FRANCES STEVENSON, LLOYD GEORGE AND THE SURREY – SUSSEX DIMENSION Ian Ivatt looks at avid Lloyd George convictions, and these acted as an (–) was the unusual complement to Lloyd David Lloyd George first native Welsh- George’s strict lifelong Baptist ide- and Frances Stevenson’s man to achieve als, yet later blended with his own inclusion in the brand of free-thinking attitudes. connections in DBritish Cabinet and to go on to Whilst the relationship was stormy, Surrey and Sussex. be Prime Minister. As a young even bittersweet, and became politician, he was mainly associ- effectively a sham marriage, it nev- The two of them ated with the Radical movement ertheless lasted nearly fifty-three nurtured friendships in Wales, nationalism, and non- years, despite them being essen- conformism. His parents, William tially estranged after . in the southern and Elizabeth (Betsy) George, Lloyd George’s relationship both keen Baptists, briefly resided with Wales was somewhat ambiva- counties, undertook in the lower-middle-class suburb lent. He retained his Welsh par- house purchases of Chorlton, Manchester, and it liamentary seat throughout his was during this period that David career but, as he moved upwards in and appreciated the Lloyd George was born. William the political world, claiming, when tranquillity of the Lloyd George was headmaster of appropriate, that his rise was that a Manchester elementary school of the ‘cottage-bred man’, he spent region’s golf courses. but quickly turned to farming a decreasing amount of his time in The main British and was to die when young David the Principality. The icon of Welsh was only a year old. The family identity seems in practice to have proposals for the post- returned firstly to Pembroke- preferred to view his homeland war peace treaty at shire, and then to Llanystumdwy from afar and to spend much of his in North Wales where Betsy’s time in Southern England, in par- Versailles were drafted brother and mother lived. ticular Sussex or the Sussex–Sur- by Lloyd George Lloyd George later married rey borderlands. Margaret (née Owen) in His connections with Sus- and the War Cabinet after a three-year courtship, sex seem to have been nurtured although her parents had some just before and during the First at Danny House, in doubt about his suitability. Mar- World War. Brighton was viewed Sussex. garet herself had deep Methodist as an excellent retreat, and nearby
24 Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 FRANCES STEVENSON, LLOYD GEORGE AND THE SURREY – SUSSEX DIMENSION
Lewes Golf Course had signifi- October ; during his entire David Lloyd at Hassocks endeavouring to cant appeal. He had close friends premiership, he was depend- George in shake off a severe cold. Meanwhile and political allies such as Stuart ent on Conservative Party sup- 1916; Frances Lloyd George was in Paris with his Stevenson in Rendel, Sir George Riddell and port. The pinnacle of his time in her office in French and Italian prime ministe- Sir Albert Stern, who had houses coalition was the peace-making Whitehall. rial counterparts to prepare armi- in the county, but we can also per- after the First World War and the stice and peace terms. ceive that an affection for the area earlier treaty planning meetings, The Danny House archives developed in parallel with a shift in especially the decisive treaty dis- reveal that Lloyd George was at his political career, which saw him cussions in October , organ- Danny several times during the move close to the political centre ised at a sixteenth-century manor Great War and, when there, invari- and eventually lead the coalition house in Sussex. ably climbed the challenging government, and with a significant As the hostilities progressed nearby hill at Wolstenbury. Once, move in his private life as Frances into the second part of , when doing so, he inadvertently Stevenson (–) became much thought was given to the let Cabinet papers fall from his firmly ensconced as his mistress. eventual treaty terms. In July of pocket. A faithful secretary was Notorious for his flirtations and that year, Lloyd George’s affluent despatched to retrieve them safely. affairs, Lloyd George’s love life friend and confidante, Sir George An inspection of the visitors’ from early was mainly con- Riddell (proprietor of the News book reveals that even earlier, on fined to Frances, formerly a school of the World newspaper), leased the July , Lloyd George was teacher and later secretary. By some Elizabethan mansion at Danny, in at Danny, again with Riddell, coincidence, Frances had actually Hassocks (now in West Sussex) and also with Imperial War Cabi- been at school with Lloyd George’s from the Campions, a family of net members, both military and daughter, Mair, who tragically died the Tory local gentry. A. J. P. Tay- political: Jan Smuts, Viscount Mil- (of a burst appendix) in , to lor, in his book My Darling Pussy, ner, Admiral Wemyss, Sir Henry his lasting grief. The secrecy of the provides an interesting insight Wilson, and Cabinet Secretary affair was vital, to avoid scandal, into the undoubted deep fond- Hankey. Interestingly enough and they both accepted this – with ness between Lloyd George and his wife Margaret and daughter Frances enduring two if not three his secretary, Frances Stevenson, Megan were also present on that abortions. by reproducing key personal let- day – with Frances Stevenson! Lloyd George became Prime ters that have survived. Frances On the wall of the Great Hall Minister in December , and was not always present at Danny, at Danny, which now displays his term of office lasted until but in October she remained portraits of the high and mighty
Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 25 FRANCES STEVENSON, LLOYD GEORGE AND THE SURREY–SUSSEX DIMENSION from past ages, there is a com- Lloyd Earlier, in , there were home there, naming it ‘Bron y memorative plaque recording other letters, which Lloyd De’, which means ‘breast of the the vital meeting of the Imperial George George knew about, from a south’. The Surrey village of Churt War Cabinet on October , Captain Hugh Owen, with is on the edge of Sussex, as well as including such eminent persons as built a more than hints about marriage bordering on nearby Hampshire. Lloyd George himself, Churchill, to Frances. On October They both eagerly set about cul- Bonar Law, Balfour, Wemyss and beauti- Frances wrote in her diary: ‘I tivating the fields for vegetables, Hankey, plus Kerr and Lord Read- ful home cannot marry Owen. I have told planting orchards (Lloyd George ing (Rufus Isaacs). him so.’ Owen in turn wrote to had a great fondness for soft fruit), Thus, the main British propos- there, nam- Frances ( October) accepting growing tomatoes in greenhouses, als for the peace treaty at Versailles the finality of the situation. keeping cows and pigs, even bees, were drafted by Lloyd George ing it ‘Bron Before the Great War, Lloyd with Ann Parry, Lloyd George’s and the War Cabinet at Danny George had cultivated a friendship Welsh Secretary, doubling up as House in Sussex. The final details y De’, which with Stuart Rendel (–) bee-keeper. were promptly cabled to Presi- means a former Liberal Member of Par- Frances bought land adjourn- dent Woodrow Wilson for his seal liament for Montgomeryshire ing the Bron y De estate, which of approval. Later, in March , ‘breast of (–). Like Lloyd George, she farmed until Lloyd George’s Lloyd George attended the peace Rendel had not been born in death in . Meanwhile in conference itself in Paris, and the south’. Wales, but at Plymouth in Devon. – Frances built nearby Frances, who went with him, was Rendel, far from being poor, had ‘Avalon’ for herself where her treated generally as his unofficial acquired property in Clarendon daughter Jennifer, who was born spouse. Terrace, Kemp Town, Brighton in , resided. It would appear Amidst a resurfacing of the (he also had a house near Guild- that Lloyd George never visited Irish troubles, Lloyd George ford and a villa in Cannes) and he Avalon but Frances stayed there formed a separate friendship with readily placed his Sussex home particularly on the occasions Major Stern (later Sir Albert Stern, at Lloyd George’s disposal as an when Margaret and Megan came –) who had the use of his escape from his government busi- to Bron y De. Otherwise, when brother’s property, a superbly beau- ness. This was accepted with great not at school Jennifer travelled the tiful house, with splendid views, as joy. Lloyd George had, before one mile to Bron y De to see her the name might suggest, at High- that, tended to spend weekends mother and Lloyd George, whom down in Worthing, Sussex. Both in a suite at the Royal Albion she undoubtedly believed was, at Lloyd George and Frances spent Hotel, in Brighton. Lloyd George the very least, her stepfather. Jen- weekends there; apparently, Major might scoff at public schools and nifer called Lloyd George ‘Taid’ Stern had a reputation for being universities but he swiftly des- (Grandfather) from an early age, an excellent entertainer. He was patched young Olwen, one of although she knew perfectly well also involved in tank design and his five children (born ), off he was not her grandfather – but was, accordingly, an important man to the exclusive Roedean School, Lloyd George was aged sixty-six in the military. Frances Stevenson near Brighton. The Personal Papers when Jennifer was born, so this dutifully records their meetings of Lord Rendel provide a clue to subterfuge seemed fitting. with Stern in her well-maintained Lloyd George’s wife’s attitudes During the summer holidays, diaries – including a comment to this friendship: it was through before the Second World War, that there was even some talk of these weekends at Brighton that Frances rented ‘Grassmead’ – a her marrying Stern, by then, in ‘my husband’s health was saved house in Felpham, near Bognor , promoted to Colonel. She from breaking point when he Regis in Sussex, with a private writes on April , refer- piloted the Budget through road running down to the sea – for ring to Stern, ‘I like him, though the House’. two or three weeks each year. Jen- he has an unlovable side, but he is By , Lloyd George was nifer is sure Lloyd George never most kind and considerate.’ Later, looking for a Home Counties base, came to Felpham, but Margaret, in , one of Stern’s friends with excellent rural views, nearer the cook, and Rose, the maid, ventured to ask why Frances did London. Frances came to the res- came over from Avalon, with the not marry him, only to receive cue and recommended a house boy John Brook, Elizabeth (Liz- the half-reproach: ‘one excellent and fifty acres (later purchasing zie) May Morris and her mother, reason is that he has never asked a further surrounding acres, ‘Auntie Elsie’. Certainly, Frances me’. Frances equally and correctly including farms) in Churt, Surrey. wrote to Lloyd George from Fel- knew that Stern was very much The property was chosen because pham from , and the aware of her relationship with Frances favoured the south-facing Kelly’s Directory shows the resident Lloyd George. Nevertheless, she views and Lloyd George promptly of the house in First Avenue, Sum- was astute enough to realise that authorised her to buy it. Later it merley Estate, Felpham as a Miss Stern would leap at the chance of was discovered that the ‘perfect’ Stevenson. Later, in , Frances marrying her, should she give even house actually faced north but purchased a bungalow on the same the slightest encouragement. Lloyd George built a beautiful estate at Felpham, but this was let
26 Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 FRANCES STEVENSON, LLOYD GEORGE AND THE SURREY–SUSSEX DIMENSION out for a very small sum and sold men and supposedly other men’s firm of solicitors, Lloyd George and to the tenant after the end of the wives, he still retained popular George, was founded in that year. war. Curiously enough, whilst appeal and was nominally true to Additionally Lloyd George was rec- ommended to a masseuse, a Mrs Frances’s parents were both born his nonconformist Liberal ideals. Walden, who specialised in improved outside England, they, neverthe- Lady Margaret Lloyd George died circulation techniques, who lived less, retired, firstly to Bexhill, then in , leaving Lloyd George to there. Source: National Library of Wales, to Bognor, and later to Worthing, make the patient Frances his sec- MS E – (re. Frederick all in Sussex. ond wife. They were married at Edward Guest, MP for Dorset East). The Bedford and Royal Albion Hotels Leaving aside the political Guildford Registry Office on were, furthermore, of great attraction. aspects that were common to both October – Frances’ sister A. J. P. Taylor, My Darling Pussy (Lon- of them – although Frances had Muriel acted as a witness, as did don: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, ). ‘modern’ views and was mildly Lloyd George’s long-suffering pri- Frances Stevenson, Lloyd George, a supportive of the earlier suffra- vate secretary, A. J. Sylvester (also Diary by Frances Stevenson (London: Hutchinson, ), p. . gists – Lloyd George and Frances best man) – not that far from the Ibid., p. . Stevenson also had a shared inter- Sussex border. F. E. Hamer (ed.), The Personal Papers est in golf. Frances’s diaries reveal Lloyd George was laid to rest in of Lord Rendel (London: Ernest Benn, golfing days with herself, Lloyd Wales on his death in , and on ), p. . George, and a combination of Sir her death in Frances’s ashes Colin Cross, in The Liberals in Power –, p. , also refers to Lloyd George Riddell, Sir Philip Sassoon, stayed at Churt, Surrey. In life they George drafting the final text of or Lloyd George’s eldest daughter, were together for many years, yet the Budget during a weekend in Olwen (by now Mrs Carey Evans), in death they were not united. Brighton. with a secretary or two to make Even so, the legacy of the great Burnt down after Lloyd George’s up any appropriate foursome. man lingered on in Churt – where death and renamed ‘Churt Place’. After the necessary property altera- Generally courses at Walton Heath during his life he was revered as a tions and improvements, young Megan or St George’s Hill, both in Surrey, fair employer of local labour. Close Lloyd George (born ) was ‘chap- were favoured and Lloyd George by at Wormley, Frances’s daugh- eroned’ by Lady Mond, but Megan greatly encouraged Frances in the ter Jennifer Longford still resides, was not especially happy. Lord Alfred Mond helped propel Lloyd George to skills of the game. and she still remembers her Sus- the premiership in . Additionally, as a separate event, sex childhood holidays with her Jennifer was, in all probability, the Frances’s diaries refer to ‘Cuckoo’ mother and friends with treasured daughter of Frances Stevenson and Bellville, a well-known name in affection. Jennifer has speculated Colonel Thomas Tweed, Lloyd Mayfair who had a high-class that if there had been no (Great) George’s political adviser from . Lloyd George was, additionally, in dress shop. Both Lloyd George War, Lloyd George might well favour of votes for women, but not and Frances, together with invited have become a great reforming necessarily how some females sought members of high society, includ- prime minister, bringing in meas- to achieve this. He was certainly not ing the King of Spain and the ures that had to wait many more amused when the suffragettes, in their Prince of Wales, attended a party years. If so he may well have con- campaign for female franchise, blew of hers on one occasion, although ceivably chosen to spend even up part of the small house earmarked for his use at Walton Heath. the previous weekend was a much more time relaxing from govern- quieter affair at Bellville’s country ment pressures in his favoured cottage retreat at Herstmonceux, Brighton. Bibliography also in Sussex. Where necessary, Lloyd George was ‘at home’ with Ian Ivatt is undertaking a thesis Colin Cross, The Liberals in Power, 1905–14 (Barrie & Rockliff, 1963) the affluent – particularly where through the Open University on the such attachments helped his polit- subject of Edwardian Liberal politics A. J. P Taylor (ed.), Lloyd George – a Diary by Frances ical and welfare aspirations. in Sussex, Portsmouth and the Isle of Stevenson (Hutchinson, 1971) On the political front, Lloyd Wight. He would like to acknowledge Peter Rowland, Lloyd George (Barrie & Jenkins, 1975) George attained the premiership, the kind assistance of Ivan Graham F. E. Hamer (ed.), The Personal Papers of Lord Rendel although his coalition government (Archivist, Danny House, Hassocks, (Ernest Benn, 1931) collapsed in the autumn of Sussex); A. W. Purdue (Open Uni- Frances Lloyd George, The Years that are Past due to a Conservative volte-face. versity); Jennifer Longford (daughter (Hutchinson, 1967) Lloyd George resigned and was of Frances Stevenson); Ruth Nixon never to hold government office (Jennifer Longford’s daughter); Olivia A. J. P. Taylor (ed.), My Darling Pussy (Weidenfeld & again. He remained, nevertheless, Cotton (historian and writer, Churt, Nicolson, 1975) a key yet solitary political figure Surrey); and Ian Dean (of Felpham, Don M. Creigier, Bounder from Wales (University of – still much respected and even Bognor Regis, Sussex). Missouri Press, 1976) feared. Despite his narrow escape John Grigg, The Young Lloyd George (Eyre Methuen, 1973) was a significant point in his from the pre-war Marconi share John Grigg, Lloyd George, The People’s Champion involvement, the alleged sales of life. Additionally he won the nomi- nation for the Liberal candidature of 1902–11 (Eyre Methuen, 1978) titles and honours and previous Caernarvon Boroughs, and the family personal dalliances with money Ian Packer, Lloyd George (Macmillan, 1998)
Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 27