Georgiana Liddell, Lady Bloomfield

Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield

Georgiana was born Hon. Georgiana Liddell in 1822, the sixteenth and youngest child of Thomas Henry Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth and Maria Simpson.

The family lived at Ravensworth castle in Durham, Yorkshire.

"...my brothers and nephews were my only playmates, so I very soon learnt their games and was called a 'tomboy' because I was fond of cricket, trap bat and ball, and other boyish amusements, but never cared for dolls."

Georgiana's sister, Maria Phipps, Lady Normandy, resigned from her appointment as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria in 1841 due to political reasons, and Georgiana was invited to take up a position as Lady-in-Waiting at the young age of 19 years. She held the position of Maid of Honour between 1841 and 1845, resigning to return to Ravensworth and care for her mother during illness.

Georgiana's accounts of married life and work overseas

Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield left her mark on this era by recording so much of her perspective in writing. She has published three significant books in her later years. Her early life as Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, gave her experience and insight into court life and the politics. As was common with female authors, Lady Bloomfield recorded the spiritual and emotional moments of her subjects. She wrote about the moment she noticed the dying Lord Bloomfield with tears welling up in his eyes as he said good-bye to his son and young wife, on route to an overseas posting in Russia.

From what I have read so far by delving into both "Reminiscences" and "'The Memoir of Lord Bloomfield." Georgiana's intelligence, and exposure to the politics of the day, has been the foundation by which she has has covered in significant depth and detail; politics, personal anecdotal experiences of famous characters and royalty, and insights into the daily lives of people living at many levels of status and class.

At the age of 43, John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield sought out Georgiana, who had recently resigned from her position in Queen Victoria's court, as a suitable wife to support him in his duties. Bloomfield's father was a very close friend of Georgiana's father, Lord Ravensworth, and even Queen Victoria supported the marriage, as Mr Bloomfield was of course, working in public service. Lord Bloomfield (Snr) was still alive at the time of their marriage.

Georgiana married The Hon. John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield 4 Sept. 1845, at Lamesley church, co. Durham. Georgiana's mother wanted the wedding to be timed so that Georgiana could travel with her new husband to his posting in St Petersburg. Georgiana was given away by her brother, Robert. Her mother, Maria was in poor health and died December of that year.

Bloomfield's parents travelled to Lamesley to be at the wedding. Lord Bloomfield was based at the garrison at Woolwich, where he was the commanding officer of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, an important office for which he was long known and much respected.

Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield (John's father) died peacefully on August 15 1846, Georgiana had returned to England and was at Portman Square with her father and mother-in-law Harriott, during his illness. Her husband John, travelled back from St Petersburg to be at his father's deathbed.

Georgiana was styled as Baroness Bloomfield of Oakhampton and Redwood on 15 August 1846. and Baroness Bloomfield of Ciamhaltha on 7 August 1871.

Georgiana and John Bloomfield didn't have any children, although Lord Bloomfield had at least two children to actress, Emilie Högquist. We don't know the cause of this and it's likely the reason will never be known. Was Georgiana infertile? Was John exposed to sexual disease during his younger years in the court of Sweden. John was probably with his father in Sweden at the time - in the court of Bernadotte, later to become King Carl XIV Johan. His lover, Emilie Högquist was prostituted from a very young age, to the powerful men in the Swedish Court by her mother.

"Lady Bloomfield, a grand dame of an old school, kept up her friendship with Queen Victoria and her family, and delighted in social intercourse with all classes. While deeply religious on old, low church lines, she was tolerant and charitable. She founded in 1874 the Trained Nurses' Annuity Fund, and built and endowed almshouses on her husband's estate near Newport, co. Tipperary. She sketched well in water-colours, and her sketches formed a sort of diary of her journeys. She was an accomplished musician, playing the organ; was a good billiard player, and an excellent gardener." Extract from the Dictionary of Biography (1912), Contributor: Elizabeth Lee.

Dictionary of Biography

Lord Bloomfield, 2nd Baron Bloomfield

"He married, 4 Sept. 1845, the Hon. Georgiana, sixteenth and youngest child of Thomas Henry Liddell, first Baron Ravensworth. She was born at 51 Portland Place, London, 13 April 1822, was maid of honour to the queen from December 1841 to July 1845, and in the month after her marriage accompanied her husband to Russia. Her "Reminiscences" of the state of society at the various courts where she resided is a work of much interest." - Dictionary of national biography by Sir Leslie Stephen, 1832-1904, Publication: 1885-1900, Publisher: New York Macmillan, Vol 5 (John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield's entry, Georgiana has her own entry in 1912)

Books

1. Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol I), 1883: by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, record of her career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
2. Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol II), 1883: by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, record of her career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
3. Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).
4. Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol II,, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).
5. Gleanings of a Long Life, 1902: collection of extracts from her favourite books

Photo

Royal collection - aquired by Prince Albert.

Detail about Georgiana Liddell's life at court

Chopin and Lady Bloomfield

Loughton House in Moneygall, Co Offaly

This auction catalogue from 2016 holds lots of fabulous items from the Bloomfield family, including several paintings and drawings of Lord Bloomfield, several of Georgiana, and several which were not identified, but look suspiciously like Harriott, Lady Bloomfield. There is even Lord Bloomfield's death mask! What I find sad is that so much of their memorabilia remained in the house, after the family had left. This includes Lord Bloomfield's ceremonial sword and boxes of Trench family photos. Surely, a descendant would have taken the sword?

Obituary

A version of this archives appears in print on May 23, 1905, on Page 9 of the New York edition with the headline: LADY BLOOMFIELD DEAD.; A Friend of Queen Victoria and a Well-Known Author (attached in sources).

References

Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (2 vols.),
1883: by Georgiana, Baroness Bloomfield, a record of her career of her life as courtier and as the wife of a diplomat.
Wikipedia - Georgiana Bloomfield, Baroness Bloomfield
Lundy's Peerage - Hon. Georgiana Liddell
Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I and II, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).
Wikitree entry
Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol I), 1883: record of Georgiana's career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol II), 1883: record of Georgiana's career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).
Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol II,, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).

Credit

This biography for Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, was collated by me; Jenna Gray. Georgiana's mother-in-law, Harriott was my 4x great aunt, the sister of 3x great grandmother. I've enjoyed discovering so much about this fascinating family. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in them, or are a descendant. It seems likely if there are descendants, they are from the Trench Family and/or the Kingscote family - descendants of the two sisters. There's also the Högquist family. John Arthur Douglas appears to have had two illegitimate children. I suspect they never lived in England.

Georgiana Liddell, Lady Bloomfield died childless, so her line stops with her. All that Georgiana has left behind are the books she wrote, recording her diplomatic life, her memories, thoughts, a few photos and some artwork. Georgiana was a lifelong friend of Queen Victoria. While she was appointed Lady in Waiting before she met the young Lord Bloomfield, what did she learn about keeping her trusted role from her father-in-law, the 1st Lord Bloomfield, who for 27 years was one of the very closest companions and a confident of King George IV?

As if to confirm my imagining of a bond between Georgiana and the 1st Lord Bloomfield, I stumbled across this in her writing:

".....when it was evident that in the bosom of his family, and released from the responsibilities of official life, Lord Bloomfield was devoting the remainder of his life to God's service. His only son's marriage to Lord Ravensworth's youngest daughter, the Hon. Georgiana Liddell, Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria, gave him the most unfeigned pleasure, and though at that time he was suffering from a painful illness, which ultimately terminated in death, he and Lady Bloomfield made the long journey to Ravensworth Castle, co. Durham, to attend the marriage, which took place at Lamesley Church on the 4th of September, 1845. Two curious coincidences connected with this marriage were remarked, viz., that the bride was born on the anniversary of her father-in-law's birthday, and that, without knowing it, she fixed on the anniversary of his wedding day for her marriage. Also, in looking over family papers, it appeared that a Bloomfield of Tipperary was married to a Miss Liddell, a Maid of Honour to Queen Anne! Lord Bloomfield's visit to his old friends, Lord and Lady Ravensworth, renewed an intimacy which had been begun under very different circumstances at the Court of King George IV. Lord Bloomfield's heart was opened wide to receive and welcome his son's wife, whom he ever treated with the most touching respect and affection."

Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I and II, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).

Ravensworth Castle

The family lived at Ravensworth castle in Durham, Yorkshire.

Gateshead history

Drone flyover of Ravensworth 24 April 2019

Sunniside local history