EXHIBIT 23.1

                        [LETTERHEAD OF CLIFFORD CHANCE]

                                                29 October 1997


Terra Nova Insurance (UK) Holdings plc
Terra Nova House
Mincing Lane
London EC3R 7AP


Dear Sirs

Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement

We consent to the reference to Clifford Chance within Amendment No. 1 to the 
Registration Statement on Forms F-4 and S-4 of Terra Nova Insurance (UK) 
Holdings plc and Terra Nova (Bermuda) Holdings Ltd, Registration Numbers 
333-38063 and 333-38063-01 (the "Amendment"), and within the Prospectus 
contained therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the 
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities 
Act of 1933 of the United States.


Yours faithfully


/s/ Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance