Francis Bernard, 3rd Earl of Bandon (1817-1877), Castle Bernard, son Francis 2nd Earl of Bandon (1755-1830) and Mary Susan Albina Brodrick.  Promoter flax growing West Cork 1850s.  Probate 1877, executor James Francis Bernard, 4th Earl £18,000

Lord Bandon Addresses Flax Meetings at Carrigbui and Bantry, West Cork, 1864, Tisdall’s Mills at Donemark formerly used for Scutching, Cork Flax Spinning Company acquires Site, Skibbereen, Ballineen Mills Flax Scutching Limited Operational 1867, Belfast Buyers in Skibbereen.

A glimpse of the 18th and early 19th century Linen/Flax Industry in Durrus and Schull, West Cork, from the Lost Census of 1766, 1821, 1841, 1851, with names Cole, Croston, Webb, Whitley, Johnson. 1836 Evidence of Father John Kelleher (Early Statistician) and Reverend Edward John Alcock both Durrus to Poor Laws (Ireland) relating to Spinning in Area.

1-IMG_5655

2-IMG_5656

3-IMG_5657

4-IMG_5658

1-IMG_5659

2-IMG_5660

3-IMG_5661

4-IMG_5662

5-IMG_5663

6-IMG_5664

7-IMG_5665

At the start of this period the American Civil War was raging cutting off supplies of cotton. It resulted in a boom period for flax and linen production.