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Mount Stewart is a grand grey stone house, set on the edge of the silvery waters of Strangford Lough and surrounded by sumptuous gardens. It was once the beloved home of Lady Edith Londonderry, the charismatic founder of the Women's Legion.

Edith was born into fabulous wealth. Her grandfather, the third Duke of Sutherland, was Britain’s greatest landowner.

On the outbreak of war, Edith was asked to become Colonel in Chief of the Women’s Volunteer Reserve. Dissatisfied with the organisation she formed her own breakaway group, the Women’s Legion.

With great energy and charm Edith recruited a vast khaki-uniformed pool of women prepared to take on work previously done by men – thereby freeing them to fight. For her efforts she received vitriolic abuse from some quarters. In the context of the times, and in the wake of suffragette violence, the Legion was seen as an attempt to break the boundaries of feminine behaviour and an offence against God. Even the idea that women should wear breeches instead of skirts for farm work was considered obscene. They were expected to work in domestic service, in shops, as nurses and seamstresses. Under Lady Edith’s inspirational leadership women filled an impressive array of roles – including mechanics, draughtswomen, army cooks ambulance drivers and farm workers.

Lorraine Bourke of the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland cares for Lady Edith’s papers, kindly donated to PRONI by her granddaughter Lady Rose.

Location: Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Portaferry Road, BT22 2AD
Image: Lady Edith Londonderry
Image courtesy of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

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