Wednesday 18th Sept 2019 - Lecture by Julian Walton in Dungarvan Sailing Club


Lecture by Julian Walton in Dungarvan Sailing Club

Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford (1818 -1891):
a bicentenary assessment and fresh discoveries

Julian Walton is back with what will prove to be a most interesting talk. 

Waterford County Museum Dungarvan is always delighted when Julian agrees to come and deliver a talk for us.  Readers and followers of the ‘Historical Giant’ will be drawn to the words in his lecture entitled ‘Fresh Discoveries’.  The subject matter of his talk will be, Louisa Anne Stuart, who was the younger daughter of Lord Stuart de Rothesay, a career diplomat and Lady Elizabeth Yorke.  Beautiful, artistic and deeply religious, who to the consternation of her family, married Henry, 3rd Marquess of Waterford, who had hitherto been renowned for his reckless and spendthrift behaviour in 1842.  Her reign of seventeen years at Curraghmore was marked by humanitarian endeavours which did much to alleviate the plight of the poor, especially during the Great Famine. 
            After the death of her husband in a freak hunting accident, Louisa retired to Ford Castle in Northumberland, where she survived her husband by thirty-two years.  In Ford she rebuilt the castle and village, decorating the walls of the school with biblical stories for which the models were the local children.  She was a gifted and prolific artist and was the friend of Ruskin, Rossetti, and other leaders of the art world.

            Louisa has been the subject of four biographies and several articles.  This lecture offers fresh insights into her character, based on her correspondence and art work at Curraghmore, much of which was not known to previous biographers.

             Now then, does that whet your appetite for more? Julian’s lecture takes place at the Sailing Club venue on the Quay, Dungarvan this Wednesday 18th at 8.pm. There will be an entrance fee of €5, and as always, all are very welcome.