Hazel Dolling
| Hazel Dolling | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 13, 1923 |
| Died | April 24, 2006 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | School of St Mary and St Anne, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Spouse | Harry Dolling (1970-1986; his death) |
Hazel Dolling (June 13, 1923–April 24, 2006[1]) was the châtelaine of Lissan House, a stately home near Cookstown, Northern Ireland. Lissan is said to be the oldest plantation house in Northern Ireland to be lived in by the descendants of its original builders, one of whom was Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, known as "the barefoot baronet" because he reportedly never wore shoes. Lissan is set at the foot of the Sperrin Mountains. Hazel Dolling was the last surviving member of the Staples family.[2] [3]
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[edit] Life
Born as Hazel Marion Staples, her father was Sir Robert Staples, 13th Baronet. She was taught at the School of St Mary and St Anne, Staffordshire, England. She then worked as an air radio mechanic during World War II and was a third officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service.
Afterwards she worked as an assistant purser on the Southampton-New York route of the Cunard Line ship, the RMS Mauretania Later, she owned a travel agency in Liverpool. After selling it, she moved to London. In 1970, her father died, and she married his agent Harry Dolling,[4] who was 30 years older than she was. He was also a cousin.[2] They moved to Lissan House to live with Hazel's mother. Harry Dolling died in 1986 and Hazel Dolling lived the rest of her life alone at Lissan without electricity, excluding that which was generated by the water wheel at her house.[3] She had to use a gas canister to cook food.[2] When she went driving down her 1 mile-long avenue she always kept a chainsaw in her car boot in case the avenue was blocked by any trees that had fallen.[2] She once attempted to create a bank account, and was told to bring an electricity bill for identity purposes. She replied "but I have never had an electricity bill."[2]
[edit] Restoration
In 2003, Lissan House was a candidate in the BBC 2 television show, Restoration. The prize was a £3,000,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the winning building for use by the public. Instead of a celebrity making the case for the funding, she decided to try to persuade viewers to choose her home as the grant-winner. The Irish Independent described Mrs Dolling as a "natural television performer".[2] Lissan House reached the final, but was defeated by the Victoria Baths in Manchester.[3]
[edit] Death and legacy
Hazel Dolling died in 2006, aged 82, after a long battle with cancer.[5] Before her death she donated her home, Lissan House, to a charitable trust, The Friends of Lissan House,[2] which was founded on August 5, 1997.[4] The trust has received a £45,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund; it is believed that the restoration work will cost £5,000,000.[5] In August 2006 it was revealed that there are plans for "tourist, community and heritage facilities" and possibly a hotel at the site.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ "BBC - Radio 4 - Last Word". BBC Radio 4. 2006-06-09. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/lastword_09june2006.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Hazel Dolling". Irish Independent. 2006-05-21. http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/migration/hazel-dolling-130391.html. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
- ^ a b c d "Grand plans to restore stately home". BBC News. 2006-08-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4791659.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
- ^ a b "Staples Lissan House". http://www.staples-lissanhousecookstown.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
- ^ a b "Restoration - Series 1". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/2003/. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
