Darley family of Violet Hill, Bray
William Augustus (Wellington) Darley, third son of Henry Darley born 5 Dec 1837 at Beaufield,
Stillorgan married Anna Frances Tudor at St Marylebone Church, London in August 1868. Anna was
the daughter of Richard Tudor of Bickley in Kent. Their town house was 11 Ely Place and by 1880
they had Violet Hill in Bray as their county residence. Wellington was a brewer and merchant of
Ardee Street, Bray trading as Joseph Watkins and Company with his cousin once removed; Joseph
Farran Darley from circa 1866. He was a director and later Governor of the Bank of Ireland, a JP for
Co Wicklow and on the Board of Governors of the Meath hospital, a supporter of animal welfare
and interested in psychical research. He was a generous man, not only to charitable organisations
but also to family. In 1890 he bought a bicycle for his niece Fanny Darley and frequently took his
nephews out on shooting parties. He donated the Connacher organ to Kilbride Church, Herbert
Road, Bray in 1889 where he was a vestryman and later churchwarden. He was a director of the
Dublin Artisans' Dwelling's Company and a member of the RDS. The Darleys were very sociable with
lots of 'at homes' and frequent balls. They would arrange for special trains to get their guests
back to town after the balls ended at 3am. The couple lost two sons and a daughter in the First
World War, who are commemorated in the stained glass windows of Kilbride church. The Altar
screen reads: Arthur Tudor Darley, Commander of HMS Good Hope, 1914; Lt Col John Evelyn
Darley of the 4th Hussars, 1918; Stella Cecil Darley ,VAD, 1917. The brass plaque dated Easter 1919,
has the inscription: 'In glad thanksgiving for their lives; in proud remembrance of their deaths'.
Wellington died 16 Oct 1920 and left £235 in personal estate. Anne died 8 Oct 1925 and was buried
with her husband at Kilbride graveyard. A terrace of cottages on the Vevey were erected in memory
of Wellington and Anna Darley. The were officially opened in January 1929.
1 Helen Mary Darley born circa 1871. It was announced that she was to marry Charles B
Houston in 1895, but it would appear this did not happen as she married Chaworth Nolan, RN
Fleet Surgeon, HMS Blenheim on 23 Jul 1904 at Kilbride Church Bray. Charles was the son of
Andrew Nolan, a physician of Church Street, Wicklow. The reception was held at Violet Hill and
the couple honeymooned in England.
2 Maria Louis (Lily) Darley born 4 Dec 1873 at 11 Ely Place married the Archbishop of Cashel, the
Rt Rev Robert Millar, a widower on 25 Apr 1928 at St James', Piccadilly.
3 Arthur Tudor Darley born 29 Aug 1876 at Glensouthwell, Whitechurch married Charlotte Sinclair
May in 1910. Charlotte was the daughter of Brigadier General E S May, Headquarter staff of the
Irish Command on the 10 Nov 1910 at Christ Church Cathedral. Commander Darley of the HMS
Good Hope was killed in action at the battle Coronel on 1 Nov 1914.
1 Evelyn Elizabeth Darley married M J F Milne Hone on 29 Jul 1936.
2 Arthur Tudor Darley only son married Sylvia Lilian Kekewick in 1937.
4 John Evelyn Carmichael (Jacky) Darley born 14 Apr 1879 at 11 Ely Place was educated at Eton and
obtained a commission in the 5th Husars in 1899. He was ADC to General Sir Archibald Hunter
from 1910 to 1913. He married Marion Murray Noble, in 1910. Marion was the second daughter
of Wilson Noble, of Manor, Wokingham. Lieut Col Darley was killed in action on 1 Apr 1918.
5 Sophie Stella Cecil Darley born 25 Oct 1883 at Killincarrig and was VAD during WW1. She died
11 Apr 1917 at a nursing home in London.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2018
William Augustus (Wellington) Darley, third son of Henry Darley born 5 Dec 1837 at Beaufield,
Stillorgan married Anna Frances Tudor at St Marylebone Church, London in August 1868. Anna was
the daughter of Richard Tudor of Bickley in Kent. Their town house was 11 Ely Place and by 1880
they had Violet Hill in Bray as their county residence. Wellington was a brewer and merchant of
Ardee Street, Bray trading as Joseph Watkins and Company with his cousin once removed; Joseph
Farran Darley from circa 1866. He was a director and later Governor of the Bank of Ireland, a JP for
Co Wicklow and on the Board of Governors of the Meath hospital, a supporter of animal welfare
and interested in psychical research. He was a generous man, not only to charitable organisations
but also to family. In 1890 he bought a bicycle for his niece Fanny Darley and frequently took his
nephews out on shooting parties. He donated the Connacher organ to Kilbride Church, Herbert
Road, Bray in 1889 where he was a vestryman and later churchwarden. He was a director of the
Dublin Artisans' Dwelling's Company and a member of the RDS. The Darleys were very sociable with
lots of 'at homes' and frequent balls. They would arrange for special trains to get their guests
back to town after the balls ended at 3am. The couple lost two sons and a daughter in the First
World War, who are commemorated in the stained glass windows of Kilbride church. The Altar
screen reads: Arthur Tudor Darley, Commander of HMS Good Hope, 1914; Lt Col John Evelyn
Darley of the 4th Hussars, 1918; Stella Cecil Darley ,VAD, 1917. The brass plaque dated Easter 1919,
has the inscription: 'In glad thanksgiving for their lives; in proud remembrance of their deaths'.
Wellington died 16 Oct 1920 and left £235 in personal estate. Anne died 8 Oct 1925 and was buried
with her husband at Kilbride graveyard. A terrace of cottages on the Vevey were erected in memory
of Wellington and Anna Darley. The were officially opened in January 1929.
1 Helen Mary Darley born circa 1871. It was announced that she was to marry Charles B
Houston in 1895, but it would appear this did not happen as she married Chaworth Nolan, RN
Fleet Surgeon, HMS Blenheim on 23 Jul 1904 at Kilbride Church Bray. Charles was the son of
Andrew Nolan, a physician of Church Street, Wicklow. The reception was held at Violet Hill and
the couple honeymooned in England.
2 Maria Louis (Lily) Darley born 4 Dec 1873 at 11 Ely Place married the Archbishop of Cashel, the
Rt Rev Robert Millar, a widower on 25 Apr 1928 at St James', Piccadilly.
3 Arthur Tudor Darley born 29 Aug 1876 at Glensouthwell, Whitechurch married Charlotte Sinclair
May in 1910. Charlotte was the daughter of Brigadier General E S May, Headquarter staff of the
Irish Command on the 10 Nov 1910 at Christ Church Cathedral. Commander Darley of the HMS
Good Hope was killed in action at the battle Coronel on 1 Nov 1914.
1 Evelyn Elizabeth Darley married M J F Milne Hone on 29 Jul 1936.
2 Arthur Tudor Darley only son married Sylvia Lilian Kekewick in 1937.
4 John Evelyn Carmichael (Jacky) Darley born 14 Apr 1879 at 11 Ely Place was educated at Eton and
obtained a commission in the 5th Husars in 1899. He was ADC to General Sir Archibald Hunter
from 1910 to 1913. He married Marion Murray Noble, in 1910. Marion was the second daughter
of Wilson Noble, of Manor, Wokingham. Lieut Col Darley was killed in action on 1 Apr 1918.
5 Sophie Stella Cecil Darley born 25 Oct 1883 at Killincarrig and was VAD during WW1. She died
11 Apr 1917 at a nursing home in London.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2018