Untitled Document

Sir Cecil Stafford King Harmon, Lady Elizabeth Stafford King Harmon, Miss Joan, Miss Anne Master Thomas.

Rockingham House was situated where Moylurg Tower now Stands. The house was designed by the famous architect of the day John Nash.The house had 365 windows (one for every day of the Year). and 52 room (one for every week of the year). It had a large banquet hall and a tennis court. The bedrooms were very big. The room were richly furnished mostly with marble. There were underground tunnels through which the servants entered. The family and their friends used the main entrance. There were many gate entrances. Some of these are still in existence which, the Boyle entrance, the Grevisk entrance, the main entrance, the Ardcarne entrance and the Knockvicar entrance. In 1963 Rockingham House was struck by lightning. Rockingham Estate was a huge estate consisting of hundreds of acres. A lot of compulsory tillage was grown. Tenants got 2 drills of potatoes at Christmas. The drills were 4 or 5 hundred yards long.

The family grew their own vegetables and the servants cared for them. Lady Elizabeth spent her spare time in the garden tending the flowers. The outside workers could wear anything they wanted. The servants got paid on Fridays. The farmers got around £1.30 a week. The house servants consisted of a Butler, Cook, Lady 's Maid, 3 Girls and 2 Footmen. The footmen wore a black suit with a white suit. Every month Sir Cecil and the stable-staff would go on a Stag - Hunt. There was about 30-35 horses in the stables, 20 of which were thoroughbred (riding horses) 14-15 of which were working.

The family had one big car and one small car but during the war there was no petrol for the cars so they had to use the horse carriage. Lady Elizabeth suffered from rheumatism in the hands .The people were not Catholics. Everybody had to be in by 11 o'clock because the gates were closed at that time. Outsiders couldn't enter the Rockingham Estate without a pass. They did not have a lot of parties except for special occasions such as the 21st birthday of their son. Vegetables and fish were the most popular food at such parties. There used to be dances out on Castle Island. The family wore ordinary clothes. They weren't stuck up in any way. Their local doctor was either Dr.Killdagan or Dr. Madden. Miss Joan got married and went to live in Donegal with her husband Dinah. Miss Anne was a painter and died of bad health. Master Thomas was killed in the war. Sir Cecil and Lady Elizabeth went to live in Lexlip and lived there for the rest of the their days.