Image ID: 25115

Wedding of Lady Moyra De Vere Beauclerk and Richard Cavendish, Bestwood Lodge, Bestwood, 1895

Bestwood Lodge
Bestwood
Arnold
England

A group photo taken on the occasion of the marriage of Lady Moyra De Vere Beauclerk to Richard Frederick Cavendish MP. In 1683 King Charles II, by letters patent, granted Bestwood to his illegitimate son Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans and in subsequent years his descendants did much to improve the estate. The Victorian Gothic Bestwood Lodge, seen in the background of this view, was built for the 10th Duke by the architect S S Teulon between 1860 and 1863, as a replacement for an earlier house. Lady Moyra (1876-1942) was the daughter of the 10th Duke by his second wife Grace Bernal-Osborne. Richard Cavendish (1871-1946) was the grandson of the 7th Duke of Devonshire and younger brother of the 9th Duke. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, entering Parliament in the year of his marriage as Liberal Unionist MP for North Lonsdale. However, he lost his seat in the 1906 general election after crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party. His political career continued and in 1908 he was appointed Chairman of the Royal Commission on Systems of Election with the mandate 'to secure a fully representative character for popularly elected legislative bodies'. Among the Commission's recommendations when it reported in 1910 was the abolition of two-member constituencies, a change that was carried through. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 1912. From 1908 Lord and Lady Cavendish (as they became) resided at Holker Hall in Cumberland. They had two sons and five daughters.

Date: 30/07/1895

Organisation Reference: NCCC001240

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