The will of Raymond Saville Connolly de Montmorency Lecky Browne-Lecky of Ecclesville, Fintona, represents the final decisive moment in the history of the Ecclesville estate. Rather than passing to a direct heir, the estate was deliberately diverted into public and charitable hands, marking the end of its existence as a private family seat.

Executed in 1956 (with a codicil in 1958), and proved following his death in 1961, the will provides a detailed account of the intended disposal of the house, its contents, and the wider estate.

Key Provisions of the Will

Ecclesville Estate: Devised to the Government of Northern Ireland for public use.
No direct heir: The estate was intentionally removed from family succession.
Portraits: Transferred to the Dean and Chapter of Londonderry Cathedral.
Selected personal objects: Distributed to named individuals.
Jewellery: Ordered to be sold to fund church plate and fittings.
Local bequests: Included the Church of Ireland parish of Fintona and the British Legion Hall at Ecclesville.
Residual estate: Divided between charitable institutions, including Denville Hall and the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

The Ecclesville Clause

“To Hand over to the Government of Northern Ireland… my Mansion House and Lands known as Ecclesville…”

This clause marks the formal transfer of Ecclesville out of private ownership. The conditions attached ensured continued community use of the grounds, including the annual horse show and the continuation of the golf links.

Historical Significance

The will represents a conscious and final break in the hereditary transmission of the estate. Unlike earlier successions within the Leigh, Eccles, and Browne-Lecky families, Raymond Browne-Lecky chose to disperse both property and possessions. The subsequent auction of 1962 reflects the execution of these intentions, resulting in the loss of the house’s contents and, ultimately, the house itself.

The McClintock Portrait and the Bequest to Xenia Joynson Wreford

“To hand over to the Dean and Chapter of Londonderry Cathedral all my family portraits (except the portrait of Mrs. McClintock which I hereby bequeath to her granddaughter who is my second cousin, Xeina [sic] Joynson Wreford…)”

Among the provisions of the will is a notably personal exception: the portrait of Mrs. Amy McClintock was specifically excluded from the general transfer of family portraits to Londonderry Cathedral and instead bequeathed to her granddaughter, Xenia Joynson Wreford. This clause stands apart from the broader dispersal of the Ecclesville collections, indicating a deliberate intention to preserve this particular object within the extended family.

However, available evidence suggests that this bequest may not have been fulfilled. Recollections recorded from Mrs. Knox-Browne indicate that the portrait remained hanging in the Music Room at Ecclesville following Raymond Browne-Lecky’s death in 1962. It does not appear in the auction catalogue of that year, and there is no clear record of its transfer to Xenia Joynson Wreford.

Later testimony introduces further complexity. In June 2008, Xenia visited Mervyn Knox-Browne and his daughter Deirdre Yellowlees at Mervyn’s home in Perthshire. Mervyn recalled that he believed his mother had removed the portrait from Ecclesville prior to the 1962 auction and was confident that it remained among her stored possessions. Deirdre Yellowlees, however, disagreed with this account, leaving the matter unresolved.

Earlier documentary evidence suggests that the portrait had previously formed part of the McClintock collections at Seskinore. An insurance inventory prepared by Gallows of London in December 1914 (ref. D1716/19) records:

“Oil painting: Portrait of Mrs. A. H. McClintock, 30 in. by 25 in., by Costa – in heavy Florentine frame, valued at £40.”

A photograph of the hall at Seskinore further supports this identification. It shows a portrait of Colonel J. K. McClintock on one wall and, reflected in a mirror above the chimney-piece, another portrait in a heavy Florentine frame, strongly believed to be that of Mrs. McClintock. If so, the painting was attributed to Costa—most likely John da Costa—and can be traced within the family collection at least as far back as the early twentieth century.

Taken together, the evidence points to an unresolved outcome: a clearly stated bequest, a documented presence of the portrait at Ecclesville after the testator’s death, conflicting testimony regarding its removal, and no confirmed record of transfer or sale. The present whereabouts of the portrait remain unknown.

This episode provides a rare instance in which a specific testamentary instruction can be traced yet not conclusively fulfilled, leaving open the possibility that the painting survives, unrecognised, in a private collection.

Full Will of Raymond Browne-Lecky (1956)

With Codicil dated 24 September 1958

I, RAYMOND SAVILLE CONNOLLY [sic] de MONTMORENCY LECKY BROWNE-LECKY of Ecclesville, Fintona in the County of Tyrone hereby revoke all Wills or other testamentary dispositions at any time heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last will. I appoint Northern Bank Limited (hereinafter called “the Bank”): Sydney H. Laughlin of 49 Donegall Place, Belfast, Chartered Accountant: Arthur R. Marshall of 10 Chichester Street, Rathescar, Dunleer in the County of Louth, Civil Engineer, Executors and Trustees of this my Will and I bequeath to the said Sydney H. Laughlin, Arthur R. Marshall and Alexander Henry or such of them as shall prove my will the sum of One hundred pounds each. AND I Declare that the Bank may as such Executor and Trustee and in exercise of all discretionary and other powers hereunder act by any officer or officers appointed by the Bank in that behalf and may employ Solicitors, Brokers or other Agents to transact all or any business required to be done in relation to my estate (including the receipt and payment of money) and may (without being liable to account for any profit thereby made) retain as bankers on current or deposit account or advance all monies necessary or convenient to be retained or advanced in connection with my estate and shall be entitled to be allowed and paid such charges expenses interest and commission as it charges its customers in the ordinary course of its business for monies advanced and the bank shall also be entitled to remuneration (free from duties) for its services as Executor and Trustee in accordance with its scale of fees now in force or such other remuneration as may have been agreed upon in writing between myself and the Bank and to retain for its own benefit any allowances of commission or brokerage, and I declare that the Bank’s remuneration shall be a first charge on my estate. AND It is hereby Agreed and Declared that all moneys securities and documents and all documents of title relating to land subject to the Trusts hereof shall be under the exclusive custody and control of the Bank but so that the other Trustees of these presents shall have all reasonable facilities for periodically inspecting the same as well as any accounts reports and documents relating thereto. AND that in the case of registered stocks, shares or securities the name of the Bank shall be placed first in the register of the owners of such stocks shares or securities and that all steps shall be taken for ensuring the payment to the Bank exclusively or its nominee for the time being of all dividends and interest thereon and for enabling the Bank to exercise all voting and other privileges arising therefrom. It is hereby further agreed and declared that in case of any difference of opinion between the Bank and the other Trustees hereof the opinion of the Bank shall prevail. I desire to be buried in the same grave as my Father and Mother in the old Churchyard at Fintona and that the Funeral arrangements shall be of a simple character. I devise and bequeath all my property of every nature and kind and wherever situate unto my Executors and Trustees Upon the Trusts and for the purposes hereinafter contained:-

To Hand over to the Dean and Chapter of Londonderry Cathedral all my family portraits (except the portrait of Mrs. McClintock which I hereby bequeath to her granddaughter who is my second cousin, Xeina Johnstone Wreeford, [sic] my watch in double case, my clock in dining room, the china box in drawing room which formerly belonged to Napoleon, my silver Irish potato Ring and my William and Mary Tankard, also my musical box and my gold headed stick. I direct that the decision as to what portraits are within the above description shall be at the absolute discretion of my Trustees and that the receipt of the Dean for the said articles shall be a good discharge to my Executors.
To sell and dispose of all my jewellery not herein specifically bequeathed and with the proceeds of such sale to purchase a Chalice and two Gold Pattens and to hand over the same to the Select Vestry of the Church of Ireland Parish Church, Fintona, together with the large Bible presented to my grandfather for the use in the said Church. I direct that should any moneys remain after such purchase the same are to be applied in setting up a screen and Reredos in the said Church, or, if for any reason, this be not practicable then for such Church purposes as my Trustees shall in their absolute discretion decide.
To sell and convert into money so much of my property as may be required to pay and discharge the following pecuniary legacies and to pay and discharge the same:-

(a) To the Rector or other person for the time being having the spiritual charge of the Parish of Fintona or any other Parish with which the same is amalgamated in connection with the Church of Ireland the sum of one hundred pounds free of duty and to be distributed by him amongst such of his poor parishioners as he shall think fit, the receipt of the Rector to be a good discharge to my Executors for the said legacy.

(b) To the incorporated Body known as the Church of Ireland Trustees the sum of One thousand five hundred pounds free of duty in Trust to expend the sum of Three hundred pounds at the least in providing a bell for the said Parish Church of Fintona and to apply the residue towards the erection of a tower or spire for the said Church the receipt of the Treasurer of the Church of Ireland Trustees to be a good discharge to my Executors for the said legacy.

(c) To the British Legion, 49 Pall Mall, London, the sum of Two thousand pounds for the purpose of discharging the debt or debts at the time of my death on the British Legion Hall, Ecclesville, Fintona, Co. Tyrone, and for such other purposes in connection with the maintenance of the said Hall as the local Trustees or Committee for the time being may from time to time think fit, the receipt of the Treasurer to be a good discharge to my Executors for the said legacy.

I direct that where in any instance it is not practicable or possible to achieve any object for which any particular bequest or benefit in this my will is given, or to comply with any condition attaching thereto, them my Trustees may in their absolute discretion agree to authorise and employ such alternative object and condition or conditions as they shall in their absolute discretion think fit.

To sell and convert into money such further portion of my properties as may be necessary to pay and discharge all my liabilities funeral expenses and the cost of erecting a proper and adequate memorial.
To Hand over to the Government of Northern Ireland or such other public body as the Government mat desire my Mansion House and Lands known as Ecclesville upon the following conditions:-
That my estate shall be indemnified or relieved from payment of any death duties on the said property and that the said property shall not be aggregated with the rest of my estate so as to increase the rate of duty on such estate.
That they shall allow the annual event of the Horse Show to be held in the grounds as formerly for such period as may be desirable or practicable.
To allow the lands now used as a Golf Links to continue to be used for such purpose at a nominal rent for so long as my Trustees consider they are used in a proper manner for such purpose.
I direct my Trustees to hold all the remainder of my estate Upon Trust as to one half thereof for the Trustees of the Charity in aid of members of the theatrical profession now located at Denville Hall, Northwood, Middlesex, to be applied by them for the purposes of said Charity, the receipt of the Treasurer or Honorary Secretary thereof for the time being to be a good discharge to my Trustees and as to the remaining one half of my said estate Upon Trust for the Musicians Benevolent Fund c/o St. Cecilia’s House, Carlos Place, London, W.1., the receipt of the Treasurer thereof for the time being to be a good discharge to my Trustees.
I give my Trustees the following powers and authorities:-
To retain any property of mine in the same state of investment in which they shall find same for so long as they may determine.
To sell or exchange all or any of my properties or investments and to re-invest the same in Trustee Investments or in the Mortgage of freehold or leasehold interest in land in Northern Ireland.
To exercise general powers of management over my estate and to make fee Farm Grants, Leases and tenancies of all or any portion of my said estate on such terms as my Trustees shall think fit.
Power to employ any Agent or Broker to transact all or any business required to be done in the premises and to be allowed and paid all charges and expenses so incurred without responsibility for the default of any such agent.
I direct that each Trustee shall be paid his proper costs and expenses of attending any meeting of Trustees, making inspections of property or attending to any other matter in connection with the administration of the Trusts, and that ant Trustee being a solicitor, Accountant or Broker may be paid his proper professional fees and charges for all services rendered.

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2^nd day of November One

thousand nine hundred and fifty six.

R.S.C.deM.L.Browne-Lecky

SIGNED by the Testator in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence and in presence of each other subscribe our names as Witnesses.

Edward Baker Robert Sparkes

Ecclesville Northern Bank Ltd

Fintona Fintona Co Tyrone

(Secretary) Bank Manager

I, RAYMOND SAVILLE CONNOLLY [sic] de MONTMORENCY LECKY BROWNE-LECKY of Ecclesville, Fintona in the County of Tyrone hereby declare this to be a codicil to my Will dated the Second day of November One thousand nine hundred and fifty six. Whereas by the said Will I have appointed Alexander Henry of Rathescar, Dunleer in the County of Louth an Executor and Trustee of my said Will now I hereby revoke the appointment of the said Alexander Henry as such Executor and Trustee and I appoint my Secretary Edward Baker an Executor and Trustee in substitution for the said Alexander Henry and I bequeath the sum of One hundred pounds to the said Edward Baker if he shall prove my said Will. In all other respects I confirm my said Will. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24^th day of September One thousand nine hundred and fifty eight.

R.S.C.deM.L.Browne-Lecky

SIGNED by the Testator in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence and in presence of each other subscribe our names as Witnesses.

Peter Donnelly

May Knox-Browne

Summary

Executors and Trustees

Raymond Browne-Lecky appointed Northern Bank Limited, Sydney H. Laughlin, and Arthur R. Marshall as executors and trustees, granting extensive administrative and financial powers to the Bank in particular.

Personal Wishes

He directed that he be buried in the same grave as his parents in the old churchyard at Fintona, and that his funeral be of a simple character.

Bequests of Portraits and Objects

Family portraits were to be transferred to Londonderry Cathedral, with the exception of the McClintock portrait. Selected personal items—including watches, silver, and other objects—were individually bequeathed.

Church and Charitable Bequests

Jewellery not otherwise bequeathed was to be sold to fund a chalice and patens for Fintona Parish Church. Additional sums were left for parish use, church improvements, and charitable causes, including the British Legion Hall at Ecclesville.

Ecclesville Estate

The mansion house and lands of Ecclesville were to be handed over to the Government of Northern Ireland, subject to conditions preserving their use for community purposes, including the horse show and golf links.

Residue of Estate

The remainder of the estate was divided between charitable institutions, notably Denville Hall (for members of the theatrical profession) and the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

Powers of Trustees

The trustees were granted wide powers to retain, sell, invest, lease, and manage the estate as they saw fit.

Codicil (1958)

By codicil, Raymond Browne-Lecky replaced one of the originally appointed trustees and confirmed the remainder of the will.

Will of Isabella Caroline Annie Bland (née Browne-Lecky)

The will of Isabella Caroline Annie Bland (née Browne-Lecky) provides an important complementary perspective on the final disposition of the Browne-Lecky family’s remaining property following the death of her brother, Raymond Browne-Lecky, in 1961.

While Raymond’s will determined the fate of Ecclesville itself, Isabella’s will reflects the subsequent dispersal of personal effects and residual family interests. Together, the two documents illustrate the final stage in the dissolution of the Ecclesville estate and its associated family network.

Key Points

Confirms the absence of a continuing direct Browne-Lecky line in possession of Ecclesville
Distributes remaining personal and family property
Provides insight into the final division of assets following the 1962 sale
Reinforces the transition of the estate away from hereditary ownership

Conclusion

Following the death of Isabella Caroline Annie Bland (née Browne-Lecky) on 25 March 1956, her will made provision in the expected manner for her immediate family, naming her daughter, Patricia Ernest de Montmorency Chagan, and her granddaughter, Susan Petita Neville Clarke.

By contrast, Raymond Browne-Lecky’s will, executed only a few months later on 2 November 1956, represents a striking departure from this pattern. Apart from a single personal bequest to a relative—Xenia Joynson Wreford—no provision was made for the wider family. Instead, the estate was directed toward public, ecclesiastical, and charitable purposes.

While this divergence might suggest a degree of separation in outlook or intention, there is no direct evidence to indicate familial discord. Rather, it reflects a deliberate decision by Raymond Browne-Lecky bringing to an end a lineage of ownership extending back through the Eccles and Leigh families into the seventeenth century.

Raymond’s Charitable Legacy and the Fight to Uphold It

Beyond his deep attachment to Ecclesville and its history, Raymond Saville Conolly de Montmorency Lecky Browne-Lecky demonstrated a clear and lasting commitment to the performing arts and music. In his will, after making several personal bequests, he directed his Trustees:

“To hold all the remainder of my estate Upon Trust as to one half thereof for the Trustees of the Charity in aid of members of the theatrical profession now located at Denville Hall, Northwood, Middlesex, to be applied by them for the purposes of said Charity… and as to the remaining one half… Upon Trust for the Musicians Benevolent Fund, c/o St. Cecilia’s House, Carlos Place, London, W.1…”

These beneficiaries — the Actors’ Charitable Trust (ACT) and the Musicians Benevolent Fund — inherited the residue of Raymond’s estate. This consisted primarily of ground rents and property interests in County Londonderry, originally inherited by Raymond from his great-granduncle, Conolly McCausland Lecky.

For many years, both charities received regular annual payments from these properties. However, in 1993, the payments abruptly ceased. In that same year, the legal title to the Londonderry properties was formally vested in the names of the charities, but a crucial document was missing: the counterpart lease dated 4 February 1900, relating to the last remaining income-producing property.

Without this document, Londonderry City Council — which had been paying the ground rent since 1961 — discontinued all future payments.

Investigation and Recovery

In January 2006, I contacted representatives of both charities, including Robert Ashby of the Actors’ Charitable Trust and the Musicians Benevolent Fund, to inquire about the status of Raymond’s bequest. With their agreement and formal authorisation, I began investigating the estate’s management and the missing income.

Through multiple visits to PRONI and the Land Registry in Belfast, I was able to identify the remaining trust property interests. Then, in 2010, the Musicians Benevolent Fund located a file confirming the extent of the issue: approximately £10,000 in unpaid ground rent had accrued since payments ceased in 1993.

The central obstacle remained the missing counterpart lease. However, through a Freedom of Information request submitted to Londonderry City Council, I was able to obtain a copy of the 1900 lease — the exact document that had previously been absent from the trust’s records.

A Matter of Principle

Despite this breakthrough, efforts to resolve the issue met with resistance. The Council declined to engage, while the legal representatives associated with Raymond’s estate advised that the matter was “not worth pursuing.” The charities themselves, understandably cautious about potential legal costs, chose not to proceed further.

At this stage, the issue had become one not of financial value, but of principle:

“It wasn’t that a great amount of money was at stake, but morally a matter of principle. The Council knew that they should have been paying the rent, but also knew that it was legally going to be prohibitive for the charities to pursue it.”

Resolution

In August 2011, determined to pursue the matter further, I contacted Julie McCullough of BBC Northern Ireland. Recognising the wider significance of the case, she undertook an investigation which culminated in directly confronting Londonderry City Council.

The resulting public scrutiny proved decisive. The Council accepted responsibility, agreed to pay a portion of the outstanding arrears, and confirmed that ground rent payments to the charities would resume going forward.

Julie McCullough’s report was broadcast on BBC Newsline in November 2011 — almost exactly fifty years after Raymond’s death on 11 November 1961.

Legacy Fulfilled

Raymond Browne-Lecky’s will represents the final chapter in the history of Ecclesville as a family estate. By directing its contents to public sale, its lands out of private ownership, and his remaining wealth toward charitable causes, he brought a long hereditary tradition to a deliberate close.

At the same time, his charitable intentions — though temporarily frustrated — were ultimately fulfilled. Through persistence and investigation, the support he intended for actors and musicians was restored, ensuring that his legacy endured beyond Ecclesville itself.