HISTORIC MANSION SOLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2569, 2 August 1909, Page 5

HISTORIC MANSION SOLD.

DRASTIC MEASURES OF MINISTER OF MARINE.

EARL CHESTERFIELD’S ANCES-

TRAL HOME.

PURCHASED BY A RICH AUSTRALIAN.

United Peers Association —Copyright

LONDON, July 30,

Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth, of Sydney, has purchased Earl Chesterfield’s historical country house, “Holme Lacy,” Hereford, and 3400 acres. The entire property of 5500 acres was previously put up by auction, and elicited a bid of '£210,000, but that did not reach the reserve.

[Holme Lacy, the property alluded to in the above cable message is situated in the most picturesque part of Herefordshire. Hie house is one of the finest historic mansions of England. _ Walter de Lacy settled there in the time of William the "Conqueror, and the lands, until the sale above recorded, had been held by, the same famny since the days of Edward 111., when a Scudamore married Clarice dc Lacy, the heiress to the estate. The house has memories of Spenser. Pope, and other famous men, and Grinling Gibbons adorned the principal rooms with his matchless wood-carving. The property comprises 5542 acres, witli a rent roll of over £7OOO. The gardens of Holme Lacy, with their giant hedges of yew, are as famous as the house, and the estate includes a deer park, with a herd of 150 fallow deer, valuable timber, well stocked coverts, and nine miles of salmon fishing on the river Wye. The present Earl of Chseterfield has no direct descendant, but there are brothers’ sons to succeed him. The property was submitted to auction on July 29, by the firm of Knight, Frank, and Rutley. Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth, who was made a baronet in 1906, is the son of the late Mr. Edwin Tooth, and assumed by royal license the name of Lucas-Tooth. He was born in 1844, and was educated at Eton. He returned to Sydney in 1.863, and sat in the New South Wales Parliament as member for Monaro during two Parliaments; He returned to England in 1889, and is chairman of the Bank of Ne-.v South Wales.]