21 October lecture: The Cheshire Lady, 1600-1800, by Daisy Hughes, Bangor University
2-3pm, Wednesday 21 October 2026 (by Zoom)
Who were the women who lived in Cheshire’s country houses and halls? How did they manage their households and their families?
Lady Mary Booth, Countess of Stamford (1704 – 1772), a true Cheshire lady. Image from National Trust, Dunham Massey collection, NT 932303.
In this talk, Daisy Hughes explores the lives and experiences of some of the remarkable women who inhabited Cheshire’s country houses between 1600 and 1800.
Drawing on women who feature in her PhD research, she will examine the often-overlooked work of the Cheshire lady, from the emotional labour of managing households, relationships and social networks to petitions, estate management and family affairs.
Through these women’s stories, the talk reveals the varied ways in which Cheshire’s country house women exercised authority, negotiated challenges and shaped the families, estates and communities around them.
Daisy Hughes is a PhD researcher at Bangor University, specialising in the history of women and country houses in Wales and Cheshire between 1600 and 1800. Daisy is also a public historian and a member of the Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates (ISWE).
Please email membership@hslc.org.uk for the Zoom link to this free online talk.