EXHIBIT 24.1

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY
                              -----------------

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each undersigned does hereby
make, constitute and appoint William O. Bailey, John Riddick, John J. Dwyer,
Jean M. Waggett, William J. Wedlake and Peter W. Norledge, and each of them,
with full power to act without the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-
in-fact and agent, in his or her name, place and stead to execute on his or her
behalf, as an officer and/or director of Terra Nova Insurance (UK) Holdings plc
(the "Company"), the Registration Statement of the Company on Forms S-4 and F-4
(the "Registration Statement") for the registration of up to $75,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 7.2% Senior Notes due 2007 to be issued by the
Company and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Terra Nova (Bermuda)
Holdings Ltd. (the "Exchange Notes") and any and all amendments (including post-
effective amendments) to the Registration Statement, and file the same with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any and all other instruments which either  of
said attorneys-in-fact and agents deem necessary or advisable to enable the
Company to comply with the Act, the rules, regulations and requirements of the
SEC in respect thereof, and the securities or Blue Sky laws of any State or
other governmental subdivision, giving and granting to each of said attorneys-
in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing whatsoever necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the
premises as fully to all intents as he or she might or could do if personally
present at the doing thereof, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, hereby ratifying and confirming all that his or her said
attorney-in-fact and agents or substitutes may or shall lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each undersigned has hereunto set his hand on the
date indicated below:



 /s/  John Riddick         Chairman and Managing Director
- - -------------------------  (Principal Executive Officer)
John Riddick


 /s/ William J. Wedlake    Chief Financial Officer and Director
- - -------------------------  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
William J. Wedlake


 /s/ William O. Bailey     Director           
- - -------------------------                     
William O. Bailey                             
                                              
                                              
 /s/ Nigel H.J. Rogers     Director           
- - -------------------------                     
Nigel H.J. Rogers                             


 /s/ Peter Norledge        Secretary and Director
- - -------------------------
Peter Norledge

 /s/ John J. Dwyer         Director
- - -----------------------          
John J. Dwyer                   
                                  
                                  
 /s/ Anthony F. Aldridge   Director
- - -----------------------          
Anthony F. Aldridge               

 Dated:  October 15, 1997