Lady Victoria Buxton
Encyclopedia
Lady Victoria Buxton was a British
philanthropist principally known for her work with the Mothers' Union
and Young Women's Christian Association
(YWCA).
and later at Barham Court
, Maidstone
. She was educated by governess and travelled extensively on the continent. Her parents were of strong evangelical
faith and placed great emphasis on community work in which Lady Victoria also participated.
. The couple had thirteen children of whom ten survived. She assisted her husband with his political career and worked to support social services and church missions including the YMCA
and YWCA
.
In 1869 she began to suffer from osteoarthritis
. Although she found travel difficult she remained reasonably active and retained her cheerful disposition. She held mothers’ meetings at Warlies and established a branch of the Church of England
Mothers' Union
. She served as diocesan president of the Mothers' Union in London where she was also president of the Time and Talents Association of young factory girls.
She accompanied her husband to South Australia
in 1895 upon his appointment as governor-general
. She continued her philanthropic activity by sponsoring reading circles and supporting missionary work.
She was the founding president of the Mother’s Union of South Australia and actively supported the YWCA in Adelaide
. She and her husband held a convention at which a constitution
for a united Australia
was first discussed. In 1896 she laid a foundation stone for a new junior branch of the YMCA in Adelaide, the Our Boys Institute
. In 1898 Lady Victoria returned to England with her husband on leave. Her health deteriorated and she did not return to Australia. In 1902 the Buxtons built St Thomas's Church in Upshire.
on 9 August 1916, aged 77. Wye House is no longer part of the Buxton Estate.
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...
philanthropist principally known for her work with the Mothers' Union
Mothers' Union
Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work...
and Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association or YWCA or YWCA Building or Old YWCA Building or variations may refer to:*World YWCA, the organization formerly known as Young Women's Christian Associationor it may refer to:...
(YWCA).
Early life
She was the daughter of Sir Charles and Lady Frances Noel. She spent her early years at the Noel family's ancestral home at Exton Park, OakhamOakham
-Oakham's horseshoes:Traditionally, members of royalty and peers of the realm who visited or passed through the town had to pay a forfeit in the form of a horseshoe...
and later at Barham Court
Barham Court
Barham Court is a fine old house in the village of Teston, Kent.It was once the home of Reginald Fitz Urse, one of the knights who murdered Thomas Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170....
, Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
. She was educated by governess and travelled extensively on the continent. Her parents were of strong evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
faith and placed great emphasis on community work in which Lady Victoria also participated.
Philanthropic works
In 1862 she married Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet and resided with him at Warlies near Waltham AbbeyWaltham Abbey, Essex
Waltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. It is about 24 km north of London on the Greenwich Meridian and lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from The Abbey...
. The couple had thirteen children of whom ten survived. She assisted her husband with his political career and worked to support social services and church missions including the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
.
In 1869 she began to suffer from osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and sometimes an effusion...
. Although she found travel difficult she remained reasonably active and retained her cheerful disposition. She held mothers’ meetings at Warlies and established a branch of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Mothers' Union
Mothers' Union
Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work...
. She served as diocesan president of the Mothers' Union in London where she was also president of the Time and Talents Association of young factory girls.
She accompanied her husband to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1895 upon his appointment as governor-general
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
. She continued her philanthropic activity by sponsoring reading circles and supporting missionary work.
She was the founding president of the Mother’s Union of South Australia and actively supported the YWCA in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. She and her husband held a convention at which a constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
for a united Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
was first discussed. In 1896 she laid a foundation stone for a new junior branch of the YMCA in Adelaide, the Our Boys Institute
Our Boys Institute
Our Boys Institute was a junior branch of the Young Men's Christian Association. Opened in 1896, the club was housed in a purpose-built premises at 221 Wakefield Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
. In 1898 Lady Victoria returned to England with her husband on leave. Her health deteriorated and she did not return to Australia. In 1902 the Buxtons built St Thomas's Church in Upshire.
Death/Legacy
She died at North Lodge, CromerCromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
on 9 August 1916, aged 77. Wye House is no longer part of the Buxton Estate.