The Birth of Gwyneth Ericka Morgan: Of Tredegar House, Newport

 

The Birth of Gwyneth Ericka Morgan

 Of Tredegar House, Newport

 

Gwyneth’s Birth

“ the icy fang and churlish chiding of the winter’s wind” Shakespeare

 

The story opens on Saturday, 5 January, 1895. 

As Lady Katharine Morgan fell in and out of birth-pains at No. 39, Portman Square, Marylebone, London,  across the English Channel in Paris another ordeal was being played out on the main parade ground of the Ecole Militaire.  French Army officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was being publically stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island.

Queen Victoria was 75 years old and had already reigned  for 57 years. Her son Bertie, the Prince of Wales, (who later became King Edward VII) was within earshot of Katharine’s cries. He was at No. 15, Portman Square enjoying lunch with his daughter, Louise, the Princess Royal and his son in law, Alexander William George Duff, the Duke of Fife.

London of the time still reflected in everyday scenes being transacted how Dickens had  drawn off some of the memorable characters for his books; those who thought these people over-drawn only had to walk around the streets of London to see the “Haves” and the “Have Nots”.  

Among the “ Have- Nots” the parents of any about-to-be-born Cockney, an abiding symbol of London pride, wanted to see their offspring come into the world within the sound of Bow Bells whilst among “ The Haves” the parents of an  new aspirant, member of  Society  - as much a part  of London pride- wanted to see their progeny born in an elegant Square.

Katharine was no stranger to labour,  this was her second child in 18 months. A son - Evan Frederic Morgan- was born to her and her husband Captain Courtenay Morgan  on 13 July 1893.   That event – which produced  the Morgan son and heir - had been staged at No 33 Cadogan Terrace, Chelsea - another smart address of eight bedrooms, one bathroom and five reception rooms - taken on a short lease.   Whilst the matrimonial home was in the remote quarters of  Shropshire, at Ashford Court, Ludlow,  Katharine chose London for the second birth - under  the care and management of her in-laws roof at No 39, Portman Square.

At Newport in Monmouthshire - in the heartland of the Morgans -  The South Wales Argus reported that day little more than that there was a “collision in Chepstow Road between a horse and brewers cart”. But one higher level story concerned the panic in London restaurants linking the eating of oysters to an increase in cases of typhoid fever. Takings in one notable West End establishment were said to be down by £100 per week.

Katharine’s agonies continued until the new born Morgan child came into the world   that cold, January day, with something of Shakespeare’s  “ icy fang and churlish chiding of the winter’s wind” or Burns’ “ Janur win’ blawing in for a’ that”.  

Taking the ancient Welsh name Gwyneth, meaning “ happiness” , and named in part after Elizabeth Erica Carnegie, one of her mother’s Scottish sisters, with a second name - albeit a slight variation in the spelling  – it was announced that the child would be known as Gwyneth Ericka Morgan.

William Cross, FSA Scot

Culled from the early drafts of  the book on Gwyneth :

 “A Beautiful Nuisance”: The Life and Death of Hon. Gwyneth Erika Morgan:  by Monty Dart and William Cross

Hon. Gwyneth Ericka Morgan (1895-1924).

Only daughter of Courtenay Morgan and Lady Katharine Agnes Blanche Carnegie,  the 3^rd Lord and Lady Tredegar of Tredegar House, Newport.

NB : Contact the Author William Cross by email on williecross@aol.com

5 January 2022

 

Birth Certificate of Gwyneth Ericka Morgan