Llandudno benefactress Lady Henrietta Augusta Mostyn, saviour of the Mostyn fortunes, walks the Parades of Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza in this 25th Anniversary of its inception.
Lady Augusta (1830-1912) whose life spans the Victorian Period, was the second daughter of the 4th Earl of Abergavenny. She married the Honourable Thomas Edward Mostyn Lloyd-Mostyn (1830-1861) moving in 1854 to live at Gloddaeth Hall. At this point the Estate finances were in a parlous state, since no written Estate records had been kept for some years. Thomas’s father the 2nd Baron was a free-spender interested in little more than horse racing.
As an emergency, parts of the Estate were sold to defray debts, following which Thomas died aged 31 of tuberculosis, leaving his widow to rear their two sons and continue his Estate reclamation work.
Augusta was left - in 1861 - as a young widow, with small children and large Estate debts. Through wise friends, knowledgeable decision-making and dedication, she managed over the next few years, to turn around the family fortunes, retaining or reclaiming the most important parts of the Mostyn Estate. She had a great interest in the design and building of the present day Llandudno, showing special concern to ensure that trees and other greenery interspersed the town building plans
Her interest in the people of the area showed in her formation of Ladies Sewing Circles, and a Band for the men at Gloddaeth. She made bequests to schools, churches and galleries.
She was an accomplished photographer, whose work is still exhibited at the Museum of Photography in New York.
As President of the Gwynedd Ladies Art Society (GLAS) Lady Augusta was concerned to note that the art work of ladies was not acceptable to the Royal Cambrian Academy. Feeling the unfairness of this, she founded the first Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno, specifically to show the work of her Art Society ladies.
A person of formidable talents, with an extensive social circle, Lady Augusta was a friend to Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth of Roumania - who visited her at Gloddaeth Hall.
Lady Augusta will long be remembered in Llandudno, and this year her memory will feature at Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza’s 25th Anniversary.. for no better reason than ‘that she should be remembered’.
