In 1906, the last Wallis of Drishane Castle, Henry Aubery Beaumont Wallis was divorced from his estranged wife Elizabeth Bingham. Apparently one of only two divorces that were permitted in Ireland (and only by Act of Parlaiment), until divorce was legalised in 1996. The below report from the House of Lords gives the details:
Witnesses were called before the House of Lords in support of an Irish Divorce Bill promoted by Mrs. Elizabeth. Caroline Wallis, of 19, Molesworth Street Dublin, who sought to dissolve her marriage with Henry Aubrey Beaumont Wallis, of Drishane Castle, County Cork. The wedding took place on March 1, 1883, at Kiderpore, Calcutta, the lady being a daughter of the Hon. Albert Yelverton Bingham. Afterwards the couple lived together in New Zealand, at Drishane Castle, and elsewhere, and two children were born. In 1892 Mr. Wallis returned from the West African Gold Coast, where he had been appointed a District Commissioner, and the couple resided together at Albert Gate Mansions in London. Subsequently the wife visited India for the benefit of her health, and on her return was unable to asseertain where Mr. Wallis was residing. Later, however, the parties again for some time lived together.
It was alleged that in 1903, at Drishane Castle, Mr. Wallis treated his wife cruelly, refusing to allow her any money or the use of his horses and carriages, and that on May 18 he flung her to the ground, wrenching her wrist and bending back her fingers. In March, 1904, her husband having become tenant of Drishane Castle, petitioner left, and had never since seen him. Subsequently she discovered that the husband had between 1896 amd 1901 inclusive committed misconduct with a woman named Edith Scott, at Titchfield Street, London. [read more …] “Irish Divorce Suit”
