Page 18 - link magazine

18
Swindon Wide
Scandalous life of Lydiard's Lady Diana exposed

The colourful life of Lady Di Beauclerk who married into the St John family of Lydiard Park, has been immortilised in a new book Improper Pursuits
by Carola Hicks, published by Macmillan.
Born Lady Diana Spencer in Lady Diana was a highly gifted ous support of the Na-
1 735, the eldest child of the third and accomplished society artist tional Art Collections
Duke of Marlborough, Lady Diana who painted portraits, illustrated Fund is exhibited in the
was expected to follow a tradi- plays and books, provided designs State Dressing Room
ti onal path through life. Butfinding for Wedgwood's innovative pottery and was possibly influ-
herself in a desperately unhappy and decorated rooms with murals. enced by pictures of an
marriage to Viscount Bolingbroke, The little blue dressing room at upright bear in Lydiard's
she overturned convention and left Lydiard House, once Lady Diana's 1 7th Century painted
her husband. She maintained a private closet, now houses a newly window by Abraham Van
secret relationship with her lover, expanded display of her painted Linge, also in this room.
Topham Beauclerk, hid the birth of panels, portraits of herself and chil- Copies of Improper
an illegitimate child and eventually dren and other small works. Pursuits are available for
helped to support herself by paint- A drawing 'A Performing Bear', purchase. Author Carola
ing. recently acquired with the gener- Hicks will be visiting
Lydiard House in No-
vember to talk about her
FOR SPECIALIST LEGAL ADVICE book and sign copies.
Lady Diana looks on as Sarah Finch-Crisp, keeper of Lydiard House shows
* Conveyancing (On-Line Estimate Service) the new drawing to the Mayor of Swindon coun David Cox and the Mayor of
Ocotal, Swindon's twin town in Nicaragua, Edwardo Centega in July
Employment
* Family Law Fam0y'" New direction for house guide
LAWYERS
Wills & Probate
One of the attendants at Lydiard House has
For more information or detailed conveyancing costs visit: received a grant of £1 ,000 from the Swindon
www.crd.org.uk Business Women's Breakfast Club to help
her develop a career in museum work.
Or contact us at: Commerce House Formerly in financial services, Teresa
34/35 Commercial Road Squires was selected for the 'Make It Happen'
Swindon SN1 5NS award which will help her pay the first year
Email: [email protected] fees for a post graduate qualification in mu-
Tel: (01793) 617617 Maureen Inman of the seum studies. She said the course will give
Fax: (01793) 511249 breakfast club, left, with her a new direction, taking her towards be-
Teresa com ing a m useu m c u rator.

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