To be held on 18 September, 2024
Deborah (‘Debo’) Devonshire, the youngest of the six infamous Mitford sisters and wife of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, was hefted by marriage to one of Europe’s great treasure houses, Chatsworth. In the second half of the 20th century, in partnership with her husband Andrew, she imbued it with a spirit, elegance and sense of welcome that transformed it from being the worn-out survivor of decades of taxation, war and social change into one of the best-loved, most-emulated and heavily-visited historic houses, gardens and estates in the country. With responsibility for Lismore Castle and Bolton Abbey as well, no wonder her passport stated her profession as ‘housewife’.
Along the way, she became a best-selling author, champion of the countryside, its skills, traditions, livelihoods and food, founder of one of the first – and finest – farm shops, trustee and patron of numerous charities and good causes, devotee of Elvis Presley and the most famous poultry keeper in the country. She met Hitler and Churchill, knew Macmillan and Kennedy, was a trusted confidant of the King when Prince of Wales, played her part as the steady heart of the Mitford sisters’ melodrama and was friends with a fascinating array of artistic contemporaries, including Evelyn Waugh, John Betjeman, Lucian Freud, Tom Stoppard, Paddy Leigh Fermor, Oscar de la Renta and Alan Bennett.
Her charm lived in her unique turn of phrase, her stoic Mitfordian perspective on life’s challenges, her curiosity about everyone she met, her quick wit and her delight in all that life offered her. Debo had a lasting impact not just on Chatsworth but on everything she touched and everyone she met. In this lectureSimon pays tribute to a remarkable life.
The black and white photographic portrait is: The Duchess of Devonshire by Cecil Beaton; the Cecil Beaton Archive, © Condé Nast
Simon Seligman
Simon studied art and architectural history at Warwick University. For 19 years until 2010, worked at Chatsworth in a variety of roles, latterly as Head of Communications. He has lectured about Chatsworth, the Devonshire Collection and associated topics throughout the UK and on several US tours. Alongside his lecturing, he is a Life Coach in private practice, and works part time for John Ruskin’s charity, the Guild of St George.