Lady Mary Bridget Parsons (27 October 1907 – 26 January 1972) was an English socialite, part of the Bright Young Things.

Biography

Lady Mary Bridget Parsons was born on 27 October 1907, the daughter of William Parsons, 5th Earl of Rosse and Frances Lois Lister-Kaye, Viscountess de Vesci of Abbey Leix.Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003 In the 1920s she was part of the wild crowd known as the Bright Young Things. Jeremy Hutchinson defended her on a drink driving charge (

Deborah Mitford Deborah Vivien Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, (born Deborah Vivien Freeman-Mitford and latterly Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire; 31 March 1920 – 24 September 2014) was an English aristocrat, writer, memoirist, and socialite. She ...

and her husband, Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire were passengers). A police officer standing guard outside the German Embassy arrested her and locked her in the embassy building, but she was seen to sway as she got into the taxi that had been called. Hutchinson persuaded the court that Parsons' uncertainty on her feet was caused by her high heels and tight evening dress. Photographs following the verdict show her being led out of court by

John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture, ...

, who apparently said to her "A wonderful show! This way, Bridget, old girl!". She has been credited with her brother Michael to have introduced the Charleston in Mayfair ballrooms. For a time in the 1930s, she had an affair with Sacheverell Sitwell. She was friend with

Clarissa Eden Anne Clarissa Eden, Countess of Avon (; 28 June 1920 – 15 November 2021) was an English memoirist and the second wife of Anthony Eden, who served as British prime minister from 1955 to 1957. She married Eden in 1952, becoming Lady Eden in 19 ...

, who said "I have never had women friends with whom I exchanged confidences, except perhaps now in old age and retrospectively. My friendship with Bridget was based on her being exceptionally intelligent and knowledgeable and, being older, more sophisticated. She was also extremely beautiful and had been loved by many, but either through fastidiousness or lack of passion seemed never to have responded."

Daphne Fielding The Hon. Daphne Winifred Louise Fielding (''née'' Vivian, formerly Thynne; 11 July 1904 – 5 December 1997) was a British author in the 20th century. Early life Daphne Vivian was born on 11 July 1904 in Westminster, London, the elder chil ...

wrote in her memoirs that Bridget Parsons had an affair with Prince George, Duke of Kent. James Lees-Milne, who, at school loved two boys,

Tom Mitford Major Thomas David Freeman-Mitford (2 January 1909 – 30 March 1945) was the only son of the 2nd Baron Redesdale and brother of the Mitford Sisters. Tom Mitford was killed in action during the Second World War. Early life Mitford was born ...

and

Desmond Parsons Hon. Desmond Edward Parsons (13 December 1910 – 4 July 1937) was an aristocratic aesthete, regarded as "one of the most magnetic men of his generation." He had a passionate friendship with James Lees-Milne, was the one true love of Harold Acto ...

(both died very young), afterwards became infatuated with their sisters who reminded him of them, Diana Mitford and Bridget Parsons. In November 1935 a portrait of Lady Mary Bridget Parsons by Cecil Beaton appeared on ''

Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...

''. She was Beaton's friend, and frequented his house, Ashcombe, together with

Diana Cavendish Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997 ...

, Tony Herbert, Tilly Losch,

Teresa Jungman Teresa "Baby" Jungman (9 July 1907 – 11 June 2010) was the younger daughter of Dutch-born artist Nico Wilhelm Jungmann. Along with her sister Zita, she was one of the "Bright Young Things" in the 1920s. Biography Jungman's father was a natural ...

, Elizabeth Smith, Lady Caroline Paget,

David Herbert The Honourable David Alexander Reginald Herbert (3 October 1908 – 3 April 1995) was a British socialite and writer. Early life and education He was the second son of Reginald Herbert, 15th Earl of Pembroke. He spent his first few years in ...

. Other friends included: Randolph Churchill and Tanis Guinness. She was friends with Cynthia Gladwyn, who wrote in her diaries: "It is curious to look back on those nights when Bridget Parsons and I used to sit on the staircase, wrapped in rugs, trying to talk about trivialities while the great thunder of the Blitzes raged and the whole building shook and the lights dipped. One didn't know for sure which crashes were our guns and which were bombs. Then at last the All Clear would sound and we'd go back to our beds." She lived at Womersley Park, Womersley, West Yorkshire, England. She was on the board of the Zoological Society. She was friends with

Patrick Leigh Fermor Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermor (11 February 1915 – 10 June 2011) was an English writer, scholar, soldier and polyglot. He played a prominent role in the Cretan resistance during the Second World War, and was widely seen as Britain's greates ...

, who visited often

Birr Castle Birr Castle (Irish: ''Caisleán Bhiorra'') is a large castle in the town of Birr in County Offaly, Ireland. It is the home of the 7th Earl of Rosse and his family, and as such the residential areas of the castle are not open to the public ...

, her family castle. She died unmarried on 26 January 1972 and is buried at St. Martin's Churchyard, Womersley, with her mother, Frances Lois Lister-Kaye, Viscountess de Vesci of Abbey Leix.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Bridget 1907 births 1972 deaths English socialites Daughters of Irish earls