Not unexpectedly, I fell into another research rabbit hole while working on a novella, "Mother of the Bride," included in the regency summer collection from Dreamstone Publishing this year, Regency Summer Weddings.
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Recently I wrote in this blog about Palladian Bridges and included a bit about Palladian architecture in general. In this regard, I read about the now-demolished Wanstead House, pictured above. And the terrible scandals tied to the marriage of heiress Catherine Tynley Long, known as the Wiltshire Angel, and William Wellesley Pole, a nephew of the 1st Duke of Wellington. Below left, Catherine (1789-1825) and William (1788-1857 ).
Above, The Angel and the Cad: Love, Loss and Scandal in Regency England is an excellent account of both the 1812 marriage and the mansion's fate by author Geraldine Roberts, published in 2015. Another excellent source is the website Wicked William, from Greg Roberts.
From Wikipedia: "Wanstead House was a mansion built to replace the earlier Wanstead Hall. It was commissioned in 1715, completed in 1722 and demolished in 1825. Its gardens now form the municipal Wanstead Park in the London borough of Redbridge." Below, many bits and pieces from the estate can still be found. Left is a pillar from the gate; right, the grotto. Photo from British Listed Buildings.
From Wikipedia: "Wanstead House was a mansion built to replace the earlier Wanstead Hall. It was commissioned in 1715, completed in 1722 and demolished in 1825. Its gardens now form the municipal Wanstead Park in the London borough of Redbridge." Below, many bits and pieces from the estate can still be found. Left is a pillar from the gate; right, the grotto. Photo from British Listed Buildings.
Above left, another source for learning about Wanstead is Wanstead House: East London's Lost Palace by Hannah Armstrong, published in 2022, covering the history, architecture, sale of contents and demolition in 1824-25.
Right, a drawing of the original plan by Scottish Architect Colen Campbell (1676-1729). The Wanstead design shortly preceded the design of Burlington House, London, for Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Burlington, an early proponent of the neo-Palladian style. William Kent (1685-1748) was in charge of the interiors of both residences. below, a Hogarth painting of the interior, The Assembly at Wanstead House, 1728-32, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Right, a drawing of the original plan by Scottish Architect Colen Campbell (1676-1729). The Wanstead design shortly preceded the design of Burlington House, London, for Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Burlington, an early proponent of the neo-Palladian style. William Kent (1685-1748) was in charge of the interiors of both residences. below, a Hogarth painting of the interior, The Assembly at Wanstead House, 1728-32, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Above, a brighter painting by Flemish painter Joseph Francis Nollekens of the Family of Sir John Tylney in the saloon of Wanstead House, 1740, Fairfax House, York Civic Trust.
It was the décor above that William decided to update after he gained control of Catherine's fortune, just one of his myriad extravagances, including gambling and adultery, which left the couple penniless and needing to flee Britain with their children by 1823.
Heartbroken and suffering from illness, perhaps a venereal disease her husband gave her, Catherine was successful in getting her children and herself back to England, where she made certain her children were protected from William before she died in 1825. No surprise to Regency aficionados, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, William's uncle, guaranteed the control of the children remained with Catherine's sisters, Dora and Emma, though none ever fully recovered from their abusive father's influence.
Below left, drawing of the Gardens "in their heyday" from the London Gardens Trust; right, Pastoral scene before Wanstead House and Basin, by William Havell, 1815, Yale Center for British Art.
It was the décor above that William decided to update after he gained control of Catherine's fortune, just one of his myriad extravagances, including gambling and adultery, which left the couple penniless and needing to flee Britain with their children by 1823.
Heartbroken and suffering from illness, perhaps a venereal disease her husband gave her, Catherine was successful in getting her children and herself back to England, where she made certain her children were protected from William before she died in 1825. No surprise to Regency aficionados, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, William's uncle, guaranteed the control of the children remained with Catherine's sisters, Dora and Emma, though none ever fully recovered from their abusive father's influence.
Below left, drawing of the Gardens "in their heyday" from the London Gardens Trust; right, Pastoral scene before Wanstead House and Basin, by William Havell, 1815, Yale Center for British Art.
All this research refreshed my knowledge of the situation, which will contribute to no more than a line or two of conversation in my novella. Of course, I enjoyed every moment of the effort. That's half the fun of writing regencies. Nevertheless, the excessively abusive behavior of Catherine's husband, who eventually was named 4th Earl of Mornington and did not die until 1857, more than thirty years after his unfortunate wife Catherine, stings even today. Certainly the epitome of a cad!
For a happier story, look for the Anthology titled Regency Summer Weddings, in the summer of 2024. My story is "Mother of the Bride."
For a happier story, look for the Anthology titled Regency Summer Weddings, in the summer of 2024. My story is "Mother of the Bride."
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