HOLME LACY’S NEW OWNER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2616, 25 September 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOLME LACY’S NEW OWNER

PURCHASE BY AN AUSTRALIAN BARONET. Holme Lacy, the historic Herefordshire seat of'the Earl of Chesterfield, which has been in the hands of one family for more than 600 years, recently became the property of Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth, Bart., wealthy Australian brewer. The beautiful old mansion, with its celebrated Grinling Gibbons carvings, its matured gardens, its ancient deer forests, its nine miles of salmon fishing in the Riyer Wye, its shooting, its villages and farms, and too family livings, to say nothing of the historic memories, was put up for sale at Tokenhousie Yard. . “Will anyone bid a-quarter of a million?” asked Mr. Howard Frank, the auctioneer, at the close of an eloquent tribute to the natural beauties, historic past, and present rent roll (£7OOO odd) of the 5578 acres that make up Holme Lacy. Eventually a bid of £150,000 was accepted, and the bidding crept up until £21.0,000 was reached. “No estate in the country would be less affected by the Budget,” declared the auctioneer. But '£210,000 remained the final offer in spite of this encouragement. At this sum Holme Lacy was withdrawn, and the announcement was made that an offer received earlier in toe day for a portion of the estate would be accepted. The purchaser, Sir Robert LucasTooth, is toe head of one of the largest brewery firms in Australia, and it is understood Inis purchase includes the mansion and grounds, toe shooting and fishing, and the villages and farms 7 3396 acres in all. . . Sir Robert, who received liis baronotey in 1906, has spent large sums on pictures. His handsome gift of £IO,OOO to King Edward’s Hospital Fund in 1902 will be recalled. He has played some part in New 'South Wales politics, and he has unsuccessfully contested the Loughborough division in the Conserve, tive interest.