Violet Herbert, Countess of Powis

The Right Honourable
The Countess of Powis

Lady Powis dressed for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.
Born 1 June 1865
Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, England[1]
Died 29 April 1929
Title suo jure 16th Baroness Darcy de Knayth; Countess of Powis
Spouse(s) George Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis
Children Percy Herbert, Viscount Clive
Mervyn Herbert, Viscount Clive
Hon. Hermione Gwladys
Parent(s) Sackville Lane-Fox, 12th Baron Conyers
Mary Curteis

Violet Ida Eveline Herbert, Countess of Powis and suo jure 16th Baroness Darcy de Knayth (1 June 1865 29 April 1929) was a British peer in her own right.

Lady Powis was the youngest child of the Sackville Lane-Fox, 12th Baron Conyers and his wife, Mary Curteis. Her sister, Hon. Marcia Lane-Fox, became the Countess of Yarborough, and her brother, Hon. Sackville Fitzroy Henry Lane-Fox, died at age 18 at Durban, South Africa. Her paternal grandparents were Sackville Walter Lane-Fox and Lady Charlotte Mary Anne Georgiana Osborne (daughter of George Osborne, 6th Duke of Leeds).

On 21 August 1890, she married George Herbert (who succeeded his uncle as Earl of Powis six months later) at St George's, Hanover Square, London, England.[1] Lady Powis persuaded her husband to entrust the entire management of the deteriorating gardens at Powis Castle to her in 1911. Over the next 18 years, she effectively recreated the gardens of Powis into the internationally renowned form that they have today.[2]

The Earl and Countess of Powis had three children:

Portrait of the Hon. Violet Lane-Fox, Baroness Darcy de Knayth, Countess of Powis, a charcoal drawing by John Singer Sargent c. 1910-1914. Private collection by descent. Purchased through Antony Mould Contemporary. Located at Powis Castle.[4]

Barony of Darcy de Knayth

In 1888, Lady Powis' father died and the Baronies of Darcy de Knayth and Conyers fell into abeyance between his two daughters. On 8 June 1892, the abeyance of the Barony of Conyers was terminated in favour of the Countess of Yarborough. Eleven years later, on 29 September 1903, the Barony of Fauconberg (a title which had been in abeyance since the death of the last holder, the 6th Baroness Fauconberg in 1490), was also granted to Lady Yarborough. On the same date, The House of Lords also agreed that their father had held the barony of Darcy de Knayth, which was granted to Lady Powis.[5]

Lady Powis died in 1929, age 63, in a motorcar accident, and was buried in the Christ Church, Welshpool churchyard. Her eldest surviving son, Mervyn, succeeded to title.

References

  1. 1 2 College of Arms. Visitation of England and Wales, Volume 13, 1905. pg 110. Google eBook
  2. "The Art Fund" is the operating name of the National Art Collections Fund, a charity registered in England and Wales (209174) and Scotland (SC038331). Violet Lane-Fox, Baroness Darcy
  3. 1 2 3 Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1029.
  4. The National Trust. National Trust Images, LADY VIOLET IDA EVELYN LANE-FOX, 16TH BARONESS DARCY OF NAYTH, COUNTESS OF POWIS, (1865-1929)
  5. Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen. Who's Who," A. & C. Black, 1907.

External links

Peerage of England
Preceded by
Abeyant
(Sackville Lane-Fox)
Baroness Darcy de Knayth
1903 1929
Succeeded by
Mervyn Herbert
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