Memorial Window In Highclere Church
To Lady Almina's Brother
Captain Frederick Adolphus Wombwell
...Almina dedicated a memorial stain glassed window at Highclere Church in loving memory of Frederick A Wombwell, Captain 16th Lancers "as a gift of his sister, Almina Carnarvon."
These photographs from inside St Michael and All Angels, Highclere are reproduced with kind permission from Allan Soedring.Copyright Allan Soedring www.astoft.co.uk
Lady Almina Carnarvon’s Forgotten Brother,
Remembered by Her In A Magnificiant Memorial Window At Highclere Church
William Cross records in " The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon", his candid biography of Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon that :
" Almina's brother, Captain Frederick Adolphus Wombwell, had died on Saturday 17 February [ 1912] at the age of 42. He was survived by one son, Frederick Philip Alfred William Wombwell (1910–1977), who later inherited the family baronetcy... .."
A "brother...six years older than his little sister, Almina"
Lady Carnarvon's 42 year-old brother, Captain Frederick Adolphus Wombwell of the 16th Lancers died after a crippling illness. Frederick was six years older his little sister, Almina. He was born to Almina’s parents, Frederick Charles Wombwell and Marie Boyer, during the time the Wombwells were living in Paris just before the time of Paris Siege, in 1869. Almina's brother left a widow and a child of two years old, a son, Philip, who inherited the Wombwell baronetcy after the deaths of his two respective uncles, the 4th the baronet, George, in 1913, and the 5th baronet, Harry, in 1926.
The historic Wombwell seat was Newburgh Priory, North Yorkshire.
..........An "ugly and shameful reflection................"
There is no doubt that Almina adored her brother, Frederick Wombwell. The circumstances of their individul lives prevented them from enjoying regular contact. However, in July 1913, Almina remembered Frederick in dedicating a memorial window to him at St Michael and All Angels Church, the Carnarvon family's local Church, near Highclere Castle. It is a particularly ugly and shameful reflection upon the present day Carnarvon incumbents at Highclere Castle that this poignant and enduring token of a sister's love of her brother is not included for mention in the Castle's recently published book "Lady Almina".
A "grossly inadequate treatment of Almina's life"
Equally the omission of full and proper references to the Wombwell family, in this grossly inadequate treatment of Almina's life, is without merit.
According to Almina Carnarvon's godson, Tony Leadbetter, the Wombwell Family motto of " In Well Beware" was often cited by Almina. Tony remembers that it's strength served as an apt reminder to the Countess of how to endure the best and the worst of times as she journeyed through her long and often troubled life of nine decades.
This note has been prepared by William Cross, FSA Scot, Author of “ The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon”. For further information please contact Will by e-mail.