Winifred Coombe Tennant
Encyclopedia
Winifred Coombe Tennant was a Welsh
suffragette, politician, philanthropist, patron of the arts and spiritualist
. She was also known by the bardic name
"Mam o'r Nedd".
She was born Winifred Margaret Pearce-Serocold in Rodborough Lodge, but grew up in France and Italy. She married Charles Coombe Tennant in 1895, and they made their home at Cadoxton Lodge, Neath
. They had three sons, Christopher, Alexander, and Henry, and a daughter Daphne, but Christopher and Daphne died young. Before the First World War, Mrs Coombe Tennant became a suffragette
, and when war broke out, she was appointed deputy chairman of the Women's Agricultural Committee for Glamorgan as well as chairman of the local War Pensions Commission. After the war, she became the first woman to serve as a magistrate in Glamorgan
.
In 1922, Mrs Coombe Tennant was selected as the Liberal candidate for the Forest of Dean
constituency, but lost to the Labour candidate. Although unsuccessful, she was nominated by David Lloyd George
as a representative at the League of Nations
, becoming the first British woman to do so. She was a nationalist, and was heavily involved in the Eisteddfod movement, becoming Mistress of the Robes to the Gorsedd
of Bards. She collected works of art and in 1931 became official buyer for the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
, acquiring works by Welsh artists such as Gwen John
and Kyffin Williams
.
Under the name "Mrs Willett", she practised discreetly for many years as a medium, her clients including Sir Oliver Lodge. She died at her home in Kensington
, London. Her papers are held in the archive of the National Library of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
suffragette, politician, philanthropist, patron of the arts and spiritualist
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
. She was also known by the bardic name
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
"Mam o'r Nedd".
She was born Winifred Margaret Pearce-Serocold in Rodborough Lodge, but grew up in France and Italy. She married Charles Coombe Tennant in 1895, and they made their home at Cadoxton Lodge, Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
. They had three sons, Christopher, Alexander, and Henry, and a daughter Daphne, but Christopher and Daphne died young. Before the First World War, Mrs Coombe Tennant became a suffragette
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
, and when war broke out, she was appointed deputy chairman of the Women's Agricultural Committee for Glamorgan as well as chairman of the local War Pensions Commission. After the war, she became the first woman to serve as a magistrate in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
.
In 1922, Mrs Coombe Tennant was selected as the Liberal candidate for the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
constituency, but lost to the Labour candidate. Although unsuccessful, she was nominated by David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
as a representative at the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, becoming the first British woman to do so. She was a nationalist, and was heavily involved in the Eisteddfod movement, becoming Mistress of the Robes to the Gorsedd
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
of Bards. She collected works of art and in 1931 became official buyer for the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is the public art gallery of the city of Swansea, Wales. The gallery is situated in Alexandra Road, near Swansea railway station, opposite the old Swansea Central Library and near Swansea Central police station...
, acquiring works by Welsh artists such as Gwen John
Gwen John
Gwendolen Mary John was a Welsh artist who worked in France for most of her career. She is noted for her still lifes and for her portraits, especially of anonymous female sitters...
and Kyffin Williams
Kyffin Williams
Sir John "Kyffin" Williams, KBE, RA was a Welsh landscape painter who lived at Pwllfanogl, Llanfairpwll on the Island of Anglesey...
.
Under the name "Mrs Willett", she practised discreetly for many years as a medium, her clients including Sir Oliver Lodge. She died at her home in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London. Her papers are held in the archive of the National Library of Wales
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (includes photo)