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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11, 16 March 1905, Page 27

fiarswood ila.ll, near Newton-le-Willows, was, during the last week in December, the scene of much festivity, the occasion being the coming-of-age of Lord Geiard^ the present representative of a family which has been settled in that part of the country almost from time immemorial. Lady (ierard on December 28 gja\ c a lunciheon to the leading tenants of the Garswood Estate. It took place in an annexe to the ballroom, and was \ery numerously attended. The Hon. R. Gerard-Dic-conson, Lord (ierard's uncle, presided. A number of presentations were made to Lord (letard from the tenants of the estate and the officers of the Lancashire Iliiwsars (of winch the late Lord (ierard was honorary colonel), and otheis were made in the course of the week, including one from the members of the St. Oswalld's Catholic church. On Thursday the cottageis of tho estate were entertained to luncheon, and an Friday night tho servants' ball took place In Garswood Hall. Lord Gerard, who is a n undergraduate of Cambridge, has another estate, that of Eastwell Park, near Ashford, in Kent, but the history of the family is "closely associated with Lancashire, arrd the full title, -that of Lord Gerard of Bryn, is deprived from Bryn Hall, which was once a well known landmark in the township of Ashtcn-in-Makerfield The family of Gerard have built at successive times three houses in the township. New Bryn was erectad in the lime of Eidward VI., and, like old Bryn, is swept away. The next one, which was named Garswood, was taken down at the beginning of the; present century. The present house was known originally as Now Hall, and was built about the year 1602 The Gerard family purchased it in the latter part of the last cemtury, and gave it the present namp-of Garswood HJall.