Talk: The Magnificent Lady Craven of Benham Park

This talk is about the life and times of the charismatic eighteenth-century socialite, Elizabeth, 6th Baroness Craven, who lived at Benham Park in the Parish of Speen on the outskirts of Newbury.
The talk explores Lady Craven’s identity as aristocratic landowner’s wife, glamorous society hostess, female philanthropist, patron of the Berkshire Militia and interesting local figure, within the context of her magnificent Palladian country house Benham Park, designed by leading designers of the period Capability Brown and Henry Holland.
The talk examines her tempestuous marriage to Lord Craven, with infidelities on both sides, their scandalous separation, her departure from Benham Park and her return with her second husband the Margrave of Anspach.
Dr Helen Lockhart is a local historian who has given talks to various organizations on historical and art historical subjects. Lady Craven was the subject of her PhD from Reading University.
Bookings close at 4pm the day before the talk.