Sybil Grant
Encyclopedia
Lady Sybil Myra Caroline Grant (1879–1955) was a British
writer, designer and artist. She was the eldest child of Archibald "Archie" Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
and his wife Hannah (née de Rothschild)
. Lady Sybil married, on 28 March 1903, General Sir Charles John Cecil Grant (KCB
, KCVO
, DSO
; 1877–1950).
On the death of her father in 1929, she inherited his estate, "The Durdans" at Epsom
, which became her home. Grant later became an eccentric
, spending most of her time in a caravan or up a tree, communicating to her butler through a megaphone
. She died a widow in 1955, survived by her son, Charles Robert Archibald Grant, who had married Honourable Pamela Wellesley (born 14 May 1912), granddaughter of the 4th Duke of Wellington
.
. Her mother the former Hannah de Rothschild was at one time reputed to be the richest woman in England. Grant spent her childhood taught by Governesses dividing her time between the family's London mansion Lansdowne House
and their many country houses which included among others Dalmeny House
and Mentmore Towers
.
From the time she was a baby Lady Sybil was often left by her parents in the care of staff, supervised by her father's sister Lady Leconfield
at the Leconfield's Petworth House
. This was particularly evident in June 1880 when Lord Rosebery wished to visit Germany
for three months to take a cure at a German spa
(Rosebery was recovering from what is now thought to have been a nervous breakdown) shortly after Sybil's birth (Lord Rosebery had no great feeling for proximity to small babies). His wife dutifully accompanied him, but Rosebery reported that his wife savoured every detail of daily letters from London concerning Sybil. Despite the lack of attention, Lady Sybil remained close to her father; following her marriage at the Guards Chapel
in 1903 her father wrote: "She was wonderfully cool, and held my hand all the way to the church".
in 1912. In 1913 Mills and Boon published one of her major works, Founded on Fiction, a book of comic poems. Published in the same year was The Chequer-Board followed later by Samphire and The Land of Let's Pretend. In 1914, as one of the leading literary figures of the day, she was invited to contribute to Princess Mary's
Gift Book, a book of illustrated stories assembled to raise money for the war
effort.
Lady Sybil was a patriotic admirer of the achievements of Marshal Foch
, writing in a eulogy of him in 1929 that "the first impression you received was of an infinite horizon–he seemed to look beyond the common limits of human sight. When in the course of conversation he looked in your direction you felt the same helpless sense of inferiority as when, upon a night in deep summer, you look up at the stars."
She inherited her father's extensive library at Durdans on his death in 1929. After a great sale at Sotheby's
in 1933, she donated over 2,700 of the remaining books, pamphlets and manuscripts to the National Library of Scotland
on her death in 1955. The donation included many memoirs and pamphlets on British and European history of the 18th and the 19th century, including biographies of Pitt and Napoleon; an uncensored first edition of Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal
(Paris, 1857); maps, particularly of the area around Epsom
; dictionaries of slang
and cant
; religious works, particularly relating to Cardinal Newman; and works on horseracing and field sports, including a complete run of the The Sporting Magazine
from 1792 to 1870.
s, where she drew for inspiration on her love of animals, particularly the Suffolk Punch
horses which she bred. Her love of animals was enormous and she succeeded in breeding a rare strain of dog, the Shetland Toys, which she saved from extinction. She was the first to breed the rare Pyrenean Mountain Dog
in England, in 1909, although examples had been imported earlier - for example, one was owned by Queen Victoria in the 1850s.
In 1937, Grant befriended the Gypsies who regularly inhabited Epsom Downs
during the Derby
week, often dressing herself in "unusual and romantic clothes." She allowed them the use of her land, setting it aside annually for the Gypsies' use. This meant that the Gypsies had a legal place to camp and subsequently halted much of the hostility between the local people and the Gypsies.
With the Reverend Edward Dorling she was a leading member of the "Lest We Forget
" charitable fund, and on the charity's behalf she organized a fete on the grounds of "The Durdans" each year; here her pottery was often sold and in great demand.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer, designer and artist. She was the eldest child of Archibald "Archie" Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
and his wife Hannah (née de Rothschild)
Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery
Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery was the daughter of Mayer de Rothschild and his wife Juliana, née Cohen...
. Lady Sybil married, on 28 March 1903, General Sir Charles John Cecil Grant (KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
; 1877–1950).
On the death of her father in 1929, she inherited his estate, "The Durdans" at Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
, which became her home. Grant later became an eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
, spending most of her time in a caravan or up a tree, communicating to her butler through a megaphone
Megaphone
A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn, blowhorn, or loud hailer is a portable, usually hand-held, cone-shaped horn used to amplify a person’s voice or other sounds towards a targeted direction. This is accomplished by channelling the sound through the megaphone, which also serves to match the...
. She died a widow in 1955, survived by her son, Charles Robert Archibald Grant, who had married Honourable Pamela Wellesley (born 14 May 1912), granddaughter of the 4th Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 4th Duke of Wellington
Arthur Charles Wellesley, 4th Duke of Wellington, KG, GCVO, GCTE, DL was a member of the well-known Wellesley family. He joined the military and served in the Household Division...
.
Early years
Her father, Lord Rosebery, in addition to being British Prime Minister in 1894 collected Napoleon memorabilia and wrote a biography of the Emperor. He also wrote a biography of Lady Sybil's ancestor William PittWilliam Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. Her mother the former Hannah de Rothschild was at one time reputed to be the richest woman in England. Grant spent her childhood taught by Governesses dividing her time between the family's London mansion Lansdowne House
Lansdowne House
Lansdowne House is a building to the southwest of Berkeley Square in central London, England. It was designed by Robert Adam as a private house and for most of its time as a residence it belonged to the Petty family, Marquesses of Lansdowne. Since 1935, it has been the home of the Lansdowne Club....
and their many country houses which included among others Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House is a Gothic revival mansion located in an estate close to Dalmeny on the Firth of Forth, to the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was designed by William Wilkins, and completed in 1817.Dalmeny House is the home of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. The house was the first in...
and Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers is a 19th century English country house in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. The house was designed by Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George Henry Stokes, in the revival Elizabethan and Jacobean style of the late 16th century called Jacobethan, for the banker and...
.
From the time she was a baby Lady Sybil was often left by her parents in the care of staff, supervised by her father's sister Lady Leconfield
Henry Wyndham, 2nd Baron Leconfield
Henry Wyndham, 2nd Baron Leconfield , was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.A direct descendant of Sir John Wyndham, Leconfield was the eldest son of George Wyndham, 1st Baron Leconfield, and Mary Fanny Blunt...
at the Leconfield's Petworth House
Petworth House
Petworth House in Petworth, West Sussex, England, is a late 17th-century mansion, rebuilt in 1688 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, and altered in the 1870s by Anthony Salvin...
. This was particularly evident in June 1880 when Lord Rosebery wished to visit Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for three months to take a cure at a German spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
(Rosebery was recovering from what is now thought to have been a nervous breakdown) shortly after Sybil's birth (Lord Rosebery had no great feeling for proximity to small babies). His wife dutifully accompanied him, but Rosebery reported that his wife savoured every detail of daily letters from London concerning Sybil. Despite the lack of attention, Lady Sybil remained close to her father; following her marriage at the Guards Chapel
Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks
The Royal Military Chapel, St. James Park, known as the Guards Chapel, is the religious home of the Household Division at the Wellington Barracks in London. Built in 1838, the chapel was bombed during the Blitz in 1940/1941....
in 1903 her father wrote: "She was wonderfully cool, and held my hand all the way to the church".
Literary works
Sybil Grant published works that include The Kisses That Never Were Given, A Three-Cornered Secret and Travesty. These works of fiction were all published in the London MagazineLondon Magazine
The London Magazine is a historied publication of arts, literature and miscellaneous interests. Its history ranges nearly three centuries and several reincarnations, publishing the likes of William Wordsworth, William S...
in 1912. In 1913 Mills and Boon published one of her major works, Founded on Fiction, a book of comic poems. Published in the same year was The Chequer-Board followed later by Samphire and The Land of Let's Pretend. In 1914, as one of the leading literary figures of the day, she was invited to contribute to Princess Mary's
Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood was a member of the British Royal Family; she was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sixth holder of the title of Princess Royal...
Gift Book, a book of illustrated stories assembled to raise money for the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
effort.
Lady Sybil was a patriotic admirer of the achievements of Marshal Foch
Ferdinand Foch
Ferdinand Foch , GCB, OM, DSO was a French soldier, war hero, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing "the most original and subtle mind in the French army" in the early 20th century. He served as general in the French army during World War I and was made Marshal of France in its...
, writing in a eulogy of him in 1929 that "the first impression you received was of an infinite horizon–he seemed to look beyond the common limits of human sight. When in the course of conversation he looked in your direction you felt the same helpless sense of inferiority as when, upon a night in deep summer, you look up at the stars."
She inherited her father's extensive library at Durdans on his death in 1929. After a great sale at Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
in 1933, she donated over 2,700 of the remaining books, pamphlets and manuscripts to the National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
on her death in 1955. The donation included many memoirs and pamphlets on British and European history of the 18th and the 19th century, including biographies of Pitt and Napoleon; an uncensored first edition of Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal
Les Fleurs du mal
Les Fleurs du mal is a volume of French poetry by Charles Baudelaire. First published in 1857 , it was important in the symbolist and modernist movements...
(Paris, 1857); maps, particularly of the area around Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
; dictionaries of slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
and cant
Thieves' cant
Thieves' cant or Rogues' cant was a secret language which was formerly used by thieves, beggars and hustlers of various kinds in Great Britain and to a lesser extent in other English-speaking countries...
; religious works, particularly relating to Cardinal Newman; and works on horseracing and field sports, including a complete run of the The Sporting Magazine
The Sporting Magazine
The Sporting Magazine was the first English sporting periodical to devote itself to every type of sport, thus providing the historian with a reasonably comprehensive source.-History:...
from 1792 to 1870.
The arts and Bohemia
Some of her designs were in ceramicCeramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s, where she drew for inspiration on her love of animals, particularly the Suffolk Punch
Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch, also historically known as the Suffolk Horse or Suffolk Sorrel, is an English breed of draught horse. The breed takes the first part of its name from the county of Suffolk in East Anglia, and the name "Punch" from its solid appearance and strength...
horses which she bred. Her love of animals was enormous and she succeeded in breeding a rare strain of dog, the Shetland Toys, which she saved from extinction. She was the first to breed the rare Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, known as the Great Pyrenees in North America, is a large breed of dog used as a livestock guardian dog.The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed, and has been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, including those of the Basque people, who inhabit parts of the region in...
in England, in 1909, although examples had been imported earlier - for example, one was owned by Queen Victoria in the 1850s.
In 1937, Grant befriended the Gypsies who regularly inhabited Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 in oder that racehorses can be trained without interference. It is open to users such as ramblers,...
during the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
week, often dressing herself in "unusual and romantic clothes." She allowed them the use of her land, setting it aside annually for the Gypsies' use. This meant that the Gypsies had a legal place to camp and subsequently halted much of the hostility between the local people and the Gypsies.
With the Reverend Edward Dorling she was a leading member of the "Lest We Forget
Lest We Forget
Lest We Forget is a phrase in the poem "Recessional," by Rudyard Kipling.It may also refer to:* Ode of Remembrance, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand-Cinema:* Léonce Perret film, 1918* Lest We Forget, a British film directed by John Baxter...
" charitable fund, and on the charity's behalf she organized a fete on the grounds of "The Durdans" each year; here her pottery was often sold and in great demand.
Sources
- Aston, George (1932). The Biography of the Late Marshal Foch. New York: The Macmillan Company.
External links
- Edwardian Modernists Photograph of Sybil Grant with other great contemporary literary figures
- Gypsies at the Epsom Derby
- Ashtead Pottery for the Home
- The Fiction Magazines Index
- Shelties
- The National Register of Archives
- Edwardian Modernists
- Lady Sybil biography