Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington: Georgian Smalls

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

Georgian Smalls

Georgian smalls, left out to dry at Shugborough Hall's Servants' Quarters.
Photograph © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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5 comments:

graham said...: Hi Mrs Woffington. I am just setting up my blog and note there are two of us that enjoy the works of Hogarth. Delightful. Give me a little while and I will post art work that explores the wonderful ideas Hogarth put before the viewing public
Graham; 4 June 2009 at 10:58
Vic said...: Love this image!!; 4 June 2009 at 14:06
Mrs Woffington said...: Thanks both for your comments, and woodcut, looking forward to seeing the blog!; 4 June 2009 at 17:03
Eliza Ward said...: Heehee! In the North End (Italian area) of Boston, you can still see laundry lines hung out across the backs of old brick buildings. The clothes look a little different from that though!!; 6 June 2009 at 00:31
Mrs Woffington said...: Thanks for all your comments Eliza; I enjoyed reading them though I won't reply to each because I have RSI in my right wrist and really SHOULD be off the computer altogether resting it. And it's so frustrating cos I'd like to be blogging, but will have to do housework instead. Boring!!; 6 June 2009 at 17:58

Who was Mrs Woffington?

Virtually forgotten today, Margaret Woffington (also known as Peg or Peggy) would rise from humble origins to become one of Georgian London’s most famous actresses, sharing the stage with the likes of David Garrick and excelling in so-called ‘breeches roles’. Born around the year 1720 in Dublin, her childhood years were marred by the death of her father, which plunged her family into poverty. Having reputedly sold watercress barefoot in the streets of the Irish capital, she was soon talent-spotted by a tumbler known as Violante, who staged populist entertainments in booths around the city. Violante had a troupe of child actors called the Liliputians, and before long Woffington was making her debut as Polly Peachum in their version of The Beggar’s Opera. Moving to London, she gained plaudits for both her outstanding beauty and her talent – particularly in comedy – appearing at both Covent Garden and Drury Lane. Known for her quick wit and no-nonsense attitude, she had high-profile affairs with Garrick, Lord Darnley and Charles Hanbury Williams; she was also a generous benefactor, supporting her elderly mother and may even have endowed some almshouses in Teddington, where she had settled at the height of her success. She died, unmarried, in 1760, having suffered a long wasting illness, and is buried in Teddington's parish church of St Mary’s.