked for the marmalade to be passed, to which came the reply, "The marmalade is not for the boys." Incidentally, the first slice of bread at breakfast and supper did not have butter on it, let alone marmalade.

There is a plaque in Killylea Parish Church to commemorate the school, unveiled by Brice (8) and Ernie Cooke.

In the 1980s, I (the author) paid a visit to Elm Park by which time the house, enlarged around the 1860s to the designs of Sir Charles Lanyon, was somewhat forlorn and being used to house turkeys. I went around the various floors and rooms and can remember the long line of washhand-basins in the basement.

Continuing his education, from Elm Park Brice (8) won the second highest scholarship to Wrekin College in Wellington, Shropshire. There were 350 boys, most of whom were Irish. The headmaster, Maxwell (Maxi) Gordon, was an Irishman himself. There were seven houses with the Irish boys, some of them from Northern Ireland, being in Tudor House. The running of the school was much like Elm Park, rugby and cricket both being played. The food was reasonable, but according to Brice (8) the second course left a lot to be desired. It was graded by three nicknames Hill 60, Breastplate and Channel Crossing.

Punishment came in two forms; the first was the standard beating, which the boys preferred to the other. One boy had been beaten so many times that his hide was like leather! When he was being punished he would turn round and leer at the master. The other punishment was called 'everlastings'; the boy was given a six-figure number to which he had to add the original number and the resulting figure, until he arrived at the original figure multiplied by 100. Extremely boring and little wonder everyone would rather have had a quick beating.

When he was 15 years old, Brice (8) sat the national exam, lower school certificate, and received eight credits, his subjects being Latin, Greek, arithmetic, history, algebra, geometry, English, French, geography and co-ordinate calculus. When he was 17 years old he entered for a Classical scholarship to Oxford University but did not succeed. In his final year he won an Oxford and Cambridge Higher Certificate in Classics.

He departed Wrekin College in 1931 to begin his working life. He joined 'William Ewart & Sons Ltd' in Belfast, of which his brother-in-law and cousin James Douglas Smyth was a Director. He received training in spinning, weaving, bleaching, dyeing and merchanting, after which he was transferred to their New York office as Assistant Manager in 1938. There were 40 people employed in this factory and Brice (8) had considerable duties of administration to perform.

In 1952 he returned to Belfast in charge of the apparel department selling to the American and Canadian markets in close co-operation with the New York office, the main distributors of Ewarts produce. During his time in Belfast he regularly travelled to the USA and Canada. In 1956 he became a Director of 'William Ewart & Sons - New York Ltd' and in 1965 he was put in charge of the whole American department having overall responsibility for items produced, sales to retail, wholesale, mail order and contract trade.

Between the years of 1967 and 1972 he was the Chairman of the Irish Linen Guild, a body established to promote work for the linen industry in which role he led trade missions to Vienna, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Japan.

In 1972 Brice (8) became Managing Director of Ewarts textiles business, which was then employing 800 people, using 500 plain and damask looms. In 1973 he was appointed Chairman and also held the post of Chairman of the Northern Ireland Section of the Textile Institute.

Brice retired from the linen trade in 1974 after 43 years of faithful service when William Ewarts was amalgamated with 'William Liddell & Co Ltd.'

On his retirement Brice (8) became Director of the USPCA, a post he held until 1988. He was able to indulge more fully in his favourite hobby which, being a member of the Smyth family comes as no surprise that it was golf. Up until his death he was the oldest Past Captain of Royal County Down Golf Club, being Captain in 1964. He also belonged to the Masonic Institution and the Friendly Brothers.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, Brice (8) married Evelyn Mary Mitchell, a daughter of Dr George Mitchell, Ben Mohr, Insch, Aberdeenshire on 3rd August 1939, the ceremony taking place in Rayne Parish Church, Aberdeenshire. Evelyn was born on 20th June 1915. The best man of Brice (8) was William Smyth (his cousin) and one of Evelyn's bridesmaids was his niece Georgina, whose mother and father also attended the wedding.

Brice (8) and Evelyn had four children all born in America - a son William, born in 1941 and who unfortunately died when he was only a few weeks old, and three daughters - Evelyn (Ann) born in 1942; Barbara (Jill) Brice, born in 1944 and Rosemary, born in 1951.

Jill married (Peter) Norman Hans Martin. She lives in Johannesburg with her two children -Alexander (Alec) Brice Martin, born in 1970 and (Julie) Barbara Margot Martin, born in 1973. Ann married Anthony (Graham) Hume Jones. She lived in Somerset and sadly died in August 1998, leaving three children - (Hume) Riversdale Jones, born in 1968; Benjamin (Ben) Brice Jones, born in 1972 and (Kate) Ann Crossland Jones, born in 1975. Rosemary married (Peter) John Bickmore Dundas. She lives in Scotland and has three children - (Alastair) Brice Bickmore Dundas, born in 1976; (Robert) William Bickmore Dundas, born in 1978 and (Adele) Charlotte Bickmore Dundas, born in 1981, Adele has the same birth date, 17th May, as her great-grandfather William Anderson Smyth. Rosemary attended the same school as her aunts Gwen and Edna, 'Hillcourt', the school having since been re-named Rathdown.

Their mother, Evelyn, died on 30th November 1982 aged 67 years, predeceasing Brice (8) by 18 years. Brice (8) died on 14th May 2000 aged 87 years, Brice (8) and his father William Anderson both dying on 14th May. His funeral service was held at St Patrick's Parish Church, Drumbeg, after which his remains were interred in Banbridge Municipal Cemetery alongside those of his wife, in the grave of his father William Anderson (Jumbo) Smyth. Brice (8) was the last of the Smyths to be directly connected with the linen industry.