Isabel Talbot, Baroness Talbot de Malahide
Encyclopedia
Isabel Charlotte Talbot, Baroness Talbot de Malahide, DBE
(20 December 1851 – 22 February 1932), née Blake-Humfrey, known as Isabel Charlotte Gurney from 1873 to 1901, was an English
philanthropist
.
She was born at Wroxham
House, Norfolk
, the daughter of Robert Blake-Humfrey, a retired army officer who had lost a leg at the Battle of the Nive
in 1813, and his wife Charlotte. In 1871 she married John Gurney, a wealthy Norwich
banker. She and her husband were deeply involved in many educational and philanthropic projects in Norwich, including the conversion of Norwich Castle
into the city museum. With Gurney's health failing, in 1886 they moved to Cannes
, France
, where he died the following year, aged 41.
She returned to their home at Sprowston
Hall and lived there until 1898, when she moved to Grosvenor Place, London
, and became a notable hostess. In December 1901 she married Richard Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot de Malahide and moved to his home at Castle Malahide, County Dublin
, where she continued her philanthropic work. During the First World War she served as president of the County of Dublin Branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Irish Joint Red Cross and St John Executive Committee. For this work she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(DBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours.
Lord Talbot de Malahide died in 1921 and his widow moved back to London. She became heavily involved with the Women's Institute and founded a branch (and served as its president) near her country home at Compton Regis, near Shrivenham
, Berkshire
.
Lady Talbot was a talented artist in both watercolour and oils. She
published two books, Foundations of National Glory and Golden Opportunities. She had five sons and two daughters by her first marriage. They included Sir Eustace Gurney, diplomat Hugh Gurney and scientist Robert Gurney
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(20 December 1851 – 22 February 1932), née Blake-Humfrey, known as Isabel Charlotte Gurney from 1873 to 1901, was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
She was born at Wroxham
Wroxham
Wroxham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The civil parish of Wroxham has an area of 6.21 square kilometres and in 2001 had a population of 1532 in 666 households. The village is situated within the Norfolk Broads on the south side of a loop in the middle reaches of...
House, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, the daughter of Robert Blake-Humfrey, a retired army officer who had lost a leg at the Battle of the Nive
Battle of the Nive
The Battles of the Nive were fought towards the end of the Peninsular War. Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish army defeated Marshal Nicolas Soult's French army in a series of battles near the city of Bayonne.Unusually, for most of the battle, Wellington...
in 1813, and his wife Charlotte. In 1871 she married John Gurney, a wealthy Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
banker. She and her husband were deeply involved in many educational and philanthropic projects in Norwich, including the conversion of Norwich Castle
Norwich Castle
Norwich Castle is a medieval royal fortification in the city of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk. It was founded in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England when William the Conqueror ordered its construction because he wished to have a fortified place in the important city of...
into the city museum. With Gurney's health failing, in 1886 they moved to Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he died the following year, aged 41.
She returned to their home at Sprowston
Sprowston
Sprowston is a small town bordering Norwich in Norfolk, England. It is bounded by Heartsease to the east, Mousehold Heath and the suburb of New Sprowston to the south , Old Catton to the west, and by the open farmland of Beeston St Andrew to the north.It was the largest parish in Norfolk and the...
Hall and lived there until 1898, when she moved to Grosvenor Place, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and became a notable hostess. In December 1901 she married Richard Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot de Malahide and moved to his home at Castle Malahide, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, where she continued her philanthropic work. During the First World War she served as president of the County of Dublin Branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Irish Joint Red Cross and St John Executive Committee. For this work she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(DBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours.
Lord Talbot de Malahide died in 1921 and his widow moved back to London. She became heavily involved with the Women's Institute and founded a branch (and served as its president) near her country home at Compton Regis, near Shrivenham
Shrivenham
Shrivenham is a large village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England, close to the boundary with Wiltshire. It is in the Vale of White Horse, between Swindon and Faringdon. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Character:Shrivenham features many...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
Lady Talbot was a talented artist in both watercolour and oils. She
published two books, Foundations of National Glory and Golden Opportunities. She had five sons and two daughters by her first marriage. They included Sir Eustace Gurney, diplomat Hugh Gurney and scientist Robert Gurney
Robert Gurney
Robert Gurney was a British zoologist most famous for his monographs on British Freshwater Copepoda and the Larvae of Decapod Crustacea . He was not affiliated with any institution, but worked at home, initially in Norfolk, and later near Oxford...
.