Ladies of Llangollen

The ladies ran away from their families in Ireland and set up home together in Llangollen.

Born:

1739

Place of Birth:

Ireland

Trivia:

Among the famous people who visited the Ladies in Llangollen were the Duke of Wellington, Sir Walter Scott, Edmund Burke, Wordsworth and Lady Caroline Lamb.

Biography:

Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby were two aristocratic women of Anglo-Irish descent who scandalised contemporary society by leaving Ireland against the wishes of their families and setting up home together in Plas Newydd in Llangollen.

The ladies had tried to leave Ireland before but had been prevented by their families, who disapproved of their desire for independence. However their second attempt was successful and they made their way to Wales, where a servant, Mary Caryll, later joined them.

Once they had decided to make Plas Newydd their home the ladies set about transforming it, adding many Gothic features including oak carvings in the interior of the house. Their fame spread as their romantic friendship became known far and wide.

As well as working on their house and garden, the ladies spent their time in reading, studying foreign languages and corresponding with a wide variety of people. Many of these were well-known figures of the day and they often came to visit the ladies, among them Wordsworth and the Duke of Wellington. Some of their guests brought the ladies gifts in the form of oak carvings which were added to the house.

Lady Eleanor Butler died in 1829 and Sarah Ponsonby died two years later. They were buried in the church of St Collen in Llangollen. They left behind volumes of letters and journals which give a fascinating insight into their life together.

Their house is now a tourist attraction run by Denbighshire County Council.

your comments

Trevor Rimmer
My mother has been recalling her family history and told me of a connection with Plas Newydd. Her grandmother had a sister (whose name she could not recall), who had a daughter, Myfanwy, who married an Evans, caretaker at Plas Newydd. She recalls visiting the family in the early '50s. She told me that they had two children, Faith and Hope. Thus I searched for "Plas Newydd caretaker" and found your comments. Is there a connection?
Mon Aug 18 08:46:33 2008

Helena Wojtczak
I read on a council website that the sculpted memorial to the ladies bears the faces not of them but of Mary Gordon and Violet Labouchere. But comparing the two, the sculpture looks to me like the ladies of Llangollen. Can anyone clear this up please?
Fri Nov 16 15:07:39 2007

Wendy Roberts, London
Does anyone know if the Ladies kept an inventory of all the fragments they used to transform the house? Perhaps it was included in their housekeeping expenses? Many well kept homes used to record things in this way? P.S. this info would be useful towards my dissertation on collecting and collections. I am a 65 year old university student!
Tue Nov 6 13:37:06 2007

C. Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, USA
Greetings: To W. Meehan: Should you ever chance by here again, may I suggest you donate the lovely Wordsworth chair to the Plas Newydd Museum in Llangollen, Wales? Yes? I am certain that Ms. Rose McMahon, Denbighshire Heritage Society, would love to procure it for the cottage. It would be a lovely acquisition to them and to all to see this beautiful chair with the "tongue-sticker' at its original home. It is apparent that a photograph is on file with The National Library of Wales. It is a known fact that this chair was given to Lady Eleanor Butler and the Honorable Miss Sarah Ponsonby by Wordsworth as a gift. Here is the link for the photograph of this "tongue-sticker" oak craving on the chair [http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/18443]
To Kathleen of London: There is no known VHS or DVD of "The Ladies" anytime now or in the near future at this writing. However, you might enjoy some reading by Sarah Waters "Fingersmith" and "Tipping the Velvet". Ms. Sarah Waters resides in the UK. There is a DVD out for "Tipping the Velvet." The genre is clear...early romanticism at the turn-of-the- century. (18th/19th) Mary Gordon's book "Chase of the Wild Goose", is still available from (circa1932?) at Amazon.com for purchase and reading. It is a wonderfully exhaustive/detailed book, although not authorative.
Wed Oct 24 09:02:13 2007

Gareth Davies, exAcrefair
My former landlady, Violet, Countess of Tankerville, spent part of her honeymoon in the 1930s at Plas Newydd when it was owned by the Earls of Tankerville whose family home is Chillingham Castle in Northumberland. It was some time ago that I spoke to her about Plas Newydd but I do remember that she had very pleasant memories of her visit to Llangollen.
Thu Sep 6 14:46:25 2007

Dr D Cheney
Any recollections of Dr Mary Louisa Gordon?
Tue Sep 4 09:46:00 2007

Fe Selwood-Oswestry (Borders)
I am writing a play on the lives of the Ladies and am VERY keen to talk to ANYONE who has ANY stories about the house or its contents, no matter how tenuous. Has anyone managed to get hold of that TV programme from the 50s mentioned below? Please do get in touch!
Thu Jul 26 15:40:02 2007

S. O'Flynn Chicago, USA
What a daring thing these two women did back in those times. It could not have been easy. These were cultured women who fell in love, Ireland most certainly would not have been the place to make a home. Kudos to Wales, for letting them live thier life in peace. Plas Newydd in Llangollen sounds like a lovely place to vist.
Mon Jul 23 10:29:17 2007

Ellen Scherpenisse from NL
Two weeks ago, my husband and I have been visited the house of the Ladies of Langollen. I was very impressed; the beautiful house and even more than that the story itself. I also bought a picture of the ladies, and I've found a book about their story in our public library in the Netherlands!
Wed Jul 18 10:58:08 2007

Stuart Lloyd
Hi Mariam, 'Llangollen' means 'the church of Collen'. (The 'C' changes to a 'G' as the result of what's known as a 'mutation', where the first letter of a word may change, depending on the preceding word, and is a unique feature of Celtic languages). St Collen (pronounced similarly to 'Cothlen') was a sixth-century Celtic saint, and his feast day was celebrated on May 21st. His 'cell' (or early church) was believed to be approximately where the current Parish church (deicated to him) now stands in the town. Hope this helps! By the way, you'll find the 'Llan-' at the start of many Welsh placenames (usually followed by the name of a Welsh saint)... Llandudno, Llanarmon, Llanddewi, Llantysilio - why not see how many you can spot?!
Mon Jan 29 09:51:33 2007

Geoffrey Capner, Paris
Brought up in Llangollen, I have a print of the Ladies of Llangollen in my Paris apartment. They are dressed in riding habits, with top hats, in front of the fountain taken from Valle Crucis Abbey. It seems to be signed by them, at least the handwriting of each name is different. This print has followed me wherever I went.
Fri Aug 11 08:00:46 2006

Mariam from Tempe
I would love to find out what the English meaning is of Llangollen. Anybody know?
Mon Aug 7 08:09:38 2006

frances evans{nee davies] johnstown wrexham
I am putting together a short story of life in Plas Newydd in my childhood. as soon as it is done i will e-mail you a copy including some photos which i am sure no-one else has ever seen.I also trying to find out if it is possible to trace acopy of a television made in plas newydd onjuly 13th 1958.it was a welsh programme called BRO MEDYD and was introduced by Ifan.O.Williams. My father and I both appeared in it.Him being interviewed and me singing. I Would love any info regarding this. Frances Evans.
Wed Mar 8 18:44:01 2006

Frances Evans
I have so many memories and photographs of my childhood at plas newydd that I am going to try and put together a short book to give to my grand children. If anyone out there has any photos of the old east and wing taken inside i would to see them. I have loads outside with my sister and parents but not one inside. Something else i am looking is a copy of a television programme transmitted on sunday 13 July 1958. It was a welsh tv programme called BRO MEBYD introduced Ivan O Williams. My father and i both appeared in this programme. I sang, and my father was interviewed by mr williams. I still have the script at home and would love to see the actual programme.
Mon Mar 6 14:09:50 2006

frances evans[nee davies]
my father was caretaker and gardener at plas newydd from the thirties when he and my mother married. my sister and i were both born there and were the only children on record ever to have been born there. if anyone would like any information about the years we spent there please contact me on this page. Web Team replies: We'd love to hear your memories and use any photos you have. Please contact us via email: wales.northeast@bbc.co.uk
Thu Jan 19 14:43:23 2006

Nameless
I used to live a stone's throw from the house, grew up there as a child. It would be great to go back to the 1800s and see how it was then, plus slightly strange that as a child my footsteps have traced those of great figures of the past.
Mon Nov 14 21:51:17 2005

Rose McMahon, Denbighshire Heritage Service
I'm the Curator for Plas Newydd. A chair from Plas Newydd is something that Denbighshire would be interested in acquiring for the Plas Newydd collection. Contact me: rose.mcmahon@denbighshire.gov.uk
Wed Sep 14 19:26:30 2005

Chas
I found a small oval enameled badge with the ladies of Llangollen depicted upon it. I don't think there are many of those still around but would like to hear from anyone who still has one..
Thu Mar 17 10:34:40 2005

Kathleen from London
Am fascinated by the story of the ladies of Llangollen and wonder if there is a TV series or film on it that I could find a copy of on video?
Mon Mar 7 11:45:37 2005

W Meehan
We have the Wordsworth Chair which has the Tongue sticker. It is beautiful. We understand Wordsworth and Wellington sat on it. What is it worth today - and who would want it? It is absolutely genuine.
Wed Jul 7 23:15:07 2004

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