Highcliffe-on-Sea

The Women of Highcliffe Castle Exhibition

The Women of Highcliffe Castle Exhibition

This brand-new exhibition at Highcliffe Castle opened in early February 2026 and runs until June 30, 2026. It celebrates four formidable women whose vision, creativity, resilience, and artistic talents profoundly shaped the castle’s architecture, renowned medieval stained glass collection, and community legacy.

Their stories, often overlooked in favour of male owners like builder Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay, are now spotlighted through artefacts, letters, paintings, and archival items.

The exhibition forms part of “The Castle Collection” and is included in standard castle admission (pre-booking recommended via the official website). Group visits can include guided talks on related topics like the castle’s stained glass.

  • Lady Elizabeth Stuart de Rothesay (née Yorke) 1789–1867: Influenced the Romantic and Picturesque Gothic Revival design during the castle’s construction (1831–1835). Inherited and managed the estate after her husband’s death.
  • Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning (née Stuart) 1817–1861: Eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Stuart de Rothesay. Gifted artist and sketching companion to Queen Victoria (served as lady-in-waiting). Her artistic talents contributed to the family’s creative influence on the castle’s aesthetic. Tragically died young in India.
  • Louisa Beresford, Marchioness of Waterford (née Stuart) 1818–1891: Younger daughter of Lord and Lady Stuart de Rothesay. Renowned watercolour artist; became chatelaine of Highcliffe Castle after her mother’s death in 1867, spending summers there and overseeing its upkeep. Closely tied to the castle’s Victorian-era legacy.
  • Violet Stuart Wortley (née Guthrie) 1866–1953: Wife of Major-General Edward Stuart-Wortley; later owner/resident. Longest resident (over 50 years); preserved the castle through challenging times by renting to wealthy tenants. Active in community (e.g., Girl Guides leadership), hosted notable figures like Nancy Mitford, and authored autobiographical books reflecting on life at Highcliffe.

Portrait of Violet Stuart Wortley (from a book cover of her reminiscences).

Highcliffe Castle is famed for its collection of historic stained glass (one of the UK’s finest, with medieval French pieces incorporated by the builder). The exhibition highlights the women’s roles in its preservation and display:

For the latest details or tickets, visit highcliffecastle.co.uk or follow their social media, where they have shared highlights ahead of International Women’s Day in prior years. The exhibition brings fresh attention to these influential figures in the castle’s romantic history.