Summer 2025 – Newsletter
The Countess of Derby’s Living History Society
Summer Newsletter 2025
Summer at Knowsley Hall
Summer has arrived in all its glory and we are basking in spectacular weather. There really is something wonderful about Britain in the summer months, especially in the park at Knowsley Hall. It’s the busiest time of the year for our Parks and Gardens team and they rise to the challenge year on year making our grounds look loved and cared for. I left for my month long book tour in the spring weather and have returned to glorious sunshine.
Enjoy your Summer.
The Countess of Derby
HISTORY
AVAILABLE NOW: NORTH AMERICAN TOUR JOURNAL
1824-1825 AVAILABLE NOW: A NORTH AMERICAN TOUR JOURNAL 1824-1825: THE MAKING OF A PRIME MINISTER
I am delighted to announce that my latest book is now published and available on Amazon:
The American Journal of Edward Geoffrey Stanley, later Prime Minister and 14th Earl of Derby
“We might even in time
perhaps have a black President”
In July 1824, Edward Geoffrey Stanley arrived in New York City at the end of a nearly five-week voyage from Liverpool. The young MP and future 14th Earl of Derby was under a cloud before his departure. His political career was off to a rough start and he was in love with a young lady that he was forbidden to marry. A lengthy tour, or as Stanley termed it, a “banishment,” had been imposed upon him.
From July 1824 into March 1825, Stanley travelled extensively throughout the eastern half of North America. He crossed mountains and lakes, journeyed up and down rivers, and trekked through pine barrens, swamps, and marshes. He travelled by stage, steamboat, canoe, horseback and sometimes on foot, studying every aspect of the towns and countryside he passed through. Stanley was sometimes surprised, and sometimes shocked, by what he saw. Complicated interactions between the Catholic French and their Protestant British neighbours in Canada, the horrifying lives of those enslaved in the U.S. South, the poverty of Irish immigrants in the north, the degradation of Native Americans everywhere: all of these left deep impressions on Stanley. Everything he learned during this journey shaped his future career as a political reformer and distinguished statesman.
I travelled with my colleague Professor Andrew O’Shaughnessy speaking three times in Florida and New York, twice in Boston and Charleston and once in Philadelphia, Charleston, Monticello, Washington and Louisville.
Professor Andrew O’Shaughnessy is Professor of History at the University of Virginia and noted scholar on the American Revolution. He was the former Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith Centre for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and Vice President of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Visiting International Fellow at the Wilberforce Institute, University of Hull, and last year he was Visiting Fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. I am also proud to confirm that Andrew O’Shaughnessy has been awarded a one year Fellowship in residence at the Rothermere American Institute as well as a two term fellowship at University College, Oxford for his work on the 14th Earl of Derby and the American Revolutionary War.
His next book Republic and Empire is out in September 2025 on which he collaborated with the late Trevor Burnard.
WEBINAR
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE 14th EARL OF DERBY: THE MAKING OF A PRIME MINISTER
On the 9th of May I had the pleasure to support on a live webinar with my dear friend Curt DiCamillo for American Ancestors.
UPCOMING TALKS
23 JUNE 2025
CHALKE HISTORY FESTIVAL, SOMERSET
The North American Travel Journal at Chalke History Festival, Somerset
BOOK HERE25-28 SEPTEMBER 2025
WILLIAM FAULKNER LITERARY FESTIVAL, NEW ORLEANS
Remembering William Faulkner on his birthday.
MORE INFO HERE11-12 OCTOBER 2025
CLIVEDEN HISTORY FESTIVAL, BERKSHIRE
The North American Travel Journal at the Cliveden History Festival.
MORE INFO HERE
LIVING HISTORY PODCAST
NEW SERIES: THE TRIBUTE PODCAST
I am delighted how well my latest three episodes have been received. This first series focused on the remarkable life and legacy of Edward Geoffrey Stanley, later 14th Earl of Derby and hitherto known as “The Forgotten Prime Minister” by his biographer the late Professor Angus Hawkins, he was a visionary reform-minded leader who served as Britain’s Prime Minister three times to Queen Victoria, leaving an indelible mark on British politics, education and Society. The three episodes concentrate on his main preoccupations abolishing slavery, improving education, reforming Parliament and supporting religious toleration. This thought provoking series demonstrates the enduring legacy of a brilliant statesman who masterfully balance tradition with progress through managed change, shaping Victorian Britain in ways that continue to resonate today.
GUEST SPEAKER
SECRETS OF STATE CRAFT WITH ANDREW ROBERTS
I was also very honoured to be asked to be interviewed by Andrew Roberts for fortnightly audio-only Hoover Institution podcast, entitled Secrets of Statecraft with Andrew Roberts, where he asks statesmen about the role that history and the past have played in their lives, and biographers and historians the same question about their subjects. The title comes from Winston Churchill’s remark to a young American on Coronation Day 1953, ‘Study history. Study history. For therein lies all the secrets of statecraft.’ Amongst Andrew’s guests on this podcast have been Henry Kissinger, Condoleezza Rice, Bibi Netanyahu, David Petraeus, Nicolas Sarkozy, General James Mattis, Radek Sikorski and David Cameron so no wonder over half a million people have downloaded it. I was thrilled to be able to talk about the 14th Earl’s travel journals with such a brilliant historian as Andrew Roberts and we also discussed the part the Stanley family have played in British history too. We had great fun ruminating over his quest.
EVENT
KENTUCKY DERBY, USA
My last talk of the book tour coincided with the Kentucky Derby. No Earl of Derby had attended the Kentucky Derby since the 17th Earl attended in 1930. My husband came out to join me for the last few talks of the book tour and to attend the races at Churchill Downs. I enjoyed explaining that the Epsom Derby was founded in 1780 and is run over 1½ miles and that the Kentucky Derby was founded in 1875 and is run over 1¼ miles.
WHAT’S ON AT KNOWSLEY HALL
CELEBRATING ART, NATURE AND HERITAGE AT KNOWSLEY HALL
Announcing Our 2025 Artist in Residence: Sue McHugh SBAFWe are delighted to announce the appointment of Sue McHugh SBAF, botanical artist, as Knowsley Hall’s 2025 Artist in Residence.
Sue’s residency marks a significant moment in a commemorative year celebrating the 250th anniversary of the 13th Earl of Derby — whose contribution to the world of Natural History continues to inspire to this day.
As part of this special celebration, Sue will create a series of botanical artworks capturing the iconic and diverse plant life of Knowsley’s historic landscape. From the elegant wisteria adorning the Hall and the majestic rhododendrons, to the dramatic gunnera in the Capability Brown-designed gardens and the characterful fig tree, her work will bring a fresh artistic lens to our rich botanical heritage. She will also explore and paint some of the contemporary floral specimens from the Countess of Derby’s private gardens, offering a unique dialogue between past and present.
We look forward to sharing more updates on Sue’s creative journey and the events planned around this residency in the coming months, including some botanical art workshops here at the estate, a live demonstration and exhibition of works at our Festival of History.
Sue commented:
‘As a botanical artist, working amidst the history of the Earl’s life’s work here and his sponsorship of artist Edward Lear, is a dream come true. I am immersed in a wonderful, rich history of the subject I adore.
Knowsley estate itself is simply breathtaking. It feels simultaneously immaculately maintained yet untouched, with nature flourishing everywhere. I was also thrilled to discover in my meeting with Lord and Lady Derby, that together, their love for and knowledge of the wildlife here remains a driving force at the estate’.
FOLLOW SUE’S RESIDENCY JOURNEY HEREAs a brand new initiative - Sue McHugh will be offering online art courses on The Edward Lear Experience at Knowsley Hall.
WATCH HEREKNOWSLEY HALL HISTORY FESTIVALS
I have decided to share our family’s amazing history with four study days focusing on the family’s history and bringing together academics and writers.
3 JULY 2025
THE ROLE OF DERBY WOMEN IN THE HOUSE OF STANLEYBOOK HERE4 JULY 2025
AN INSIGHT INTO KEY FIGURES OF THE MENT WHO LOST AMERICA
– On the day of the signing of Declaration of IndependenceBOOK HERE5–7 & 11–12 AUGUST 2025
KNOWSLEY HALL GUIDED TOURS
– There will be two daily tours on each day at 10:30am and 2:30pmBOOK HERE15 OCTOBER 2025
A REFLECTION ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 13TH EARL OF DERBYMORE INFO HERE16 OCTOBER 2025
A REFLECTION ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 14TH EARL OF DERBYMORE INFO HEREKNOWSLEY HALL EVENTS
9–10 JULY 2025
OVERNIGHT STAY WITH GARDEN PICNIC AND THEATRE PERFORMANCE
(TWELFTH NIGHT)
– The Lord Chamberlain’s MenBOOK HERE9 JULY 2025
GARDEN THEATRE
– The Lord Chamberlain’s MenBOOK HERE9 AUGUST 2025
MYSTERY EVENING — THE GARDEN SOCIETYBOOK HEREUPCOMING EVENTS AT KNOWSLEY SAFARI
CLADE DETECTIVE TRAINING CAMP
19 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2025
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NETFLIX AND TV SHOW ‘CREATURE CASES’Become animal detectives and solve an exciting safari wide mystery. Test your secret agent skills at the CLADE detective training camp with interactive challenges and follow the facts on your journey to uncover clues. Complete the mission to earn your official CLADE Training Graduate Certificate. (This activity will run throughout the summer in the background of our main event Bushcraft).
BUSHCRAFT SUMMER
4 – 31 AUGUST 2025