UK Cigar Scene Magazine January Issue 13 | Page 18

Fortunately, at the eleventh hour, his elder
brother, St George died, and Hugh, spurned by
Society, and hounded by his creditors, became
overnight one of the richest men in England. He
was only 25 when he unexpectedly, inherited the
title in 1882.
In addition to his many titles, he inherited a
Kingdom in Cumberland and Westmorland, along
with Lowther Castle, which was one of the largest
houses in the country. It was built between 1806
and 1811 and had 365 rooms, one for each day of
the year!
There was an agricultural estate of fifty thousand
acres, and another fifty thousand acres of common
land, over which he owned most of the sporting
and mineral rights. There were the lakes of
Windermere and Grasmere, and the ruggedly
beautiful Hawes Water.
In West Cumberland, he owned the entire town
of Whitehaven with the rich coalfields which
stretched far under the Irish Sea, and another
family seat, Whitehaven Castle.
In London two of the great Mansions in Carlton
House Terrace were knocked into one, providing
him with a huge townhouse. There was another
house at Newmarket, and two, fully crewed Steam
Yachts lying at anchor at Cowes. There were rich
lands in the heart of hunting country in Rutland
and the magnificent hunting box and stables at
Barleythorpe.
Above all, from his own coal fields, iron mines,
and agricultural lands, there flo vVB&