Social Victorians/People/de Trafford

Also Known As edit

  • Family name: de Trafford
  • Baronet de Trafford of Trafford Park, Lancashire (UK, 1841)[1]
    • Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 2nd Bt. (10 November 1852 – 4 May 1886)
    • Sir Humphrey Francis de Trafford, 3rd Bt. (4 May 1886 – 10 January 1929)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies edit

Timeline edit

1854, Lady Annette Mary Talbot was granted the rank of an earl's daughter.[2]

1855 January 17, Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 2nd Bt. and Lady Annette Mary Talbot married.[2]

1886 August 9, Sir Humphrey Francis de Trafford, 3rd Bt. and Violet Alice Maud Franklin married.[3]

1897 July 2, Friday, Lady Violet de Trafford attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. (She is #238 on the list of people who attended.)

 
Violet, Lady de Trafford in costume as Semiramis, Queen of Assyria. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball edit

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Lady Violet de Trafford walked in the "Oriental" procession[4][5] as an "Assyrian Queen."[6]:p. 40, Col. 2a Lady Violet de Trafford's husband Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 3rd Bt. was still alive at the time of the ball; was he present and just not mentioned in the press?

Henry Bullingham's portrait (right) of "Violet Alice Maud (née Franklin), Lady de Trafford as Semiramis, Queen of Assyria" in costume is photogravure #246 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[7] The printing on the portrait says, "Lady de Trafford as Semiramis, Queen of Assyria," with a Long S in Assyria.[8]

Newspaper Descriptions edit

  • Lady de Trafford "as Semiramide, and Miss Muriel Wilson, as Vashti, wore Assyrian costumes and wonderful jewels, with characteristic headgear."[9]:p. 5, Col. 7c
  • "Lady de Trafford as Semiramide had a wonderful dress of white crépe de chine, embroidered with curious Assyrian figures of men and beasts, and lightly veiled with white gauze, embroidered with flowers in coloured silks. Lady de Trafford’s train was of green velvet lined with gold tissue and bordered with gold and diamond embroidery."[10]
  • "Lady de Trafford made a great success as Semiramis, in soft white muslin over cloth of silver, on the hem of which were embroidered typical Assyrian figures in the characteristic brick colour. A pale green chiffon sash hung from a curved green velvet band at the waist. The bright red velvet train was sewn with diamonds, and the head-dress had diamond chains at the sides and a diamond bird above them."[11]:42, Col. 1c
  • This description accompanies a flattering line drawing of Lady de Trafford in costume (Numeral 8 below the drawing, top center, facing her left, body turned toward her left, dress somewhat similar to the costume, emphasis on headdress, apparently signed by “Rook”): “Made by Mrs Mason, 4, New Burlington Street, W. … No. 8. LADY DE TRAFFORD, Semiramis, Empress of Assyria. — Assyrian dress, copied from vase in British Museum.”[12]:Col. 2a–b, 1c

Semiramis edit

Demographics edit

  • Nationality: British

Residences edit

  • Trafford Park (until 1896)

Family edit

  • Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 2nd Bt. (1 May 1808 – 4 May 1886)[13]
  • Lady Annette Mary Talbot ( – 1 July 1922)[2]
  1. Mildred Mary Josephine de Trafford (27 March 1856 – 29 December 1934)
  2. Gundrerde Annette Teresa de Trafford (9 October 1860 – 17 December 1952)
  3. Sir Humphrey Francis de Trafford, 3rd Bt. (8 July 1862 – 10 January 1929)
  4. Charles Edmund de Trafford (21 May 1864 – 11 November 1951)
  5. Mary Annette de Trafford (9 September 1865 – 3 September 1934)
  6. Sicele Agnes de Trafford (22 February 1867 – 5 February 1948)
  7. Gilbert Talbot Joseph de Trafford (20 May 1871 – 14 July 1890)
  8. Mary Hilda de Trafford (11 February 1875 – 1965)


  • Sir Humphrey Francis de Trafford, 3rd Bt. (8 July 1862 – 10 January 1929)[14]
  • Violet Alice Maud Franklin ( – 20 July 1925)[3]
  1. Sir Humphrey Edmund de Trafford, 4th Bt. (30 November 1891 – 6 October 1971)
  2. Violet Mary de Trafford (8 May 1893 – 28 February 1968)
  3. Sir Rudolph Edgar Francis de Trafford, 5th Bt. (31 August 1894 – 1983)
  4. Raymond Vincent de Trafford (28 January 1900 – 14 May 1971)

Notes and Questions edit

  1. Lady Violet de Trafford's husband Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 3rd Bt. was still alive at the time of the ball; was he present and just not mentioned in the press?

Footnotes edit

  1. "Sir Thomas Joseph de Trafford, 1st Bt.." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Lady Annette Mary Talbot." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Violet Alice Maud Franklin." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  4. "Fancy Dress Ball at Devonshire House." Morning Post Saturday 3 July 1897: 7 [of 12], Col. 4a–8 Col. 2b. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18970703/054/0007.
  5. "Ball at Devonshire House." The Times Saturday 3 July 1897: 12, Cols. 1a–4c The Times Digital Archive. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
  6. “The Duchess of Devonshire’s Ball.” The Gentlewoman 10 July 1897 Saturday: 32–42 [of 76], Cols. 1a–3c [of 3]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003340/18970710/155/0032.
  7. "Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball (1897): photogravures by Walker & Boutall after various photographers." 1899. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait-list.php?set=515.
  8. "Lady de Trafford as Semiramis." Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158609/Violet-Alice-Maud-ne-Franklin-Lady-de-Trafford-as-Semiramis-Queen-of-Assyria.
  9. "Duchess of Devonshire's Fancy Ball. A Brilliant Spectacle. Some of the Dresses." London Daily News Saturday 3 July 1897: 5 [of 10], Col. 6a–6, Col. 1b. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000051/18970703/024/0005 and https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000051/18970703/024/0006.
  10. “The Devonshire House Ball. A Brilliant Gathering.” The Pall Mall Gazette 3 July 1897, Saturday: 7 [of 10], Col. 2a–3a. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000098/18970703/019/0007.
  11. “Girls’ Gossip.” Truth 8 July 1897, Thursday: 41 [of 70], Col. 1b – 42, Col. 2c. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002961/18970708/089/0041.
  12. “Dresses Worn at the Duchess of Devonshire’s Fancy Ball on July 2.” The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper 10 July 1897, Saturday: 52 [of 98 BNA; p. 75 print page], full page [3 of 3 cols.]. British Newspaper Archive  https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002627/18970710/169/0049.
  13. "Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 2nd Bt.." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  14. "Sir Humphrey Francis de Trafford, 3rd Bt.." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.