EXHIBIT 25.1
      ___________________________________________________________________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D. C.  20549
                           _________________________

                                   FORM  T-1
                                        
         STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                  ___________________________________________
              CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
                   A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) 
                   ________________________________________

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                       13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                  (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                               identification No.)

270 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                  10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                General Counsel
                                270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                              Tel:  (212) 270-2611
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                  ____________________________________________

                     TERRA NOVA INSURANCE (UK) HOLDINGS PLC
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

   ENGLAND AND WALES                                       NOT APPLICABLE
(State or other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                        identification No.)

TERRA NOVA HOUSE
41-43 MINCING LANE
LONDON EC3R 7SP, GREAT BRITAIN
(44-1-71) 283-3000
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)
                   ________________________________________
                           7.0% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008
                      (Title of the indenture securities)
                  ___________________________________________
                                        

 
                                    GENERAL
                                        
Item 1.  General Information.

         Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

         (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to
which it is subject.
 
             New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
             12110.

             Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
             20551

             Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty
             Street, New York, N.Y.

             Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


         (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

             Yes.


Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

         If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
         affiliation.

         None.

                                     - 2 -

 
Item 16. List of Exhibits
 
         List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of
Eligibility.

         1.  A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in
effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment
dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982,
February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1
filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

         2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

         3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

         4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

         5.  Not applicable.

         6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

         7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

         8.  Not applicable.

         9.  Not applicable.

                                   SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 29 th day of May, 1998.
 
                             THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                By  /s/  David G. Safer
                                   --------------------
                                   /s/   David G. Safer
 
                                     - 3 -

 
                             Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                                Bank Call Notice

                             RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                      CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                  of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                     and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                    a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                  at the close of business March 31, 1998, in
        accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
        District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.


                                                                        DOLLAR AMOUNTS
                    ASSETS                                                IN MILLIONS
                                                                       
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
  Noninterest-bearing balances and
  currency and coin..........................................                  $ 12,037
  Interest-bearing balances..................................                     4,054
Securities:..................................................
Held to maturity securities..................................                     2,340
Available for sale securities................................                    50,134
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
  agreements to resell.......................................                    24,982
Loans and lease financing receivables:
  Loans and leases, net of unearned income.......... $127,958
  Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses.........    2,797
  Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve.............        0
                                                     --------
  Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
  allowance, and reserve.....................................                   125,161
Trading Assets...............................................                    61,820
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
  leases)....................................................                     2,961
Other real estate owned......................................                       347
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
  associated companies.......................................                       242
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
  outstanding................................................                     1,380
Intangible assets............................................                     1,549
Other assets.................................................                    11,727
                                                                               --------
TOTAL ASSETS.................................................                  $298,734
                                                                               ========


                                      -4-

 

                                                                            
                                  LIABILITIES

Deposits                                                                       
  In domestic offices........................................                  $ 96,682
  Noninterest-bearing.......................$38,074                                    
  Interest-bearing.......................... 58,608                                    
                                            -------                                    
  In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement,
   subsidiaries and IBF's....................................                    72,630
  Noninterest-bearing.......................$ 3,289
  Interest-bearing.......................... 69,341

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agree-
 ments to repurchase.........................................                    42,735
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury.....................                       872
Trading liabilities..........................................                    45,545

Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
  and obligations under capitalized leases):
  With a remaining maturity of one year or less..............                     4,454
  With a remaining maturity of more than one year
   through three years.......................................                       231
  With a remaining maturity of more than three years.........                       106
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding.....                     1,380
Subordinated notes and debentures............................                     5,708
Other liabilities............................................                    11,295

TOTAL LIABILITIES............................................                   281,638
                                                                               -------- 
                                 EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus................                         0
Common stock.................................................                     1,211
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock).....                    10,291
Undivided profits and capital reserves.......................                     5,579
Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
 on available-for-sale securities............................                        (1)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments..........                        16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL.........................................                    17,096
                                                                               --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL.........................                  $298,734
                                                                               ========


I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named
bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has
been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued
by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                 JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness
of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been
examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the in-
structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory
authority and is true and correct.

                                 WALTER V. SHIPLEY       )             
                                 THOMAS G. LABRECQUE     )  DIRECTORS  
                                 WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)              

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