Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington: Every Little Helps

Friday 6 March 2009

Every Little Helps

A quick look at the Samuel Johnson Project website confirms the exciting news that Tesco has stumped up over £50,000 to fund a public art project in Lichfield addressing the works of Johnson, Darwin and Anna Seward.

Part of the grand plan is the creation of three sculptures, developed around Johnson’s life and work, placed around the city (one will be at the Samuel Johnson Hospital, with the other sites to be confirmed). Limited space is being created on the bases of the sculptures to have supporters’ names cast in bronze; apparently immortality can be yours for a minimum donation of £27.50.

More details on the website.

Photograph © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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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.

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