Bournmoor Church: Lambton Cross & Graves

The Lambton Memorial Cross in the churchyard of St. Barnabas, Bournmoor, was erected in 1871 by The Earl of Durham to the memory of his wife, the Countess of Durham who died unexpectedly on Saturday 22nd January, 1871, a few days after after giving birth. Several other members of the Lambton family are interred here and details of the individual graves are below.

The Countess, Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton was born in 1835, second daughter of the Duke of Abercorn K.G. and his wife Lady Louisa Jane Russell. Lady Hamilton married The Earl of Durham, George Frederick d'Arcy Lambton, in 1854 and Lambton Castle became their family home.

A contemporary newspaper report gives insight into the circumstances of the death of the Countess:

Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Tuesday, January 24, 1871; Issue 544

Sudden death of the Countess of Durham. The death of the Countess of Durham, which we announced yesterday, took place at three o’clock on Saturday morning at the family seat of her husband, Lambton Castle, in the County of Durham. The sad event, which has cast a deep gloom throughout the district, was quite unexpected. It appears that the Countess was delivered of a son about 10 o’clock on the 18^th inst. Dr Shiel, of Chester-le-Street, the medical attendant of the family, being in attendance. About two o’clock on the same day, her Ladyship was taken seriously ill and it was deemed necessary to call in further medical assistance and Drs. Charlton and Gibson, of Newcastle, were telegraphed for. These gentlemen arrived about six o’clock but the condition of the Countess was so far satisfactory that their further attendance was not deemed necessary. Since that time, Dr Shiel has been in constant duty at the castle. Although the Countess’s progress was but slow, no fears were entertained for the safety of her Ladyship and at six o’clock on Friday evening when her medical attendant left the castle, not the slightest apprehension was felt on her behalf. About ten o’clock that night however, unfavourable symptoms made their appearance and Dr Shiel was at once summoned from Chester-le-Street to her aid. Everything that skill could devise in her behalf was put in requisition but her Ladyship gradually sank, and expired about three o’clock on Saturday morning. The Countess was the second daughter of the present Duke of Abercorn, by his wife Lady Louisa Jane Russell, second daughter of the 6^th Duke of Bedford, who was half-sister to Earl Russell. Lady Durham was born in 1835 and married to Earl Durham in 1854 and was consequently 35 years of age at the time of her demise. She leaves thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, - viz. John George (Viscount Lambton) and Frederick William, twin sons, born 1855; Hedworth, born 1856; Charles, born 1857; Beatrix Louisa, born 1859; George, born 1860; Katherine Frances, born 1862; William, born 1863; Claude, born 1864; D’Arcy, born 1866; Eleanor, born 1868; Ann, born 1869; and the infant son born the 18^th January. The news of the death of her Ladyship spreading to Chester-le-Street, Fatfield and through the surrounding villages was received with every token of the deepest grief, Lady Durham having endeared herself to all classes of the inhabitants by her never-failing kindness and constant readiness to assist in every good work that required a helping hand. No poor family that required aid in their hour of need remained long without some well-timed contribution to their comfort and also, if possible, personal visit from her Ladyship.

As a result of his wife's death, The Earl of Durham, George Frederick d'Arcy Lambton elected that her life should be remembered in the form of a Celtic Cross, to be erected in the churchyard of the family's church, St. Barnabas, Bournmoor. The following news article gives an insight into this decision and details the cross itself.

The Belfast News-Letter (Belfast, Ireland), Tuesday, August 22, 1871; Issue 55104

Memorial to the Countess of Durham. The death of the Countess of Durham, second daughter of His Grace the Due of Abercorn, is still fresh in the recollection of the Irish public. In the neighbourhood of Lambton Castle, where the Earl of Durham resides, the deceased lady was widely respected and loved for her benevolence and other social virtues, and several monuments are being erected to her memory. After mature deliberation, Lord Durham has decided that the principal memorial – that about to be erected by himself – shall take the form of a Celtic cross. Acting under the advice of his English architect, Mr Johnston of Newcastle, his Lordship has obtained the assistance of Mr Thomas Drew R.H.A., an Irish architect, more specifically conversant with Irish crosses and Celtic art. Designs for a noble cross, founded on the proportions of one of the celebrated crosses of Monasterboice, have been prepared by the latter gentleman, and the work is to be executed by Irish sculptors in Dublin under his supervision. The cross itself will measure twenty feet in height and nearly six feet across the arms and consist of one singe stone. The limestone quarries of Ballinasloe will furnish a monolith of these extraordinary dimensions. It is understood that neither skill nor expense will be spared to render this the rival, as a work of art, of the grand cross recently erected by the late Mr Vincent Scully on the Rock of Cashel. In these respects – that the Durham Cross will be of one of the most beautiful and durable materials in the world, an Irish limestone of delicate blue tint and a monolith - it will possess points of superiority over its rival of Cashel, which is of Portland stone and consisting of several blocks.

The Lambton Family Graves

Above: George Frederick d'Arcy / Second Earl of Durham / Born 5 Sept. 1828, died 27 Nov. 1879

Above: Beatrix Frances, Countess of Durham, Died 21 January 1871

Above: Lady Anne Lambton, Born 24 Sept. 1869 died 24 Feb. 1922

Above: Major General Hon Sir William Lambton KCB KMG DSO Born December 4 1863, Died October 10 1936

Glory To God and Thanks for Ever in Remembrance of Him

Above: John George K.G. / Third Earl of Durham / Born 19 June 1855, Died 18 Sept. 1928

Above: Frederick William / Fourth Earl of Durham / Born 19 June 1855, Died 31 Jan. 1929

Above: Beatrix, Countess of Durham, Died 27 April 1937

Regarding the most recent burial above, that of Beatrix, Countess of Durham, a contemporary news report (30th April, 1937) reads as follows:

Princess Royal’s Wreath.

Dowager Countess of Durham interred.

Grave lined by the Estate Gardeners.

A wreath of blue and gold iris, sent by the Princess Royal and inscribed “with love and great sorrow”, was among about 130 beautiful floral tributes at the funeral at Burnmoor this afternoon of Beatrix, Dowager Countess of Durham, who died at her home, Fenton House, Wooler, on Tuesday. The body was taken from Fenton House this morning and lay in the Parish Church, Burnmoor, until the funeral service after which it was placed in the family grave alongside that of her husband, the fourth Earl of Durham. The grave was lined with evergreens and daffodils by gardeners from the Lambton Estate. The service was conducted by the Rev Arthur J. Gadd, Rector of Burnmoor, the Rev Ralph Watson, Rector and Rural Dean of Houghton, who read the opening sentences and the Rev Canon Moran, formerly of Wooler, who read the Lesson. At the same hour, a memorial service was held at Doddington Parish Church, Fenton. The Rev A.J. Gadd, in his address at the funeral service, said love and faith were the inspiration of the beautiful character of the late Dowager Countess. Today’s service, said the Rector, was identical with the one the Countess chose at the passing of her husband, with the exception of the inclusion of her favourite hymn, “O Paradise.”

Principal mourners present were: the Earl and Countess of Durham (son and daughter-in-law), Viscount Lambton (grandson), the Hon Anthony Lambton (grandson), the Hon Claude Lambton (son), Lady Joan Joicey (daughter) and Col Joicey (son-in-law), Mr L. Bulteel (brother), Mr and Mr S. Bulteel (brother and sister-in-law), the Hon d’Arcy Lambton, General the Hon Charles Lambton, Captain Claude Lambton (brothers-in-law) and Mrs Claude Lambton. Lord and Lady Home (son-in-law and daughter), Lady Bridget Home (granddaughter), Major Crocker Bulteel and Mrs Bulteel (nephew and niece), Miss V. Bartie, Miss Boyd. Lord Dunglass, the Hon Henry Home and the Hon William Home (grandsons), Miss Barbera Lambton (niece), Mr and Mrs Anstruther Grey (niece and nephew). Lady Mary Egerton, Lord Brackley (representing Lord Ellesmere), Lord Joicey, Mr Askew and Lady Susan Askew. Mr A.J. Gray (Agent to the Earl of Durham) and Miss Gray; Mr D.B. Jackson (Newcastle); Messrs D.A. Gray, T. Gray, A. Gray, A.F. Miller, E.A. Robson, J.G. Cowe, Mr Tristram W. Hayward (representing the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland); Mr R. Dick (representing the Earl of Scarborough). Mrs Moran, Mr J.Y. Robson (Chester-le-Street), Mr T. Young (Chester-le-Street), Mr Richard Scrope (Middleham), Dr W.E. Wheldon (Fence Houses), Mr G.E. Forster (North Biddick), Mr E. Forster (Washington), Mr P.C. Swan (Wooler), Mr J.W. Renwick (Lumley) and a party of the late Countess’s staff from the Fenton Estate of Lord Durham,

Messrs J. Richley, J. Johnson, R. Quayle and D. Ventriss, employees on the Lambton Estate, acted as underbearers. Other wreaths were from members of the late Countess’s family, close friends and staff, and three from Burnmoor – one from the church, one from the mothers and children and one from the Women’s Institute, of which the Dowager Countess was the first president.