V & A Museum and Dudley House

"Bashaw" in the V & A museum

"Dudley House" - number 100 Park Lane, Mayfair - the exterior is almost complete and much of the scaffolding which has blocked the view for at least the last  two years has been taken down.

High up on the balustrade of the roof-line is the cartouche of the Ward family coat-of-arms and motto

A visit to the capital today to see Matthew Cotes Wyatt's magnificent sculpture of the old Earl of Dudley's favourite dog "Bashaw" in the V & A museum. After lunch a diversion to Park Lane to observe the progress on the refurbishment of number 100 - Dudley House, the exterior of which is almost complete.

Laura Troubridge, Rachel's Sister

Charles Henry Gurney and his wife Alice Maria Prinsep were blessed with a family of four children, Laura, Rachel, Thomas and Henry. Rachel is of course by far the most well-known of these siblings, becoming the  Countess of Dudley in 1891 when she married William Humble Ward, the 2nd Earl. Rachel's older sister Laura is less well known outside her own family circle but nevertheless she was a very accomplished woman in her own right and married well, her husband being Thomas Troubridge, a descendant of the famous admiral.
In her lifetime Laura became an author of fiction novels, though not a well known one. She did however write an autobiography of her life and times which was published, but copies of this fascinating work (including a chapter on her famous sister) are very rare and extremely difficult to come by. With the coming of the digital age it has become possible to re-master this publication and present it in digital format on compact disc for all to read and enjoy. Copies of "Memories and Reflections" by Laura Troubridge on CD are now available by contacting myself or Ruth Butler, when we will be pleased to arrange your purchase for a good value price. Many thanks go to Ruth for allowing her priceless possession to become available to the general public.

"Memories and Reflections" by Lady Troubridge is complete with illustrations and photographs.

Coming soon: "Sunshine and Shadows in the West Indies" by Rachel Dudley. A fascinating account of the Earl and Countess of Dudley's voyage abroad in 1907, written by Rachel upon her return to these shores. An even rarer publication than that of sister Laura's book, this CD will be available in due course: watch this space !