Historic Heroines – A Series of Online Talks

Category: News

The Friends of Lydiard Park are delighted to bring you a new series of live online talks commencing on Tuesday July 14th 2020.  Our first series ‘Historic Heroines’ is presented by authors Elizabeth St. John and Nicola Cornick and features historical women of Lydiard House who have witnessed and changed history.

Lucy St.John - St. Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze
Lady Diana Beauclerk - Lydiard House
Lady Ann St. John Wilmot (c) National Trust, Hatchlands; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

Two of the women featured in this first series of talks played important roles in the 17th Century. Lucy Apsley (formerly Lucy St. John) held the keys of the Tower of London while her niece Ann Wilmot was a spymistress working for the restoration of King Charles II.  At the forefront of political machinations, both women maintained courage and family bonds above all.

The third remarkable woman featured is Lady Diana Beauclerk, society artist and lady of the manor at Lydiard Park in the 18th Century.  Lady Di as she was known shared a common ancestry with the late Princess Diana of Wales. Born Lady Diana Spencer she married and was later divorced from Frederick St. John of Lydiard Park who featured in our recent story Fred’s Horses.

Our new live ZOOM talks are open to all. They are free but we welcome donations to help the work of The Friends of Lydiard Park.

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