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wife of Lady Waterford’s coachman and lived at the West Lodge. They had 6 children who all emigrated to Australia.
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Born at Hay Farm, Etal. Housekeeper for the Waterfords until her death in 1882. Lady Waterford held a ball in the castle to mark Mrs Heslops’s 50 years of residence in 1864.
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One of the children of Head Gardener. Later a gardener himself at Ford Castle.
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Daughter of a shaft sinker at Ford Moss.
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Lady Waterford’s personal maid for 25 years.
Lily Todd
Daughter of John Todd, the School Master at Ford 1865 – 1902.
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Katharine Lillie
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Curate at Ford 1868-1872
Entering the Hall, one is immediately surrounded by the stunning watercolour murals that adorn the walls. These were painted by Louisa from 1862 to 1883 and were influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite movement.
The pictures were painted in life-sized watercolour on paper stretched on wooden frames or panels, which were then washed with distemper to tighten them, and mounted on the walls.
These murals are made even more special by the fact that they were modelled by the school children and other residents in the village and wider estate. All of Louisa’s models were painted in her studio in the attics of Ford Castle – including the sheep!
Although there is no complete record of who sat for what picture, many are known. Relatives of some of the faces painted still live near the village, but others have moved as far as Canada or Australia.
The Lady Waterford Hall also contains a large collection of Louisa’s other artwork, completed from the age of 13 to the final years of her life.
See who was captured in Jesus Blessing the Children by hovering over the image below.
At the Hall, you can put some more names to the faces and learn about this truly unique collection and the people that bring it to life.
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