216 



ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



Mr. R. N. Batt became a patron of Ashgill in the 

 year 1869. Descended from one of the best and 

 oldest families in the Green Isle, his estate, which lay 

 in the neighbourhood of Purdysburn, some six miles 

 out of Belfast, has been described as " one of the most 

 beautiful places that lies under the sun." A man of 

 quiet, unassuming manners, and a good sportsman, he 

 was a distinct contrast to Mrs. Batt, who was a high- 

 spirited, dashing Irishwoman, fond of driving, of sport 

 generally and the Turf in particular. Moreover, during 

 the period that her husband raced thoroughbreds she 

 was a heavy speculator, unhappily not with the most 

 agreeable returns, the result being that the estate 

 became encumbered and the once beautiful home of the 

 Batts descended to the purposes of a lunatic asylum. 

 Mr. Batt went abroad at the end of his racing career, 

 which extended over about a dozen years. Mrs. Batt 

 was a fearless coachwoman. Nothing delighted her 

 more than standing up in her Stanhope phaeton, 

 driving a pair of spirited, dark brown, exceedingly 

 high steppers to and from Belfast. Quite a sporting 

 appearance was given to the turnout by the brass- 

 ornamented harness, with bright yellow pad cloths in 

 keeping with the Batt colours, " orange and black 

 hoops." At the time Mr. Batt owned Thorn he ran a 

 two-year-old named Meta, both animals being trained 

 by the Osbornes at Ashgill. For the following 

 anecdotes connected with the relationship between the 

 Batts and John Osborne we are indebted to Mr. R. 

 Greer, the well-known horse dealer, now of Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne, but formerly a resident on the estate at 

 Purdysburn, and therefore well-known to and by the 

 Batts. To one of The Maze Meetings, Belfast, John 

 Osborne took Thorn and Meta to fulfil their engage- 



