Alvilde Chaplin
Encyclopedia
Alvide Bridges Chaplin Lees-Milne, formerly Viscountess Chaplin (1909-1994) was a British
gardening
and landscape
expert.
, who became her second husband, met during World War II
, while she was involved in an affair with the arts patron Winnaretta de Polignac
, and by 1949, Lees-Milne confessed that he loved her. The relationship was not an easy one to start. Chaplin was married to Anthony Chaplin, who would become 3rd Viscount Chaplin
in 1949, and had one daughter, Clarissa. At one point, the Chaplins, Lees-Milne, and Anthony Chaplin's girlfriend Hon. Rosemary Lyttelton all lived in the same house together. Lord and Lady Chaplin divorced in 1950, whereupon the viscount married Rosemary Lyttleton, by whom he had two daughters.
She and Lees-Milne never denied their true sexuality to one another, nor did they hide their affairs. Both had numerous same-sex affairs during their marriage. During the 1930s, James Lees-Milne was involved in an affair with Harold Nicolson
, the husband of the writer Vita Sackville-West
, who was noted for her high profile lesbian affairs. Both Harold and Vita acted as witnesses on the Lees-Milnes' wedding day. Ironically, Sackville-West's former lover Violet Trefusis
became the long-term lover of Princess de Polignac, whereas in the 1950s Sackville-West became involved in a love affair with Alvilde Lees-Milne.
In written accounts later, James Lees-Milne described that he and his wife enjoyed a healthy sexual relationship prior to the marriage in 1951, but afterward she was less willing. He, at the time, was struggling with his homosexuality. In 1955, Alvilde embarked on her affair with Sackville-West. They were semi-discreet, but it did not help him in his personal struggles with his sexuality, and the affair was well known within their social circles. When Lees-Milne began an affair with a younger man in the early 1958, the marriage became difficult.
In 1961 Alvilde Lees-Milne purchased Alderley Grange
, near the western edge of Cotswolds
. The marriage held together, though they did not, at times, live together. Alvilde began working on a garden which would later draw widespread attention for its beauty.
In 1974, Alvilde decided that Alderley Grange was too much for them. She sold the property and the couple moved to Lansdown Crescent, Bath. It was too cramped for them, so by 1975, they became tenants of the Duke of Beaufort
on his Badminton
estate, renting the 17th century Essex House. From 1984 to 1988, her husband struggled with serious illness, with her staying by his side nursing him through it.
By this stage in their lives, they were completely devoted to one another, despite the fact that at the age of 70 he conceived a romantic (but platonic) relationship with a man of 25; this caused considerable strain to their marriage and led to a rift between Alvilde and Rosamond Lehmann
. In 1992, Alvilde became seriously ill, and Lees-Milne devoted the next two years of his life to caring for her. She died in suddenly in 1994; James Lees-Milne found her collapsed on the pathway of their Badminton home. Her death left him deeply depressed at the loss.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
and landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
expert.
Personal life
Chaplin and James Lees-MilneJames Lees-Milne
James Lees-Milne was an English writer and expert on country houses. He was an architectural historian, novelist, and a biographer. He is also remembered as a diarist.-Biography:...
, who became her second husband, met during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, while she was involved in an affair with the arts patron Winnaretta de Polignac
Winnaretta Singer
Winnaretta Singer, Princesse Edmond de Polignac was an American musical patron and heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune.-Early Life and Family:...
, and by 1949, Lees-Milne confessed that he loved her. The relationship was not an easy one to start. Chaplin was married to Anthony Chaplin, who would become 3rd Viscount Chaplin
Viscount Chaplin
Viscount Chaplin, of Saint Oswald's, Blankney, in the County of Lincoln, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1916 for Henry Chaplin, a Tory MP, cabinet minister, country landowner and racehorse owner...
in 1949, and had one daughter, Clarissa. At one point, the Chaplins, Lees-Milne, and Anthony Chaplin's girlfriend Hon. Rosemary Lyttelton all lived in the same house together. Lord and Lady Chaplin divorced in 1950, whereupon the viscount married Rosemary Lyttleton, by whom he had two daughters.
She and Lees-Milne never denied their true sexuality to one another, nor did they hide their affairs. Both had numerous same-sex affairs during their marriage. During the 1930s, James Lees-Milne was involved in an affair with Harold Nicolson
Harold Nicolson
Sir Harold George Nicolson KCVO CMG was an English diplomat, author, diarist and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West, their unusual relationship being described in their son's book, Portrait of a Marriage.-Early life:Nicolson was born in Tehran, Persia, the younger son of...
, the husband of the writer Vita Sackville-West
Vita Sackville-West
The Hon Victoria Mary Sackville-West, Lady Nicolson, CH , best known as Vita Sackville-West, was an English author, poet and gardener. She won the Hawthornden Prize in 1927 and 1933...
, who was noted for her high profile lesbian affairs. Both Harold and Vita acted as witnesses on the Lees-Milnes' wedding day. Ironically, Sackville-West's former lover Violet Trefusis
Violet Trefusis
Violet Trefusis née Keppel was an English writer and socialite. She is most notable for her lesbian affair with Vita Sackville-West, which was featured under disguise in Virginia Woolf's Orlando: A Biography....
became the long-term lover of Princess de Polignac, whereas in the 1950s Sackville-West became involved in a love affair with Alvilde Lees-Milne.
In written accounts later, James Lees-Milne described that he and his wife enjoyed a healthy sexual relationship prior to the marriage in 1951, but afterward she was less willing. He, at the time, was struggling with his homosexuality. In 1955, Alvilde embarked on her affair with Sackville-West. They were semi-discreet, but it did not help him in his personal struggles with his sexuality, and the affair was well known within their social circles. When Lees-Milne began an affair with a younger man in the early 1958, the marriage became difficult.
In 1961 Alvilde Lees-Milne purchased Alderley Grange
Alderley
Alderley could beUnited Kingdom*Alderley, Cheshire, England*Alderley, Gloucestershire, EnglandAustralia*Alderley, Queensland, AustraliaUnited States*Alderley, Wisconsin-See also:United Kingdom*Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England...
, near the western edge of Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
. The marriage held together, though they did not, at times, live together. Alvilde began working on a garden which would later draw widespread attention for its beauty.
Later life
By the late 1960s, Alvilde and Lees-Milne had reached a point in their marriage where they both were content. They became a more devoted couple, living together, but living separate lives.In 1974, Alvilde decided that Alderley Grange was too much for them. She sold the property and the couple moved to Lansdown Crescent, Bath. It was too cramped for them, so by 1975, they became tenants of the Duke of Beaufort
Henry Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort
Henry Hugh Arthur FitzRoy Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort KG GCVO KStJ PC was a British peer, the son of Henry Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort....
on his Badminton
Badminton House
Badminton House is a large country house in Gloucestershire, England, and has been the principal seat of the Dukes of Beaufort since the late 17th century, when the family moved from Raglan Castle, which had been ruined in the English Civil War...
estate, renting the 17th century Essex House. From 1984 to 1988, her husband struggled with serious illness, with her staying by his side nursing him through it.
By this stage in their lives, they were completely devoted to one another, despite the fact that at the age of 70 he conceived a romantic (but platonic) relationship with a man of 25; this caused considerable strain to their marriage and led to a rift between Alvilde and Rosamond Lehmann
Rosamond Lehmann
Rosamond Nina Lehmann, CBE , was a British novelist. Her first novel, Dusty Answer , was a succès de scandale; she subsequently became established in the literary world and intimate with members of the Bloomsbury set...
. In 1992, Alvilde became seriously ill, and Lees-Milne devoted the next two years of his life to caring for her. She died in suddenly in 1994; James Lees-Milne found her collapsed on the pathway of their Badminton home. Her death left him deeply depressed at the loss.