Muriel de la Warr

Muriel Brassey, the daughter of Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl of Brassey (1836-1918), Lord of the Admiralty. Muriel's grandfather was Thomas Brassey (1805-1870), the successful railway contractor.

Muriel Brassey married Gilbert, 8th Earl de la Warr (1869-1915) in 1891. Muriel gave birth to Idina (1893), Avice (1897) and Herbrand (1900). The marriage was not a success and it was dissolved in 1902 on the grounds of Gilbert's adultery with an actress.

Muriel and Gilbert on their honeymoon

Muriel, Countess de la Warr, was an active supporter of the Liberal Party but joined the Labour Party during the struggle for women's suffrage. The Countess de la Warr and her daughter Idina Sackville were both founder members of the East Grinstead Suffrage Union. So also was the Countess de la Warr's younger sister, Helen Brassey.

Muriel's son, Herbrand, 9th Earl de la Warr (1900-1976) was the first hereditary peer to take his seat in the House of Commons as a supporter of the Labour Party. He was later to become one of Britain's youngest ever cabinet ministers. Muriel, Countess de la Warr died in 1930.

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Sources

(1) The East Grinstead Observer (22nd March, 1902)

A. Lyttleton appeared on the part of Lady De la Warr, said the parties were married on the 4th August 1891, and there were three three children of the marriage. Lord De la Warr left England for South Africa in October, 1899, returning in the following July. Since his return the relations between him and his wife had entirely changed owing to the conduct of the husband, and the family circle became very unhappy. In June 1901, the Earl withdrew from the family home and has never been back since.

(2) The East Grinstead Observer (26th July, 1902)

Muriel Agnes Countess De la Warr of the Manor House, Bexhill, was granted a degree nissi in the Divorce Court on Friday on the grounds of misconduct and desertion of her husband, Gilbert De la Warr with Miss Turner, an actress. Miss Turner stated she met Lord De la Warr in December 1900 when she was acting in Bexhill. The same month she returned to London and took a room at the Savoy. Lord De la Warr stayed at the hotel with her, and subsequently visited her at her rooms in Tavistock Chambers.

(3) On 14^th October 1911 The East Grinstead Observer reported a meeting of the local suffrage society.

On 6th October a well attended meeting arranged by the East Grinstead Women's Suffrage Society was held at Queens Hall on Friday evening with the President, Muriel Countess De la Warr. She was supported by Eveline Haverfield and Margery Corbett.

Lady Helen Brassey and Lady Idina Sackville were the hostesses. Mrs. Uniacke said that surely no one can be satisfied with the world around us today. A great deal wants doing. Women want the right to influence public morals. They understand the difficulty of rearing children with healthy minds and bodies. Men now decide at what trades women shall work. Why cannot women decide?