CROFTON FAMILY

The Crofton family descended from John Crofton, exchequer general of Ireland (1576-1597) for Queen Elizabeth. She granted him a substantial land estate in Roscommon Ireland; however, it wasn't until 1661 a Crofton obtained a title when Edward became a Baronet to Mote for service rendered to Charles II during the Cromwell rebellion.
Mote Park House was build by the Crofton family preceding the Castle of Mote erected by the family in the 1620's. The original house was two stories over a basement. John Crofton (1778-1816) doubled its size by adding six bays and another storey.
From the mid-nineteenth century however things started to go downhill for the fortunes of the Crofton's and their big house. In 1865 a fire destroyed Mote Park House and was rebuild in 1866. Tenants rents were in arrears and the house continued to require extensive repairs.
Lord Edward Crofton died in 1912 at the age of 78. As a bachelor his title of Baron was passed to his nephew Arthur Edward Crofton. He was the last of the Crofton's to reside at Mote Park House. Most of the land was sold piecemeal in the early twentieth century so ownership of what was left passed to his children and then to his grandson Edward Blaise, to who the title eventually passed.
Francis George Crofton (1825-1900) was the youngest brother of Lord Edward Crofton. The 4th son, and father to Ernest Alfred Crofton and Alfred Gerald Crofton who immigrated to Salt Spring Island in the late 1890's. Their brother Francis Lowther settled in the Saanich Valley.
Augusta Caroline Crofton, Lord Edward's and Francis George CroftonÔs sister and Aunt to Ernest, Alfred and Francis, a renowned amateur photographer and honoured with an O.B.E. in 1920, took over 3,000 photographs from 1880 to 192. Many of these photograph depicted day to day life of the Crofton's in Mote Park House. The negatives are now being restored at the National Library of Ireland.
By mid 1960 Mote Park House was completed destroyed and lay in ruin.
Diane Alton-Kaighin
2010