Lady Henrietta Augusta Mostyn – 2011 Parades
(Please link to: http://charlottepetersrock.blogspot.com/ )
A representation of Llandudno benefactress Lady Henrietta Augusta Mostyn, saviour of the Mostyn fortunes, will walk the Parades of Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza in this 25th Anniversary of its inception.
Lady Augusta (1830-1912) whose life spans the Victorian Period, was the second daughter of the 4th Earl of Abergavenny.
She married the Honourable Thomas Edward Mostyn Lloyd-Mostyn (1830-1861) moving in 1854 to live at Gloddaeth Hall. At this point the Estate finances were in a parlous state, since no written Estate records had been kept for some years.
Thomas’s father the 2nd Baron was a free-spender interested in little more than horse racing.
As an emergency, parts of the Estate were sold to defray debts, following which Thomas died aged 31 of tuberculosis, leaving his widow to rear their two sons and continue his Estate reclamation work.
Lady Augusta was left - in 1861 - as a young widow, with small children and large Estate debts. To save money she had to move away from the area, for several years, to Birling in Kent. Through wise friends, knowledgeable decision-making and dedication, she managed over the next few years, to turn around the family fortunes, retaining or reclaiming the most important parts of the Mostyn Estate.
She had a great interest in the design and building of the present day Llandudno, showing special concern to ensure that trees and other greenery interspersed the town building plans
Her interest in the people of the area showed in her formation of Ladies Sewing Circles, and a Band for the men at Gloddaeth. She made bequests to schools, churches and galleries.
She was an accomplished photographer, whose work is still exhibited at the Museum of Photography in New York.
As President of the Gwynedd Ladies Art Society (GLAS) Lady Augusta was concerned to note that the art work of ladies was not acceptable to the Royal Cambrian Academy. Feeling the unfairness of this, she founded the first Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno, specifically to show the work of her Art Society ladies.
A person of formidable talents, with an extensive social circle, Lady Augusta was a friend to Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth of Roumania - who visited her at Gloddaeth Hall.
Lady Augusta will long be remembered in Llandudno, and this year her memory will feature at Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza’s 25th Anniversary.. for no better reason than ‘that she should be remembered’.
There will be handouts of information.
CPR
Charlotte Peters Rock
(Please link to: http://charlottepetersrock.blogspot.com )
2011
This year, representing Lady Henrietta Augusta Mostyn, daughter of the 4th Earl of Abergavenny, benefactress to Llandudno.
Previously
Parade crowds have observed Charlotte representing
2010 - Queen Elizabeth of Roumania
2009 - Newsboy shouting about ‘The Royal Charter Gale’ of 1859
2008 - One of Rebecca’s angry ‘Daughters’
2007 - An angry and determined Suffragette (2007)
2006 - A Music Hall artiste
2005 – 2004 - A Victorian ‘Prince of Wales’ ‘popsie’ (2004 & 2005)
Always a keen entrant to the Costume Parade, she rarely wins a prize, but does sometimes run from the Law.
Waving banners and threatening to break up the toll-gates has produced arrests by a Victorian Policeman.. but that is all in her past - hopefully.
This year’s representation of Lady Augusta should at least arrest the hand of the law, lending a well-deserved air of respectability.
During the Parades, there will be giveaways of information about Lady Henrietta Augusta Mostyn, who spent many years organizing improvements in and around Llandudno.
Outside the Parade and Costume times
For the rest of the weekend, dancing, singing, eating ice cream and fish and chips and generally having a jolly good time, will as usual feature.
You haven’t lived until you’ve danced along the prom, to a fairground organ, with the sun, the Great Orme and the seagulls overhead, the waves close by, and the breeze in your hair.
Watch out for Charlotte.
Wave and cheer on the Parade.
Walk with Lady Augusta – and later – Join the dance.
PS You could all dance, if you’d like to. The Promenade is wide. Fairground organs play wonderful music for dancing.
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