Edith Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun
Encyclopedia
Edith Maud Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun (13 May 1883 – 24 February 1960) was a British peeress
.
).
On 12 December 1916, she married Captain Reginald Huddleston, who adopted his wife's surname. They divorced in 1947 after having six children:
from her childless uncle, Charles Clifton, 11th Earl of Loudoun
.
On 19 October that year, she and her sister, Viscountess St Davids
, petitioned the Committee for Privileges for the baronies of Botreaux
, Hungerford
, de Moleyns, Hastings (de Hastings)
and Hastings (de Hungerford
), which were abeyant
between them and their other sister, Lady Flora, since the death of the 11th Earl. They also petitioned for the baronies of Strange (de Knockyn)
and Stanley
as descendants of the last holder, Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby
. The sisters were confirmed as co-heirs to the baronies on 17 December. On 23 February 1921, the viscountess was granted the baronies of Hungerford, de Moleyns and Strange (de Knockyn), whilst those of Botreaux, Stanley and Hastings (de Hastings) were granted to the countess on 7 March.
On 23 June that year, the two sisters also petitioned for the earldoms of Warwick
and Salisbury
, and for the baronies of Montagu
, Montacute
, Monthermer
and Pole of Montagu, as descendants of Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick
and Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury
, and for the latters attainder
s to be reversed. However, James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
and Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick
counter-petitioned and the attainders were not reversed.
On Lady Loudoun's death in 1960, her earldom passed to her eldest surviving child, Lady Barbara
, whilst her English baronies became abeyant again, between her five daughters.
No one from the family has slept in the castle since that night. In 1995 the castle grounds were converted into a popular amusement park.
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Family
She was the first daughter and coheiress of Hon. Paulyn Abney-Hastings (the second son of Charles Abney-Hastings, 1st Baron Donington and Edith Rawdon-Hastings, 10th Countess of Loudoun) and his wife, Lady Maud née Grimston (the third daughter of James Grimston, 2nd Earl of VerulamJames Grimston, 2nd Earl of Verulam
James Walter Grimston, 2nd Earl of Verulam , known as Viscount Grimston from 1815 to 1845, was a British peer and Conservative politician. He was the eldest son of James Walter Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam, and Lady Charlotte Jenkinson...
).
On 12 December 1916, she married Captain Reginald Huddleston, who adopted his wife's surname. They divorced in 1947 after having six children:
- Ian Huddleston Abney-Hastings, styled Lord Mauchline (1918-1944), killed in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... - Lady Barbara Huddleston Abney-HastingsBarbara Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of LoudounBarbara Huddleston Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of Loudoun , was a Scottish countess.Loudoun was the oldest daughter of Reginald Mowbray Chichester Huddleston and Edith Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun, great-great-great-granddaughter of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of...
(1919-2002), later 13th Countess of Loudoun - Lady Jean Huddleston Abney-Hastings (later Campbell of Loudoun, 1920-1981), married (1) Edgar Wakefield, (2) Arthur Hubble
- Lady Iona Mary Huddleston Abney-Hastings (1922-1990), married Robert French
- Lady Fiona Huddleston Abney-Hastings (1923-1993), married Robert Conroy-Robertson (later de Fresnes), 12th baron de Fresnes
- Lady Edith Huddleston Abney-Hastings (1925-2006), married David Maclaren (they had two children, Norman Angus MacLarenNorrie MacLarenNorman Angus MacLaren is a Scottish Highlands-based television and film producer , fashion photographer, scriptwriter, artist, and environmentalist...
and Roderick John MacLaren).
Peerages
On 17 May 1920, she inherited the earldom of LoudounEarl of Loudoun
Earl of Loudoun , named after Loudoun in Ayrshire, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun, along with the subsidiary title Lord Tarrinzean and Mauchline....
from her childless uncle, Charles Clifton, 11th Earl of Loudoun
Charles Clifton, 11th Earl of Loudoun
Charles Edward Rawdon-Hastings, 11th Earl of Loudoun was a Scottish peer, the son of Charles Abney-Hastings, 1st Baron Donington and Edith Rawdon-Hastings, 10th Countess of Loudoun.On 4 February 1880 he married the Hon...
.
On 19 October that year, she and her sister, Viscountess St Davids
Elizabeth Philipps, Viscountess St Davids
Elizabeth Frances Philipps, Viscountess St Davids was a British peeress.She was the second daughter and coheiress of Hon...
, petitioned the Committee for Privileges for the baronies of Botreaux
Baron Botreaux
Baron Botreaux is a title in the Peerage of England, created in 1368.The title was created by writ of summons, by Edward III to William de Botreaux, 1st Baron Botreaux in 1368....
, Hungerford
Baron Hungerford
The Barony of Hungerford was created in the Peerage of England on 7 January 1426 for Walter Hungerford, who was summoned to parliament, had been Member of Parliament, Speaker of the House and invested as Knight of the Order of the Garter before and was made Lord High Treasurer one year before he...
, de Moleyns, Hastings (de Hastings)
Baron Hastings
Baron Hastings is a title that has been created three times. The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1295, and is still extant. The second creation was in the Peerage of England in 1299, and became extinct on the death of the first holder in c. 1314...
and Hastings (de Hungerford
Baron Hastings
Baron Hastings is a title that has been created three times. The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1295, and is still extant. The second creation was in the Peerage of England in 1299, and became extinct on the death of the first holder in c. 1314...
), which were abeyant
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
between them and their other sister, Lady Flora, since the death of the 11th Earl. They also petitioned for the baronies of Strange (de Knockyn)
Baron Strange
Baron Strange is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of England. Two creations, one in 1295 and another in 1325, had only one holder each, upon the death of whom they became extinct. Two of the creations are still extant, however...
and Stanley
Baron Stanley
The title Baron Stanley was created in the Peerage of England in 1456, for Sir Thomas Stanley. His son was created Earl of Derby in 1485 and the titles remained united until the death of the fifth earl, without male heirs in 1594, when the barony became abeyant...
as descendants of the last holder, Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby
Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby
Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby was the son of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby and Lady Margaret Clifford. According to the will of Henry VIII, his mother was heiress presumptive of Elizabeth I of England from 1578 to her own death in 1596...
. The sisters were confirmed as co-heirs to the baronies on 17 December. On 23 February 1921, the viscountess was granted the baronies of Hungerford, de Moleyns and Strange (de Knockyn), whilst those of Botreaux, Stanley and Hastings (de Hastings) were granted to the countess on 7 March.
On 23 June that year, the two sisters also petitioned for the earldoms of Warwick
Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles.-1088 creation:...
and Salisbury
Earl of Salisbury
Earl of Salisbury is a title that has been created several times in British history. It has a complex history, being first created for Patrick de Salisbury in the middle twelfth century. It was eventually inherited by Alice, wife of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster...
, and for the baronies of Montagu
Baron Montagu
The titles Baron Montacute or Baron Montagu were created three and two times respectively in the Peerage of England.-Montacute:The first creation was for John de Montacute who was summoned to parliament on 29 December 1299. The third baron was created Earl of Salisbury in 1337. On the death of the...
, Montacute
Baron Montagu
The titles Baron Montacute or Baron Montagu were created three and two times respectively in the Peerage of England.-Montacute:The first creation was for John de Montacute who was summoned to parliament on 29 December 1299. The third baron was created Earl of Salisbury in 1337. On the death of the...
, Monthermer
Baron Monthermer
The title Baron Monthermer was created twice in the Peerage of England.The first creation was for Ralph de Monthermer who was summoned to parliament on 4 March 1309. After the death of the second baron, his heiress Margaret inherited the barony...
and Pole of Montagu, as descendants of Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick
Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick
Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick was the son of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence and a potential claimant to the English throne during the reigns of both Richard III and his successor, Henry VII...
and Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury
Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury was an English peeress, one of two women in sixteenth-century England to be a peeress in her own right with no titled husband, the daughter of George of Clarence, the brother of King Edward IV and King Richard III...
, and for the latters attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
s to be reversed. However, James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, CB, PC , known as Viscount Cranborne from 1868 to 1903, was a British statesman.-Background and education:...
and Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick
Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick
Francis Richard Charles Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick , styled Lord Brooke until 1893, was a British Conservative politician....
counter-petitioned and the attainders were not reversed.
On Lady Loudoun's death in 1960, her earldom passed to her eldest surviving child, Lady Barbara
Barbara Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of Loudoun
Barbara Huddleston Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of Loudoun , was a Scottish countess.Loudoun was the oldest daughter of Reginald Mowbray Chichester Huddleston and Edith Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun, great-great-great-granddaughter of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of...
, whilst her English baronies became abeyant again, between her five daughters.
The Great Fire
One 1st December 1941, the family comprising the Countess Edith, her daughters and infant granddaughter Sheena, were sleeping in their rooms under the first floor library in Loudon Castle. Heating was by coal and log fires and it is thought that burning resin came back down the library chimney setting the wooden floor alight.No one from the family has slept in the castle since that night. In 1995 the castle grounds were converted into a popular amusement park.