This talk is part of the Online Winter Lecture Series 2025 called Victorian and Edwardian Women in Architecture. Follow this link to book all of the lectures.
Organised by Lynne Walker
The spring lecture series provides the opportunity to engage with recent, path-breaking research by leading experts which gives a fresh perspective on women’s diverse roles in nineteenth and early twentieth century architecture as designers, patrons, clients, philanthropists, and businesswomen, as well as their emergence as professional architects by 1900. In the broad context of Victorian society, this series considers themes and issues which both facilitated and limited women’s agency and contribution in a male-dominated world, most notably, family, social and political networks, widowhood and wealth.
Victorian chatelaine: Emily Meynell Ingram of Temple Newsam and Hoar Cross
by James Lomax
Emily Meynell Ingram (1840–1904) was one of the wealthiest independent women of her age. A childless widow for three decades, she ruled over and beautified two great country houses; built several churches, including Bodley and Garner’s masterpiece at Hoar Cross, Staffordshire; sailed her yacht; and became a cult figure to her heirs and dependants. The lecture will explore the life and legacy of a major female architectural patron.
James Lomax is a retired decorative art curator who worked under Emily’s long shadow at Temple Newsam, Yorkshire, for thirty years. His biography of her was published in 2016.
All attendees will be sent a recording of the talk.
Image: Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross (G F Bodley and T Garner,1876) Photo by © Geoff Brandwood