Mainie Jellett, RHA
Poster for Robert & Franks, Estate Agents , 23 Stephen's Green circa 1930
For Sale De Veres Art (Mar 2004)
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Harry and Cissie 1895
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Matthew Franks
Matthew Franks born circa 1835 son of Thomas Franks and Mary Anne Kearney. He was
educated at Rugby and Trinity College. He adopted the business of estates agent. He was
appointed a magistrate of Queen’s County in 1862. He married Gertrude Priscilla Despard
on 6 Jan 1869 at Lacca Church, Laois. Gertrude was the daughter of the late Captain George
Despard, RM, Co Meath. He was agent to Lord Castletown and Sir Charles Coote. He was JP
for Co Cork having a residence at Garretstown, Kinsale. He was a member of Queen’s
County Agricultural Society and of the RDS. Gertrude died 25 Aug 1911 at Westfield aged 74.
Westfield was burned down by irregulars in January 1923. They were compensated in 1925
with a reinstatement condition attached. He died a widower on 24 Oct 1924 at Blackhill,
Abbeyleix, funeral at Woodbrook, Mountrath. He left 37k in personal estate.
1 Matthew Henry Clement (Harry) Franks born 17 Jul 1871 at Westfield. He married Sarah
(Cissie) Gardner on 2 Oct 1895 at St Bartholomew’s. Sarah was the daughter of Robert
Gardner, an accountant of Clyde Road. Matthew died 18 Sep 1942 at Westfield and is
buried at St Peter’s, Mountrath. Sarah died 23 May 1954 at Westfield House aged 83.
1 Henry Cecil Franks born 29 Jun 1899 married Betty Josephine Yates at Droitwich,
Worcestershire on 5 Nov 1925.
2 Robert George Vandeleur Franks born 12 Apr 1902 at Pembroke Street died
July 1902 at Westfield.
2 George Despard Franks born 9 Jan 1873 at Abbeyleix. He was educated at Repton School,
Derbyshire and at Heidelberg University. He joined the 19th Hussars in 1894, and served in
India from 1894 to 1899, and was ADC to the Governor of Madras from 1898 to 1899. He
served with his regiment in the South African War from 1899 to 1900. He took part in the
Defence of Ladysmith and received the Queen's Medal with four clasps. From 1902 to 1906
he was ADC to Lt Gen Sir Gerald De Courcy Morton, KCIE at the Curragh Command. At the
commencement of the War in 1914 he was Brigade major of the North Midland Mounted
Brigade, and on relinquishing this appointment he rejoined his regiment in France in 1914,
as second in command. Colonel Franks got his Captaincy in 1904 and his Majority in 1908.
He married May Geraldine Morton on 6 Jun 1908 at St Paul’s Knightsbridge. May was the
daughter of the late Lt Gen Sir Gerald de Courcy Morton. He was promoted to Lt Colonel in
1915 and was awarded the DSO. He was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918. He was appointed
Companion, Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1919.
1 Brian Forster Morton Franks born 12 Sep 1910 in Kensington. He married Zoe
Gwynedd Quilter in January 1939 at St Clement Danes, Strand. May secondly married
Hugh Jamieson Elles in 1923 and died 7 Dec 1937 in London.
3 Thomas Fitzherbert Franks born 26 Apr 1874 as Westfield. He was living at Nebraska when
he married Inez Ethel Mary Wilson on 14 Dec 1895 at Trinity Church, New York. Inez was the
daughter of Joseph Wilson, of Clonmore, Stillorgan. Inez died in Belfast on 20 Dec 1924
and Thomas died 11 Feb 1950 in Co Antrim.
4 Gertrude Lucy (Lucy) Franks born 27 Feb 1878 at Westfield, Co Laois. Her aunt by marriage
was Charlotte Despard. She attended Alexandra College and joined the. In 1912 she joined
the United Irishwomen a non political, non sectarian group (a sister organisation to the Irish
Agricultural Organisation Society) which was set up to to improve rural life, home economics,
and women's welfare. By 1920 they had 48 branches, a goat farm and were offering courses
in crafts, cheese making, etc. After the death of her father, she travelled to South Africa and
returned to Ireland in 1926. The United Irishwomen Association was failing, due to ‘gathering
restrictions’ it had to suspend operations during the civil war. Lucy became hon sec and
instigated resuming monthly meeting a finding new craft that could be sold like stools with
woven seats and baskets. Muriel (Winifred) Gavin became involved and together they started
promoting traditional Irish crafts. In 1930 they opened the ‘County Shop’ at 23 St Stephen’s
Green which also had a very successful restaurant. This was downstairs from Probert &
Franks, later Franks & Franks, estate agents (incorporated into Lisneys in the late 30s). The
shop showcased traditional Irish home industries and marketed products like Aran sweaters
to support rural craft workers. In 1935 the association rebranded at The Irish Countrywomen’s
Association. Lucy was president of the ICA from 1942 to 1952. Lucy and Winifred negotiated
with The W K Kellogg Foundation to get funding for a permanent teaching facility. Kellogg
gifted Newtown House an 18th century house in Termonfeckin, Co Louth (Tearmann Hotel) to
serve as its national headquarters and adult education centre. This was renamed An Grianán
(sunny place) in 1954. Lucy died on 12 July 1964 at Clyde Road and is buried at Deansgrange.
A garden house was dedicated to her memory at Grianán in 1965.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - July 2026
Matthew Franks born circa 1835 son of Thomas Franks and Mary Anne Kearney. He was
educated at Rugby and Trinity College. He adopted the business of estates agent. He was
appointed a magistrate of Queen’s County in 1862. He married Gertrude Priscilla Despard
on 6 Jan 1869 at Lacca Church, Laois. Gertrude was the daughter of the late Captain George
Despard, RM, Co Meath. He was agent to Lord Castletown and Sir Charles Coote. He was JP
for Co Cork having a residence at Garretstown, Kinsale. He was a member of Queen’s
County Agricultural Society and of the RDS. Gertrude died 25 Aug 1911 at Westfield aged 74.
Westfield was burned down by irregulars in January 1923. They were compensated in 1925
with a reinstatement condition attached. He died a widower on 24 Oct 1924 at Blackhill,
Abbeyleix, funeral at Woodbrook, Mountrath. He left 37k in personal estate.
1 Matthew Henry Clement (Harry) Franks born 17 Jul 1871 at Westfield. He married Sarah
(Cissie) Gardner on 2 Oct 1895 at St Bartholomew’s. Sarah was the daughter of Robert
Gardner, an accountant of Clyde Road. Matthew died 18 Sep 1942 at Westfield and is
buried at St Peter’s, Mountrath. Sarah died 23 May 1954 at Westfield House aged 83.
1 Henry Cecil Franks born 29 Jun 1899 married Betty Josephine Yates at Droitwich,
Worcestershire on 5 Nov 1925.
2 Robert George Vandeleur Franks born 12 Apr 1902 at Pembroke Street died
July 1902 at Westfield.
2 George Despard Franks born 9 Jan 1873 at Abbeyleix. He was educated at Repton School,
Derbyshire and at Heidelberg University. He joined the 19th Hussars in 1894, and served in
India from 1894 to 1899, and was ADC to the Governor of Madras from 1898 to 1899. He
served with his regiment in the South African War from 1899 to 1900. He took part in the
Defence of Ladysmith and received the Queen's Medal with four clasps. From 1902 to 1906
he was ADC to Lt Gen Sir Gerald De Courcy Morton, KCIE at the Curragh Command. At the
commencement of the War in 1914 he was Brigade major of the North Midland Mounted
Brigade, and on relinquishing this appointment he rejoined his regiment in France in 1914,
as second in command. Colonel Franks got his Captaincy in 1904 and his Majority in 1908.
He married May Geraldine Morton on 6 Jun 1908 at St Paul’s Knightsbridge. May was the
daughter of the late Lt Gen Sir Gerald de Courcy Morton. He was promoted to Lt Colonel in
1915 and was awarded the DSO. He was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918. He was appointed
Companion, Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1919.
1 Brian Forster Morton Franks born 12 Sep 1910 in Kensington. He married Zoe
Gwynedd Quilter in January 1939 at St Clement Danes, Strand. May secondly married
Hugh Jamieson Elles in 1923 and died 7 Dec 1937 in London.
3 Thomas Fitzherbert Franks born 26 Apr 1874 as Westfield. He was living at Nebraska when
he married Inez Ethel Mary Wilson on 14 Dec 1895 at Trinity Church, New York. Inez was the
daughter of Joseph Wilson, of Clonmore, Stillorgan. Inez died in Belfast on 20 Dec 1924
and Thomas died 11 Feb 1950 in Co Antrim.
4 Gertrude Lucy (Lucy) Franks born 27 Feb 1878 at Westfield, Co Laois. Her aunt by marriage
was Charlotte Despard. She attended Alexandra College and joined the. In 1912 she joined
the United Irishwomen a non political, non sectarian group (a sister organisation to the Irish
Agricultural Organisation Society) which was set up to to improve rural life, home economics,
and women's welfare. By 1920 they had 48 branches, a goat farm and were offering courses
in crafts, cheese making, etc. After the death of her father, she travelled to South Africa and
returned to Ireland in 1926. The United Irishwomen Association was failing, due to ‘gathering
restrictions’ it had to suspend operations during the civil war. Lucy became hon sec and
instigated resuming monthly meeting a finding new craft that could be sold like stools with
woven seats and baskets. Muriel (Winifred) Gavin became involved and together they started
promoting traditional Irish crafts. In 1930 they opened the ‘County Shop’ at 23 St Stephen’s
Green which also had a very successful restaurant. This was downstairs from Probert &
Franks, later Franks & Franks, estate agents (incorporated into Lisneys in the late 30s). The
shop showcased traditional Irish home industries and marketed products like Aran sweaters
to support rural craft workers. In 1935 the association rebranded at The Irish Countrywomen’s
Association. Lucy was president of the ICA from 1942 to 1952. Lucy and Winifred negotiated
with The W K Kellogg Foundation to get funding for a permanent teaching facility. Kellogg
gifted Newtown House an 18th century house in Termonfeckin, Co Louth (Tearmann Hotel) to
serve as its national headquarters and adult education centre. This was renamed An Grianán
(sunny place) in 1954. Lucy died on 12 July 1964 at Clyde Road and is buried at Deansgrange.
A garden house was dedicated to her memory at Grianán in 1965.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - July 2026
