Local History

The Countess of Warwick and Edward VII

Frances Evelyn Maynard, nicknamed 'Daisy', was born on, 10, December 1861 at Easton Lodge and inherited her fortune when she was three-years-old. 

A noted societal beauty, it was suggested in 1880 by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, that she should marry Queen Victoria's youngest son Prince Leopold. She declined and on the same day agreed to marry Lord Brooke.

Daisy is famous for her nine-year relationship with Edward, Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII. She is also said to be the inspiration for the music hall song 'Daisy Bell'.

In later years she became more left-wing in her views and began to set up projects for those less well off in society.

Caroline Spurrier

Caroline Spurrier is the great-granddaughter of the Countess of Warwick and first became aware of her notable ancestor when she was a child.

"One of my earliest memories is moving back to Easton Lodge. I was born in Esher in Surrey and my parents built a house there and we moved back in 1962," she says. 

Daisy's boudoir at Warwick House

The Countess and Socialism

Caroline is keen to stress the socialist aspect of her great-grandmother's life: "She had a ball in 1895 at Warwick Castle and it received bad press. Daisy was furious and went to see the editor of a left-wing newspaper and he questioned why she was having such large and lavish parties, and she saw his point."

The Bal Poudre as the ball was known was a fancy dress party with Daisy dressing as Marie Antionette.

Her conversation with the newspaper editor converted the Countess to the socialist cause. Later on her social circle would start to include many of the leading left-wing thinkers and Labour politicians of the time.

• Next