Lady Elizabeth Hastings
Encyclopedia
Lady Elizabeth Hastings (19 April 1682 – 21 December 1739), known as Lady Betty, was a benefactor and the daughter of the 7th Earl of Huntingdon
. Her brother George became the 8th Earl. On her father's death in 1701 her brother passed on to her the estate of Ledston
or Ledstone Hall, near Castleford
, West Yorkshire
, and she lived there until her death. She did not marry.
She had an annual income of about £3000 and gave half of this to various charitable causes, including local charities, a girls' school in Ledsham
, and a school in Chelsea run by Mary Astell
. She was a major influence on the erection of Holy Trinity Church, Leeds
.
Her portrait was painted by Godfrey Kneller
, and her memorial in Ledsham church is based on this portrait.
Early in 1738 she was found to have breast cancer
and underwent a mastectomy
, but her health continued to decline until she died at the end of 1739; during her illness she continued to make charitable donations. She left the bulk of her estate to her nephew Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon
, but also made many charitable legacies and left the estate of Wheldale, near Wakefield
to The Queen's College, Oxford
to support scholars from specified northern schools.
She is remembered in the names of primary schools in Collingham
, Ledsham and Thorp Arch
.
Theophilus Hastings, 7th Earl of Huntingdon
Theophilus Hastings, 7th Earl of Huntingdon PC was an English politician. He was the son of Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon, born in the 27th year of his parents' marriage, and became Earl of Huntingdon on 13 February 1656 on his father's death...
. Her brother George became the 8th Earl. On her father's death in 1701 her brother passed on to her the estate of Ledston
Ledston
Ledston is a village and civil parish north of Castleford and east of Leeds in the county of West Yorkshire, England. The village is in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough...
or Ledstone Hall, near Castleford
Castleford
Castleford is the largest of the "five towns" district in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is near Pontefract, and has a population of 37,525 according to the 2001 Census, but has seen a rise in recent years and is now around 45-50,000. To the north...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, and she lived there until her death. She did not marry.
She had an annual income of about £3000 and gave half of this to various charitable causes, including local charities, a girls' school in Ledsham
Ledsham, West Yorkshire
Ledsham is a village and civil parish north of Castleford and east of Leeds in the county of West Yorkshire, England. The village is in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough and near to the River Aire and the A1 Great North Road. It has a population of 162.There is an 8th century Anglo-Saxon...
, and a school in Chelsea run by Mary Astell
Mary Astell
Mary Astell was an English feminist writer and rhetorician. Her advocacy of equal educational opportunities for women has earned her the title "the first English feminist."-Life and career:...
. She was a major influence on the erection of Holy Trinity Church, Leeds
Holy Trinity Church, Leeds
Holy Trinity Church , in Leeds, West Yorkshire, is a Church of England Parish Church in the Parish of Leeds City in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds. It was built in 1722–7, but the steeple dates from 1839...
.
Her portrait was painted by Godfrey Kneller
Godfrey Kneller
Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and was court painter to British monarchs from Charles II to George I...
, and her memorial in Ledsham church is based on this portrait.
Early in 1738 she was found to have breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and underwent a mastectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
, but her health continued to decline until she died at the end of 1739; during her illness she continued to make charitable donations. She left the bulk of her estate to her nephew Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon
Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon
Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon PC was a British peer and politician.He was the son of the 9th Earl of Huntingdon and his wife, Selina. Hastings succeeded as Earl of Huntingdon and Baron Botreaux on his father's demise in 1746...
, but also made many charitable legacies and left the estate of Wheldale, near Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
to The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
to support scholars from specified northern schools.
She is remembered in the names of primary schools in Collingham
Collingham, West Yorkshire
Collingham is a village and civil parish south east of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England. It is in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. The clergyman, the Reverend William Mompesson was born there in 1639....
, Ledsham and Thorp Arch
Thorp Arch (village)
Thorp Arch is a small village and civil parish near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England. The village comes under the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. The village is set on the River Wharfe, has a primary school and public house. The village is in the LS23 Wetherby postcode area and has a Wetherby...
.