Friday 15 March 2024

Derrynoid Lodge

THE TORRENSES OWNED 4,844 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY

This family is reputed to have derived its descent from a noble house of Sweden. 

THOMAS TORRENS, a cavalry officer from Sweden who served in the army of WILLIAM III, resigned his commission and settled, about 1690, at Dungiven, County Londonderry.

He married and had issue,
Thomas, d 1735;
Henry, d 1755;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
Robert (Rev), Rector of Hervey Hill; father of Robert Torrens;
The third son,

THE REV JOHN TORRENS (1708-87), of Templemore, County Londonderry, Rector of Ballynascreen, 1722, Headmaster of Derry Diocesan School, 1734-5, Prebendary of Derry, 1747, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Derry, married firstly, in 1733, Anne, daughter of the Rev Roger Blackhall, headmaster of Derry Diocesan School, 1702-34, and had issue,
Roger, 1733-1804;
THOMAS, of whom presently;
Robert, b 1748;
Martha; Jane; Anne; Elizabeth.
Mr Torrens wedded secondly, in 1752, Elizabeth Fisher.

His second son,

THE REV THOMAS TORRENS (1741-79), of Londonderry, espoused, in 1765, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Curry, and had issue,
John (Ven), Archdeacon of Dublin;
Samuel, captain, 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot;
ROBERT, of whom hereafter;
Henry (Sir), Major-General, KCB.
Major-General Sir Henry Torrens KCB

The Rev Thomas Torrens's third son,

ROBERT TORRENS (1775-1856), of Derrynoid Lodge, Draperstown, County Londonderry, was a senior judge, having been appointed, in 1823, a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland.

The Hon Mr Justice Torrens married, in 1809, his cousin Anne, daughter of Thomas Torrens, and had issue,
THOMAS FRANCIS, b 1810, died in Italy;
Robert Samuel (1818-51), captain, 42nd Regiment;
Samuel John (1825-46), died in Madeira;
HENRIETTA, of whom presently;
Ann, 1829-32.
Mr Justice Torrens's elder daughter,

HENRIETTA TORRENS (1819-57), espoused William, 1st Baron O'Neill, and had issue,
Edward, 2nd Baron O'Neill;
Arthur;
ROBERT TORRENS, of whom we treat;
Anne.
The Lady O'Neill died in 1857, and bequeathed the Derrynoid estate to her third son,

MAJOR THE HON ROBERT TORRENS O'NEILL (1845-1910), of Tullymore Lodge, County Antrim, who died unmarried.


DERRYNOID LODGE, near Draperstown, County Londonderry, was built ca 1809 for the Hon Mr Justice Torrens.

It was originally a thatched cottage though, about 1816, the house was extended and a slate roof was erected.

The Lodge was last inhabited before the start of the 2nd World War.

In 1952, Derrynoid Lodge suffered severe fire damage and was subsequently demolished.

*****

In 1995, with funding from the Department of Agriculture, International Fund for Ireland and the European Union, the former land steward’s house and other servants’ quarters were refurbished to form a striking sandstone frontage to the Derrynoid Centre.

THE DERRYNOID CENTRE is situated in 250 acres of secluded forest woodland, on the site of the Georgian manor house, Derrynoid Lodge.

It contains 40 en-suite bedrooms, an on-site restaurant & bar and leisure facilities.

Conference facilities include a multi-media lecture theatre which could accommodate 110 guests, and 8 fully equipped syndicate rooms.

Hobby & leisure courses, and training & consultancy services are available.

The Centre closed down, however, in March, 2011.

First published in March, 2014.

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