Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs
Encyclopedia
Dame Maureen "Daisy" Helen Dunbar, 8th Baronetess, or more commonly known as Dame Maureen Dunbar (née Moore; 19 August 1906 – 14 February 1997), was the only daughter of Courtenay Edward Moore (1870–1951) and Janie King Askins Moore (1873–1951). The baronetcy passed to her through her predeceased father's line in 1963, making her one of only four baronetesses in British history. Her brother, Edward Courtnay Francis "Paddy" Moore (1898–1918), had been killed in action in 1918.
, she lived with her mother and C.S. Lewis (who had a 33-year cohabitation with Maureen's mother, Janie King Askins Moore) for 22 years, until 1940, when she married Leonard James Blake (died 1989). She and her mother had started living with Lewis in late 1918 or early 1919, when she was a 13-year-old schoolgirl and Lewis was a 19 or 20-year-old university student. Lewis’s brother, Warren Lewis
, joined the household in 1930. Janie Moore was married, though separated from her husband Courtenay, and remained in that state until her death in 1951, the same year her husband died.
Towards the end of her mother's life, Maureen would sometimes trade houses with Lewis, helping him take care of her mother, who died in 1951. Dame Maureen had a son, Richard Francis Dunbar of Hempriggs (born Richard Francis Blake on 8 January 1945), so the baronetcy returned on her death in 1997 to the male line.
and whose only son, Capt. Kenneth Duff-Dunbar, died in World War II
. The widow of Garden Duff-Dunbar, Louise Duff-Dunbar, died just after World War II. Her eldest son, Sir George, succeeded as 6th Baronet on his grandfather’s death in 1897, but took no part in the administration of the estates, spending most of his life in India
as an administrator, where he became well known as one of the country’s greatest historians.
On his death, his only son, George, who had been a barrister in London for some years, succeeded as 7th Baronet. He died comparatively young and unmarried, in 1963. His first cousin and heir Capt. Kenneth Duff-Dunbar had fallen in World War II and in terms of the remainder, his second cousin, Maureen, great granddaughter of Capt. Benjamin Duff, by the only one of his daughters to leave issue, succeeded to the honours and estates and became 8th Baronetess of Hempriggs.
Dame Maureen Dunbar was recognized in the name of Dunbar of Hempriggs by Lyon Court in 1965. The male heirs of the first baronet having died out, this Nova Scotia Baronetcy was conferred with remainder to heirs whatever, i.e., it can be and has been inherited through or by a female representative of the family. The arms of Hempriggs reflect the families through whom the title has passed. First, quarterly is Dunbar, 2nd is Sutherland, 3rd is Duff, and 4th is Randolph.
When Dame Maureen succeeded to the title, the baronetcy had an estate attached, Ackergill Tower
, by Wick
, Caithness
, Scotland
. In the far north east of Scotland, the much-altered tower stands close by the sea shore, about one mile west of the Sinclair stronghold of Girnigoe castle. The earliest part of Ackergill dates back to the 15th century, when an oblong tower house was raised by the Keith family. Dame Maureen lived there and was happy to open the house for inspection to anyone who showed a genuine interest in its history. Today, the Tower is a hotel and conference centre.
The house that she, her mother, Lewis and his brother Warren moved to in 1930, The Kilns, a house in Risinghurst
, Headington
(a suburb of Oxford
), was purchased with funds (£3,300) provided by the Lewis brothers and Dame Maureen's mother, Janie Moore. Janie's name was solely on the deeds of the property and the title allowed Jack and Warren a so called 'Right of Life' tenancy, which meant they could continue living there after her death (1951). Free and clear title to the house and estates passed to Dame Maureen when Warren Lewis died in 1973.
Early life
Born Maureen Daisy Helen Moore in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, she lived with her mother and C.S. Lewis (who had a 33-year cohabitation with Maureen's mother, Janie King Askins Moore) for 22 years, until 1940, when she married Leonard James Blake (died 1989). She and her mother had started living with Lewis in late 1918 or early 1919, when she was a 13-year-old schoolgirl and Lewis was a 19 or 20-year-old university student. Lewis’s brother, Warren Lewis
Warren Lewis
Warren Hamilton Lewis was an Irish British Army officer and historian, best known as the brother of the author and professor C. S. Lewis. Warren Lewis was a supply officer with the Royal Army Service Corps of the British Army during and after World War I...
, joined the household in 1930. Janie Moore was married, though separated from her husband Courtenay, and remained in that state until her death in 1951, the same year her husband died.
Towards the end of her mother's life, Maureen would sometimes trade houses with Lewis, helping him take care of her mother, who died in 1951. Dame Maureen had a son, Richard Francis Dunbar of Hempriggs (born Richard Francis Blake on 8 January 1945), so the baronetcy returned on her death in 1997 to the male line.
Succession to baronetcy
She succeeded to the Scottish baronetcy in the most roundabout of ways possible. Garden Duff-Dunbar of Hempriggs had predeceased his father, leaving two young sons, George, afterwards Sir George Duff-Sutherland-Dunbar, 6th Baronet, and Lt. Cdr. Kenneth Duff-Dunbar, who died in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and whose only son, Capt. Kenneth Duff-Dunbar, died in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The widow of Garden Duff-Dunbar, Louise Duff-Dunbar, died just after World War II. Her eldest son, Sir George, succeeded as 6th Baronet on his grandfather’s death in 1897, but took no part in the administration of the estates, spending most of his life in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as an administrator, where he became well known as one of the country’s greatest historians.
On his death, his only son, George, who had been a barrister in London for some years, succeeded as 7th Baronet. He died comparatively young and unmarried, in 1963. His first cousin and heir Capt. Kenneth Duff-Dunbar had fallen in World War II and in terms of the remainder, his second cousin, Maureen, great granddaughter of Capt. Benjamin Duff, by the only one of his daughters to leave issue, succeeded to the honours and estates and became 8th Baronetess of Hempriggs.
Dame Maureen Dunbar was recognized in the name of Dunbar of Hempriggs by Lyon Court in 1965. The male heirs of the first baronet having died out, this Nova Scotia Baronetcy was conferred with remainder to heirs whatever, i.e., it can be and has been inherited through or by a female representative of the family. The arms of Hempriggs reflect the families through whom the title has passed. First, quarterly is Dunbar, 2nd is Sutherland, 3rd is Duff, and 4th is Randolph.
When Dame Maureen succeeded to the title, the baronetcy had an estate attached, Ackergill Tower
Ackergill Tower
Ackergill Tower is a Scottish castle located north of Wick, Caithness. It is a category A listed building.-Early history:The Clan Keith, under John Keith, inherited the lands of Ackergill in 1354, from the Cheynes family...
, by Wick
Wick, Highland
Wick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...
, Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In the far north east of Scotland, the much-altered tower stands close by the sea shore, about one mile west of the Sinclair stronghold of Girnigoe castle. The earliest part of Ackergill dates back to the 15th century, when an oblong tower house was raised by the Keith family. Dame Maureen lived there and was happy to open the house for inspection to anyone who showed a genuine interest in its history. Today, the Tower is a hotel and conference centre.
The house that she, her mother, Lewis and his brother Warren moved to in 1930, The Kilns, a house in Risinghurst
Risinghurst
Risinghurst is an outlying residential area of Oxford, England, just outside the Eastern Bypass Road which forms part of the Oxford ring road. It is about east of the centre of Headington and east of Oxford city centre....
, Headington
Headington
Headington is a suburb of Oxford, England. It is at the top of Headington Hill overlooking the city in the Thames Valley below. The life of the large residential area is centred upon London Road, the main road between London and Oxford.-History:...
(a suburb of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
), was purchased with funds (£3,300) provided by the Lewis brothers and Dame Maureen's mother, Janie Moore. Janie's name was solely on the deeds of the property and the title allowed Jack and Warren a so called 'Right of Life' tenancy, which meant they could continue living there after her death (1951). Free and clear title to the house and estates passed to Dame Maureen when Warren Lewis died in 1973.