Three Little Mice in a Grand World: The Journals of Charlotte and Mary Hill, Part Two
- 14th May 2025
The second set of journals written by Ladies Charlotte and Mary Hill begin in the Autumn of 1815. They follow a tour of France where their brother ‘Atty’ is serving as Aide de Camp to the Duke of Wellington. Jointly written they continue to record the sisters’ daily routine, weekly lessons and vibrant social life. They attend parties and balls, and guests to dinner at their home in Hanover Square include royal dukes, ambassadors and politicians, to name a few.
At home, they remain devoted companions to their mother and are kept amused by letters from their brothers who are living overseas. They continue to spend time in Europe and at Roehampton – making numerous references to the garden being improved there. Although the restorations at Ombersley Court are ongoing, they visit on several occasions.
In 1818, Charlotte and Mary travelled with their mother and brother Augustus to France. At Calais, they meet their cousin the Duke of Wellington. His mother was the 1st cousin of the sisters’ grandfather Wills, Earl of Hillsborough.
‘There was an immense Crowd all eager to catch a glimpse of the Duke…The Duke took Mama under his Arm and so we walked to the Hotel Desein.’
Their journal includes a visit to the Battlefield of Waterloo where they were given a tour by Jean-Baptiste Decoster – a guide for Napoleon during the Battle of Waterloo and later one for tourists at the same site.
‘We chose Decoster, Buonaparte’s guide who explained it all very clearly to us and took us to the spot where Bonaparte stood. He says that when at last B saw he had no chance of victory, he merely shook his head said, “C’est fini” and rode off.’
According to a note by the 7th Lord Sandys, Richard Hill, which accompanies this travel journal, the sisters cut a souvenir from the stump of an elm at the battlefield. Thirty years later, it was made into a veneer in the centre of the top of a table at Ombersley Court.
The sisters visit the Battlefield of Waterloo, Travel Journal of Ladies Charlotte and Mary Hill, 1818-1821 – Reference: 705:56 BA16936/29/7
It seems family history was also of interest to the women. They took a trip to ‘the place where formally stood the residence of our ancestor Mr Trumbull, when Minister to this Court, which Mama…was curious to see.’
In 1821, the sisters returned to Brussels (always with their mother) to visit Augustus and George now living there. From there, the family had planned a trip to Homburg in Germany and then to Strasbourg and Paris.
‘Left…accompanied by Marcus, all in excellent health and in high spirits at the idea of being at length able to accomplish our long projected visit to Brussels […] Mama talks of making a journey up the Rhine to visit the Princess Elizabeth’
However, at Frankfurt, Charlotte was taken seriously ill. She died of tuberculosis on the 30th September aged just twenty seven.
Charlotte’s death shocked the close-knit family. Mary ceased writing the journals and her mother shut down their Hanover Square home. Although they continued to spend time in Brighton, Paris and elsewhere, the two ladies retreated mainly to Roehampton.
In 1823, they travelled to Italy to visit Augustus now in Naples – spending time in France and Rome along the way. This we learn from Mary’s travel journal. Although more sombre in tone than those she wrote with her sister, it nevertheless contains a remarkable collection of watercolour paintings, drawings and engravings belonging to the period. With German and Italian subject themes, it is possible some are originals by her.
Besides this journal, we have no other first hand record of the remainder of Mary’s life. Short lived like her sister’s, she died at Roehampton on 24th May 1830. She was thirty three.
Had Charlotte and Mary married, we likely wouldn’t have the complete set of journals – so full of life and laughter. By all accounts, the sisters were inseparable – from each other and from their widowed mother. At the heart of the journals and their story lies a deep affection shared by all three.
A watercolour painting of the opera house in Naples, Travel Journal of Lady Mary Hill, 1823-1824 – Reference: 705:56 BA16936/29/8
Watercolour painting, Travel Journal of Lady Mary Hill, 1823-1824 – Reference: 705:56 BA16936/29/8
The Sandys Archive is currently being catalogued as part of a two year project funded by the Ombersley Conservation Trust. You can track our progress and see what we find on our Sandys Archive project page.
If you would like to access any of the records mentioned in this blog, please submit an enquiry at ArchiveEnquiry (worcestershire.gov.uk) or speak to a member of archive staff on Level 2 of The Hive.
Post a Comment