Strangford and the battle of Waterloo

Strangford and the battle of Waterloo

27 May 2015

A 200 year-old Strangford connection to the Duke of Wellington and the battle of Waterloo is to be celebrated at a special charity ball in Strangford.

Old Court will be the venue for the historic recreation of the now famous ‘Duchess of Richmond’s Waterloo Ball’ on Saturday, June 13.

Two nights before the battle in June 1815, the Duchess of a Richmond organised a ball in Brussels, which was attended by the Duke of Wellington and his officers. It was at this ball that Wellington made the decision to fight Napoleon in the nearby village of Waterloo.   

On the night, Wellington sat beside the Duchess’ daughter, Georgiana, who later settled in Old Court when she married William de Ros and is in fact buried there.  

The Duke and Georgiana remained lifelong friends and over the years he sent her many letters and personal items, some of which will be auctioned at the ball.

Georgiana’s descendants have continued to live at Old Court on the shores of Strangford Lough, currently home to Georgiana’s great-great-great-great-great grandson Peter Maxwell, the current Lord de Ros, his wife Sian and their children.

“There is a chest of Wellington memorabilia including a lot of letters between Georgiana and Wellington,” said Peter of his family archives. “They were friends from when she was 12 years-old up to his death. There was a great friendship which occurred, and this is a ball to celebrate and remember it.

“A strand of hair on Wellington’s head during the battle of Waterloo was sent to Georgiana four or five weeks after the battle. He sent this lock to her in a letter.”

It is personal items such as this lock, and a gilt waistcoat button sent by Wellington to Georgiana, which will be under auction at the event. The charities benefiting are the Alzheimer’s Society and Marie Curie.

But this is no ordinary ball. Period costume is encouraged but not compulsory as there will be a cast of professional actors on board to bring the Regency period to life, led by Richard Croxford, former artistic director of Lyric Theatre, who is playing Wellington. Georgiana, who was known as Georgy by her family, will be brought to life by Peter and Sian’s daughter Katharine.

“Each table will be assigned a particular regiment and the gentlemen will wear a sash in the colour of the original regiment,” said Peter. “We will also have the harpist Ruth Corry, soprano Rebekah Coffey and Yellow Door catering are recreating a menu from the time.”

The auction and raffle will include work by artist Kathryn Callaghan (The French Eagle) and works by artists Flora McDonnell and Neil Shawcross, a champagne lunch and a wellness day. The evening, which begins with Scottish pipes and drums, will also end in spectacular style with fireworks on the banks of Strangford Lough.

“It is a long time since Old Court has seen an event of this nature,” added Sian. “We are all looking forward to it.”

One of the committee organisers, Roy Heayberd, explained how important it was to recreate the atmosphere of the ball, preceding a battle that was to effect countless of lives and change the course of history.

“We are trying to get a sense of what it must have been like on the night of the ball,” said Roy.

“Wellington came in, there was a lot of toing and froing so we will be getting the guests involved. They won’t just be watching. There will be lots of messages coming in and out.

“Lady Georgiana Lennox, the third daughter of the Duchess of Richmond was undoubtedly a most important and cherished friend to the Duke of Wellington. On that night of the 15th at the ball, Georgy played a pivotal role. As Wellington enters the ball late, she runs up to him to ask about the rumours and he says ‘Yes, they are true; we are off tomorrow’. 

“Georgy recalls, ‘this terrible news was circulated directly, and while some of the officers hurried away, others remained at the ball, and actually had not time to change their clothes, but fought in evening costume’. 

“Georgy sat next to Wellington at dinner and he gives her a miniature of himself by Simon-Jacques Rochard.”

More about the fascinating life of Georgiana de Ros, who met 19 Prime Ministers and befriended many remarkable people over her long life, can be found online at http://www.georgiana-deros.co.uk/

The Duchess of Richmond’s Waterloo Ball takes place on Saturday, June 13 at Old Court Strangford between 7pm and 1am. Tickets are £85 and the closing date for purchasing tickets is June 7. 

The Alzheimer’s Society is providing a bus from Belfast and volunteers to help on the night.

To for more information and to book tickets online visit http://oldcourtwaterlooball.com/ or email secretary.oldcourtwaterlooball@gmail.com