Harridans and Heroines: The Women of Castle Howard

The women of Castle Howard were not merely decorative figures, languishing from boredom or ill-health; nor were they simply wives whose sole duty was to provide an heir. They were dynamic, combative individuals, who wrote, painted, travelled, pursued political careers, as well as superintending several family homes. They included the three daughters of the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, the builder of Castle Howard; the 4th Countess renowned for her 18th-century recipe book and unconventional lifestyle in Europe; Lady Caroline Cawdor who journeyed through Europe as Napoleon’s armies marched on Paris; the 6th Countess who gave birth to twelve children; and the "Radical" 9th Countess, who campaigned for women’s suffrage and for Temperance, and was a supporter of Irish nationalism as well as an acerbic critic of her peer group. What each of these women left behind is a priceless record of written material that opens up their inner lives. This talk challenges how we look at great houses and estates: they were not the exclusive preserve, or responsibility, of the male members of the family.
Learn more about Castle Howard: www.castlehoward.co.uk/
Live broadcast: April 19, 2024
Presented by Christopher Ridgway
Moderated by Curt DiCamillo
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