Musette Frances Jacqueline Natalie Majendie

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(1903–1981) was the owner of

Hedingham Castle Hedingham Castle, in the village of Castle Hedingham, Essex, is arguably the best preserved Norman keep in England. The castle fortifications and outbuildings were built around 1100, and the keep around 1140. However, the keep is the only major ...

. In 1713 the castle was purchased by Sir William Ashhurst. After his death in 1720, the estate passed to his great granddaughter, the wife of

Lewis Majendie Lewis Ashurst Majendie (1835 – 22 October 1885) was a British Conservative Party politician. Parliamentary career At the 1874 general election, Majendie was elected as one of the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for the parliamentary borough o ...

. The Majendie family owned Hedingham Castle for 250 years until Miss Majendie left it to her cousin Thomas Lindsay. Musette was a scout leader for many years, with the keep serving as the scout hut and camps taking place in the grounds. She was the granddaughter of

MP. In the last year of her life, from 1980 to 1981, she lived at

with her close friend and companion,

Margery Blackie Margery Grace Blackie CVO MD, FFHom (4 February 1898 – 24 August 1981) was a British Doctor of Medicine who was appointed as the first woman royal physician to Queen Elizabeth II. Early life Blackie was born at Redbourn, Hertfordshire, o ...

. It has been speculated that Majendie and Blackie were lovers.

References

1903 births 1981 deaths British landowners Members of the Order of the British Empire {{England-bio-stub