Laura Gwendolen Douglas Galton Gascoigne
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Laura Gwendolen Douglas Galton Gascoigne (2 March 1859 – 2 July 1949) was a British nurse, writer, and singer. She was appointed Commander Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1918.[1] She was appointed Dame of Justice, most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. Johns of Jerusalem.[2]
Life[]
Laura Gwendolen Gascoigne was the daughter of Sir Douglas Strutt Galton and Marianne Nicholson. Through her mother Laura Gwendolen was the god daughter and second cousin to Florence Nightingale.[3]
Family[]
In 1892 she married Frederic Charles Trench Gascoigne on the 16th of February 1892. He was the son of Colonel Fredrick Charles Trench and Mary-Isabella Oliver Gascoigne and the nephew of Elizabeth Gascoigne from whom he inherited Lotherton Hall. This became the couple's family home. They had three children together: Alvary Douglas Frederick Trench-Gascoigne, Cynthia Mary Trench-Gascoigne (Hill, once she married) and Edward Oliver Trench Gascoigne, who died as an infant.
Life at Lotherton[]
In 1905 the couple inherited Parlington Hall and moved many of the furnishings from Parlington to Lotherton.[4] Colonel and Mrs. Gascoigne made Lotherton their family home and abandoned Parlington hall which was demolished by the couple in 1950. They equipped Lotherton with central heating and electricity, [5] restored the chapel[6] and added a drawing room, dining room, entrance hall, and servant's wing.[4]
In the 1930s the Gascoignes had a lift installed as Colonel Gascoigne was too elderly to get up and down the stairs. After he died in 1937,[4] Laura Gwendolen Gascoigne used the lift until one day it became jammed and she was stuck in it for several hours. After that she refused to use it and insisted on being carried up to bed.[7]
The Gardens[]
Laura Gwendolen Gascoigne had a keen interest in gardening. She used this knowledge and passion to redo the Lotherton gardens to her liking.[8] Laura Gwendolen Gascoigne and her well known gardening friends of the time William Goldring and Ellen Willmott, designed the Lotherton gardens to complement the rooms of the house. The gardens she designed cover eight acres of the front of the hall as were a project that started between 1903 and 1949.[9] The gardens are made up of walled roses, a rockery and a herbaceous borders.[10]
First World War[]
During the First World War Lotherton Hall was transformed into a Voluntary Aid Detachment hospital, catering to injured soldiers. Laura Gwendolen Gascoigne was Commandant of the hospital and her daughter Cynthia was on the nursing staff. Cynthia was also in charge of the soldier's entertainment and organized card parties, concerts, and shoots on the estate. Due to her work in the war Laura Gwendolen was awarded a CBE in 1918.[11] The following year she was also awarded the title of Lady of Grace of the Order of St. Johns Jerusalem. [12]
After her death Lotherton Hall was passed down to her son Sir Alvary Gascoigne.[13]
References[]
- ^ Walford, Edward (1860-01-01). The county families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Dalcassian Publishing Company.
- ^ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999
- ^ "Our Cousin Florence - Florence Nightingale and her family". www.visitleeds.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ a b c "The History of Lotherton Hall". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Parlington Hall :: Col Frederick R. T. Trench-Gascoigne Page One". www.parlington.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "GASCOIGNE OF PARLINGTON, FAMILY AND ESTATE RECORDS (WYL115) - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ Express, Britain. "Lotherton Hall | HIstory, Photos & Visiting Information". Britain Express. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ Unknown. "Portrait of Mrs. Laura Gwendolen Gascoigne". www.leodis.org. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ "Lotherton Hall". www.yorkshireguides.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Discover the Gardens of West Yorkshire - Gardens | Welcome to Yorkshire". www.yorkshire.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Lotherton Hall: A Country House Hospital • Life in WW1 Country House Hospitals • MyLearning". www.mylearning.org. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ "The V.A.D Hospital at Lotherton Hall". www.barwickinelmethistoricalsociety.com. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ "GASCOIGNE OF PARLINGTON, FAMILY AND ESTATE RECORDS (WYL115) - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- 1859 births
- 1949 deaths
- British nurses
- British women singers
- British women writers
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Dames of Justice of the Order of St John
- Leeds Museums and Galleries Project