The Ladies Of Llangollen Memorial

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I was so so happy to stumble across The Ladies of Llangollen's memorial in the church as we wandered back to the car to leave.

Unfortunately Plas Newydd, their home that one can wander around, was closed for the winter season.

But then there they were, The Rt. Hon. Lady Eleanor Butler (1739–1829) and Sarah Ponsonby (1755–1831), and Sarah's servant, Mary Caryll (?-1809), who lived with and worked for them for the rest of her life.

Three people that, I believe, lived their best life no matter what criteria you use or what society thought about it.

Collage of 4 photographs of the Ladies of Llangollen' and their servant's memorial in church grounds

Sacred to the Memory of
The Right Honourable
LADY ELEANOR CHARLOTTE BUTLER
Late of Plas Newydd in this Parish
Deceased 2nd June 1829 
Aged Ninety Years
Daughter of the Sixteenth, Sister of the Seventeenth
EARLS OF ORMONDE AND OSSORY
Aunt to the Late and to the Present
MARQUESS OF ORMONDE.

Endeared to Her many Friends by an almost unequalled excellence of Heart and by Manners worthy of Her Illustrious Birth the Admiration and Delight of a very numerous Acquaintance From a Brilliant Vivacity of Mind undiminished to the latest period of a prolonged existence. Her amiable Condescension and Benevolence secured the Grateful attachment of those by whom they had been so long and so extensively experienced. Her various Perfections crowned by the most pious and cheerful submission to the Divine Will. can only be appreciated Where it is humbly believed They are Now enjoying their Eternal Reward and by Her of whom for more than Fifty Years they constituted that Happiness Which, through Our Blessed Redeemer She trusts will be renewed When THIS TOMB Shall have closed Over Its Latest Tenant

Sorrow not as Others who have no hope 1 Thess., Chap 4, v 13.


SARAH PONSONBY
departed this life 
on the 9th December 1831 aged 76.

She did not long survive her beloved companion LADY ELEANOR BUTLER. with whom she had lived in this valley for more than half a century of uninterrupted friendship - but they shall no more return to their House neither shall their place know them any more.
Job. Chap 7. V.10.

Reader pause for a moment and reflect not on the uncertainty of human life, but upon the certainty of its termination and take comfort from the assurance that - as it is appointed unto all men to die but after that the judgement: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him, he shall appear a second time without sin unto salvation.
Heb. Chap. 9, V.27.28.


In Memory of 
MRS MARY CARRYL
Deceased 22 November 1809

This Monument is erected by Eleanor Butler, and Sarah Ponsonby, of Plasnewydd in this Parish

Released from Earth and all its transient woes, She whose remains beneath this stone repose, Stedfast in Faith resigned her parting breath, Looked up with Christian joy, and smiled in Death Patient, Industrious, Faithful, Generous, Kind, Her Conduct left the proudest far behind, Her Virtues dignified her humble birth. And raised her mind above this sordid earth. Attachment (Sacred bond of grateful breasts) Extinguished but with life, this Tomb attests, Reared by Two Friends who will her loss bemoan, Till with Her Ashes... Here shall rest, Their own.

Day 1

Day 2
Bishop's Castle - Welshpool - Llangollen - Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - Wrexham

Llangollen, UK

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