Winifred Cochrane, Countess of Dundonald (Welsh: Winifred, Iarlles Dundonald) was born on 16 April 1859. She was a philanthropist, a Lady of Grace of the
Order of St John, Marchioness of Maranham, and was known within
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
by her
bardic name
A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement.
The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh poets of the Middle Ages, who m ...
, Rhiannon. She was the
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
wife of
Douglas Mackinnon Baillie Hamilton Cochrane (1852–1935).
Ancestry
Winifred was the second daughter and sole heir of Robert Bamford Hesketh and Ellen Jones-Bateman. She was born into the royal house of Marchudd ap Cynan, the founder of the VIII Noble Tribe of North Wales. Cynan's descendants, the Lloyds of Plas yn y Gwrych were based in the Parish of
Abergele
Abergele (; ; ) is a market town and community, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough and in the historic county of Denbighshire. Its northern suburb of Pensarn lies on ...
, where Winifred, through her ancestors shared co-sanguinity with
Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great ( cy, Llywelyn Fawr, ; full name Llywelyn mab Iorwerth; c. 117311 April 1240) was a King of Gwynedd in north Wales and eventually " Prince of the Welsh" (in 1228) and "Prince of Wales" (in 1240). By a combination of war and d ...
.
Personal life
![Winifred](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Winifred.jpg)
Growing up, Winifred Bamford Hesketh lived at her family's residences in London, Torquay and
Gwrych Castle
Gwrych Castle ( cy, Castell Gwrych meaning "hedged castle") (Originally spelt as 'Gwrŷch') is a Grade I listed 19th-century country house near Abergele in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The castle and 236 acre estate are owned by a charity, an ...
. Winifred was ~6 feet tall (182 cm).
In 1878, at the age of 19, she married Lieutenant General
Douglas Mackinnon Baillie Hamilton Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald.
The arranged marriage is thought to have been an unhappy one. The Earl spent most of his time in Scotland and fighting wars, while the Countess remained mostly in Wales.
When Winifred turned 21, the money in her trust fund became available and a house was purchased in London. She had five children between 1880 and 1893.
She had many friends within royal circles, who visited her at her Gwrych Castle estate. There is an account of
Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein
Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein (Franziska Josepha Louise Augusta Marie Christina Helena; 12 August 1872 – 8 December 1956) was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Early life
Princess Marie Louise was born at Cumberland Lodge in Wi ...
staying at Gwrych in September 1901, accompanied by the
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ran ...
and
Duchess
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranked ...
of Argyll, where they then went on a day trip to
Caernarfon
Caernarfon (; ) is a royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). It lies along the A487 road, on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is ...
.
It is believed that the Earl was landless and even through the marriage, the castle belonged solely to Winifred, according to
'The Omaha Sunday Bee'; "In fact, until his marriage, the earl of Dundonald was a very poor man, glad to receive his salary as an officer in the British army."
Winifred died of heart failure on 16 January 1924, at her London residence. Her funeral was held at
Llanddulas
Llanddulas is a village in Conwy county borough, Wales, midway between Old Colwyn and Abergele and next to the North Wales Expressway in the community of Llanddulas and Rhyd-y-Foel. The village lies beneath the limestone hill of Cefn-yr-Og ...
the following Saturday; it was documented as being a simple and modest service, attended by those closest to her. Her coffin was delivered by train from London to Llanddulas, where it was carried by a pony carriage. Feeling distraught, her daughter,
Louisa Hamilton fainted on the platform at
Chester Station whilst waiting for her connection to Abergele, on the way to the service at Llanddulas. Louisa's brother (most likely
Thomas Cochrane) took her by taxi to her hotel, where she fainted again. Thomas then left Louisa in the care of the manageress so that he could attend the funeral; by the afternoon, Louisa was well enough to make her journey back to her home in London.
Winifred's chief mourners were
Robert Cochrane (her son) and her estranged husband,
Douglas Cochrane.
Work and duties
![HMS Cochrane](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/HMS_Cochrane.jpg)
Apart from being a poet and writer in her spare time, she contributed literary works to
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'', ...
which was owned at the time by
Arthur Baldwin Turnure.
Most of Winifred's correspondences were managed by her agent, Mr. John Inglis who resided at Hên Wrych (Old Gwrych).
In the mid-1890s, she donated land to build
Colwyn Bay Community Hospital which was completed in 1899, in December 1910, she returned to open a new operating theatre, soon after it was renamed to 'Colwyn Bay and West Denbighshire Hospital' which was the former name of
Colwyn Bay Community Hospital.
In 1900, she opened the
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Rhyl
The Royal Alexandra Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Frenhinol Alexandra, RAH) is a community hospital in Rhyl, Denbighshire, Wales. It is managed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The hospital is a Grade II listed building. It has no in-patie ...
, a hospital which was built for 'sick and needy' children
The countess had a church hall built for the village of Llanddulas in 1909.
In 1914, Winifred supplied warm clothing to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Denbighshire Hussars, following an appeal, in November of the same year, she presented a large ambulance (presumably a
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...
) fully equipped and accompanied by a driver to the
Red Cross Society
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest group of non-governmental organizations working on humanitarian aid, is composed of the following bodies:
*The ''International Committee of the Red Cross'' (ICRC), a comm ...
(seventh division), she also donated a great deal of anaesthetics to several hospitals, she stressed that there was urgent need for chloroform at the base hospitals.
The Countess opened a hospital in 1914 at 87
Eaton Square
Eaton Square is a rectangular, residential garden square in London's Belgravia district. It is the largest square in London. It is one of the three squares built by the landowning Grosvenor family when they developed the main part of Belgravia ...
,
Belgravia
Belgravia () is a Districts of London, district in Central London, covering parts of the areas of both the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Belgravia was known as the 'Five Fields' Tudor Period, during the ...
, London, to treat the wounded of the Great War, the 'Countess of Dundonald Hospital'. It closed at the end of the war in 1918.
She was a patron of 'The united
Gentlewomen
A gentlewoman (from the Latin ''gentilis'', belonging to a ''gens'', and English language, English 'woman') in the original and strict sense is a woman of good family, analogous to the Latin ''generosus'' and ''generosa''. The closely related Eng ...
's Handicrafts society'
Along with
Prince Louis of Battenberg
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven, (24 May 185411 September 1921), formerly Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg, was a British naval officer and German prince related by marriage to the British ...
, she was made an associate of the 'Royal Colonial Institute' in London, England, which is now known as the
Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to promote the value of the Commonwealth and the values upon which it is based. The Society upholds the values of the Commonwealth Charter, promoting confli ...
.
Political views
Winifred was Abergele's ruling councillor. She became an officer for Abergele's
Primrose League
The Primrose League was an organisation for spreading Conservative principles in Great Britain. It was founded in 1883.
At a late point in its existence, its declared aims (published in the ''Primrose League Gazette'', vol. 83, no. 2, March/April ...
in 1904, a division which was established at the town in 1886, the organisation followed
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
principles. By 1913, she was no longer a member.
Gwrych Castle
The countess inherited
Gwrych Castle
Gwrych Castle ( cy, Castell Gwrych meaning "hedged castle") (Originally spelt as 'Gwrŷch') is a Grade I listed 19th-century country house near Abergele in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The castle and 236 acre estate are owned by a charity, an ...
, the seat of the Bamford-Hesketh family, on the death of her father in 1894.
In 1919, she sold some of the old buildings on the estate, along with the Llanddulas limestone quarry and some mines.
In her will, she bequeathed Gwrych to Prince George, later King
George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936.
Born duri ...
, who was unable to accept the gift and sold the castle. It was later re-purchased by her husband, the Earl of Dundonald, for £70,000 (calculated at £4,288,000 in 2019 after inflation).
Participation in Welsh heritage
Winifred became a patron of the Gwynedd Ladies' Art Society. This was started by Miss Clearance Whaite, and presided over by Lady
Augusta Mostyn
Lady Henrietta Augusta Lloyd-Mostyn (née Nevill; 18 June 1830 – 25 January 1912) was an English philanthropist and photographer who contributed to the development of the Welsh town of Llandudno.
Life and work
Augusta Nevill was born at Birli ...
in 1894. The society was absorbed into what would be called
Mostyn gallery.
She was a stout supporter of Welsh industries, she was president of the
Denbighshire
Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...
division of the Welsh Industrial Association. In 1900, the association held an exhibition at 83 Eaton Square, (which was Winifred's address in London) at which;
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales (Welsh: ''Tywysoges Cymru'') is a courtesy title used since the 14th century by the wife of the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. The current title-holder is Catherine (née Middleton).
The title was firs ...
visited. In the same year, Winifred opened an exhibition at the
Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...
branch of the Welsh industries, which was held at
Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge ( cy, Porthaethwy; usually referred to colloquially as Y Borth) is a town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in north-west Wales. It overlooks the Menai Strait and lies by the Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas T ...
.
The countess was a
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
-speaker and a patron of Welsh art, music and literature.
In the early 1900s she founded a North Wales Harp competition. She was heavily involved within the Eisteddfod, especially within the arts and crafts section where she was given the task of opening the art exhibition in 1910. She was initiated as an
ovate
Ovate may refer to:
*Ovate (egg-shaped) leaves, tepals, or other botanical parts
*Ovate, a type of prehistoric stone hand axe
*Ovates, one of three ranks of membership in the Welsh Gorsedd
*Vates
In modern English, the nouns vates () and ovat ...
at the Colwyn Bay
National Eisteddfod
The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...
in 1910. She supported the organisation financially and attended it every year.
Winifred was interested in archaeology, and was involved with the Abergele Historical and Cambrian Societies, most noticeably the
Cambrian Archaeological Association
The Cambrian Archaeological Association ( cy, Cymdeithas Hynafiaethau Cymru) was founded in 1846 to examine, preserve and illustrate the ancient monuments and remains of the history, language, manners, customs, arts and industries of Wales and the ...
where she was a member. She allowed excavations on ancient monuments she owned and financed the publication of their findings.
It is not known for how long she held the position, however in an article from 1914, she is mentioned as being the president of 'Vale of Clwyd Toys', a company which was founded by a Mary Heaton in 1909. Mary's ambition was to employ and train Welsh villagers and disabled soldiers to build Welsh furniture and toys during the winter months. One of the most popular toys they produced was miniature models of the Gorsedd within the
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Eur ...
.
Charitable works
Knowing how vulnerable local poor people were during the winter months, like her father before her, Winifred would often donate firewood from the fell at her properties to keep them warm.
On her death Winifred bequeathed £5000 and a piece of land for building almshouses in Groes Lwyd, Abergele. She also bequeathed the whole Gwyrch estate to the
Welsh Church.
Advocacy of children's rights
Winifred was a member of the
NSPCC
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a British child protection charity.
History
Victorian era
On a trip to New York in 1881, Liverpudlian businessman Thomas Agnew was inspired by a visit to the New Yor ...
, which often held parties at the
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect Thomas Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it ...
to raise money for preventing cruelty to children.
She was also one of the leading members of the 'children's happy evenings association', an organisation which raised money to fund the purchase of sports equipment.
Queen Mary was its patron.
Advocacy of women's rights
On Friday, 27 February 1914, Winifred, through the
Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association
The Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association (CUWFA) was a British women's suffrage organisation open to members of the Conservative and Unionist Party. Formed in 1908 by members of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, C ...
, a
women's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
organisation, chaired a meeting at
Bechstein Hall
Wigmore Hall is a concert hall located at 36 Wigmore Street, London. Originally called Bechstein Hall, it specialises in performances of chamber music, early music, vocal music and song recitals. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leadi ...
.
She contributed to the 'WI'. When the
Women's Institutes
The Women's Institute (WI) is a community-based organisation for women in the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. The movement was founded in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, by Erland and Janet Lee with Adelaide Hoodless being th ...
came to Britain for the first time, the first organisation was held at Anglesey, where she was one of the first members.
Advocacy of the elderly
Winifred ensured that the elderly were catered for at any given chance, When she started to sell her properties, she made sure that that elderly tenants were excluded from eviction, thus; selling only when they had passed, she also hosted an event for the elderly every year at a Church house in Llanddulas to celebrate the new year where she'd pay for the tea, food and entertainments.
Advocacy of animal rights
As well as being a humanitarian, Winifred also fought for the rights of animals. She was a patron of the
society for the abolition of vivisection, whose goal was the "total suppression of vivisection, or putting animals to death by torture"
References
{{Reflist
1859 births
1924 deaths
Welsh noble families
Abergele
20th-century Welsh people
19th-century Welsh people
Cochrane family
Dundonald