Favour Royal: A Storied Tudor-Gothic Estate in County Tyrone

Origins and Royal Grants

The land now known as Favour Royal was originally called Portclare and was granted in 1613 by King James I to Sir Thomas Ridgeway, a key figure in the Ulster Plantation. Ridgeway’s grant covered approximately 3,000 acres including the areas around Augher and Aughnacloy. In 1622, Ridgeway sold the estate to Sir James Erskine, whose family received official confirmation of ownership from King Charles II in 1665 under the name Favour Royal, acknowledging the royal favor bestowed upon the estate. The estate was subsequently divided between Erskine’s granddaughters, with one part retaining the Favour Royal name and the other becoming Spur Royal or Augher Castle.

The Moutray Family and Architectural Legacy

The Moutray family became the owners of Favour Royal when John Moutray married the Erskine heiress. They built the first house on the estate in 1670, establishing the demesne that would be home to generations. This original house was tragically destroyed by an accidental fire in 1823. Captain John Corry Moutray then commissioned architect John Hargrave to design a new, larger mansion in the Tudor revival style, completed in 1825. This austere yet elegant two-storey mansion with an attic features a noble portico and fine architectural details, constructed from locally quarried freestone. The Moutrays also built a private chapel on the estate, consecrated in 1835, which remains today as St Mary’s Church, Portclare.

Estate Grounds and Natural Setting

The estate’s demesne spans roughly 740 acres of fertile, well-cultivated land rich in diverse flora and mature woodland. The manor sits on the banks of the River Blackwater, enhancing its scenic charm. Historically, the grounds included sundials and a rockery with medieval carved stones, reflecting the estate’s cultivated character and the aesthetic tastes of its owners. The estate’s natural beauty and historic features make it a significant cultural landscape within County Tyrone.

Decline and Present State

The Moutray family maintained residence at Favour Royal until 1976, when the house, demesne, and contents were sold. Subsequently, much of the land was acquired by the Forest Service. Though the house was occupied into the 1990s, it has since fallen into dereliction, suffering from neglect and further fires. Despite this, the mansion’s Tudor-Gothic architecture and the estate’s historical significance continue to draw interest from heritage enthusiasts and visitors intrigued by Northern Ireland’s plantation history.

Historical Connections and Local Legacy

Favour Royal is linked to notable historical figures, including John Hughes, who worked briefly as a gardener's helper in 1816 before becoming the Catholic Archbishop of New York. The estate’s layered history reflects the complex social and political changes in Ulster over centuries, from royal land grants to plantation settlements, and the evolution of landed estates. Its proximity to Augher and the Irish border situates it within a rich tapestry of Northern Irish heritage.

Architectural and Cultural Significance

The mansion’s Tudor revival style is a distinctive example of early 19th-century architecture in Northern Ireland, blending historicism with local materials. The estate’s chapel, now St Mary’s Church, remains a sacred site for the community. Favour Royal’s combination of architectural elegance, historical depth, and natural beauty encapsulates the story of Ulster’s landed gentry and their estates, making it a unique cultural landmark despite its current abandoned state.