Terenure’s ‘Downton Abbey’ children

A very rare glimpse into the private world of upper-class children in early 20th century Ireland has come to light in a unique set of documents consigned to next week's auction at rare books specialist Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers.

Four leather-bound albums contain a fascinating account of Edwardian life from the perspective of six children who lived in Bushy Park house in Terenure, an Anglo-Irish "big house" in the south Dublin suburb.

The children of Sir Frederick and Lady Shaw compiled, handwrote, edited and illustrated their own "monthly magazine" – effectively a chronicle of their lives and their vision of the outside world – which they titled The Flapper. The children's father, a baronet, Sir Frederick William Shaw, was a professional soldier who had served in the Boer War and, in 1907, was appointed Honorary Colonel commanding the 5th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Their mother, Eleanor Hester, was the daughter of Major F H de Vere of the Royal Engineers.

The Flapper – bound into four volumes – covers the years 1904-1910. The six children – Annie ("sub-editor"), Mary ("newsmonger"), Grace ("editor"), Robert, Eily and Frederick – were aged between eight and 17 when they started the project. The contents include stories, poems, family news, accounts of dances, race meetings, polo matches and army manoeuvres – illustrated by watercolours and drawings mostly by the children and their mother.

Auctioneer Fonsie Mealy said: “the concept shows how isolated children of the “big house” were a hundred years ago.”

Professional soldiers

The final issue concludes with Annie’s wedding on December 20th, 1910. And what happened to the family? Mr Mealy said: “Robert and Freddy both became professional soldiers and served with distinction in the two World Wars.

"Freddy married, had a son and a daughter, and was killed in a car crash in 1945. Annie and Grace married; Mary and Eily did not. Robert succeeded to the baronetcy, sold Bushy Park House and demesne to Dublin Corporation, and died in 1969, the last of his generation".

The estimate for the lot is €1,250-€1,750. It will go on public view this weekend in the Clyde Court Hotel, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4, where the auction takes place on Tuesday, December 9th at 10.30am.