Then problems arose – World War One shattered the structure of large estates. The agricultural workforce was slaughtered in the trenches and some estates were broken up, sold off piecemeal. That didn’t happen so much with the Lowthers, however, where the style of estate management was more about keeping things steady rather than innovation. But the Yellow Earl had no (official) children and died in 1944, aged 87, without an heir, to be succeeded by his younger brother, Lancelot, the 6th Earl, who then died in 1953. Hugh cut a swathe through high society. After affairs with the actresses Lily Langtry and Violet Cameron, it was said that Queen Victoria “let it be known she expected Lord Lonsdale to leave the country”. Hugh Lowther finished his account with the words, “I can look at my strong right hand and say with truth, this hand put to sleep John L. Sullivan!” Modesty was never one of Hugh Lowther’s weaknesses. In recent years Jim Lowther, the seventh earl’s son, has spearheaded its transformation. The main part of the house has been left as a spectacular ruin. The gardens have been revitalised. The stables are now a gallery, cafe and shops. While much of his life was dedicated to frivolity, Hugh also made a serious impression on world sport. He helped to create modern boxing by legalising prizefighting, insisting on the Marquess of Queensberry rules and inaugurating timed rounds.

When entering you're greeted by a lovely interior showing alot of its old features which really add to the feel. However, for whatever reason, this match never took place, but the general feeling was that, at the height of his career, Sullivan would have been to much for the gallant Jem Smith. But having an absentee landowner was always a problem; had there been a resident Lowther in West Cumberland the history of the area might have been very different. Heeding her advice, in 1888, he went to the Arctic, on a gruelling polar expedition in which over 100 guides died. Lonsdale set out to reach the North Pole, nearly dying before reaching Kodiak, Alaska in 1889, and in 1890 he returned to England, a hero and a celebrity. The match had been arranged at the Central Park Academy as to the fight itself Hugh Lowther himself wrote an account of it all in late years for The People.

Baron Marcus Kimball

The Lowthers bought Seaton in 1837, then Dearham, Ribton, Distington, Kelton, Arlecdon, Weddicar, St Bees, Hensingham, Frizington, Ennerdale and Rottington. All were acquired because they had mineral reserves beneath them.

Perhaps the most famous story of all which Hugh used to tell of his young days was of the time he went to New York to fight the then World Heavyweight Champion of the World, John L. Sullivan. From 1929 Lonsdale was the joint editor of the Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games and Pastimes, a book series published by Seeley, Service and Co. [15] [16] In popular culture [ edit ] Hugh Lowther – known as The Yellow Earl because of his fondness for the colour – became the fifth Earl of Lonsdale in 1882. Followed again by another wait for our mint areo cheese cake. Which was as described but not as light as most cheesecakes so be prepared to be full which suits me fine 😍😍While some family estates were badly damaged by the Civil War of the 1640s, that of the Lowthers remained in tact. They had begun to expand rapidly in the reign of Charles II and steadily built on their land and property assets. They had, for instance, acquired half the manor of St Bees, the other half held by St Bees School. When he died, in the arms of a well-known opera singer, he was succeeded by his nephew, Hugh Lonsdale’s father – but Hugh and his two younger brothers, Charles and Lancelot, knew the likelihood of their ever succeeding to the spectacular family fortunes remained remote.