Lady Katharine, Viscountess Tredegar

The lively story of British aristocrat Lady Katharine Agnes Blanche Carnegie ( 1867-1949), Viscountess Tredegar, of Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales.

She was born at Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, Scotland on 12 June 1867, daughter of James Carnegie the 9th Earl of Southesk and James' second wife, Susan Murray, Countess of Southesk. She had several siblings and half siblings. Married Charles Courtenay Evan Morgan at Kinnaird in 1890. Two children, Evan Frederic Morgan ( 1893-1949), poet, homosexual and Papal Chamberlain, and Gwyneth Ericka Morgan ( 1895-1924).

Evan was the 4th Lord Tredegar, Gwyneth died in mysterious circumstances in London in 1924. Katharine was Lady Tredegar from 1913 to 1949, Viscountess Tredegar from 1926 to 1934 and Dowager Viscountess Tredegar from 1934 to 1949. Lived in London at Grosvenor Square and Grosvenor Street and briefly at 39 Portman Square and during the Great War years at Bryanston Square. Katharine's country home was at Honeywood House, Rowhook, Dorking, Surrey. She was an artist, patron of the arts and benefactor to the poor.

Lady Katharine always had a touching love for birds and as a hobby constructed small nests made from moss and twigs as a way of relieving her painful arthritis. The authority for this and a man of integrity is the journalist / author, Cecil Roberts in his book "The Bright Twenties".

Sadly tall tales are told at Tredegar House, a National Trust property in Newport South Wales, of Katharine as a mad bird woman. Repeating tales of her building and sitting in 'giant bird's nests' maligns the memory of Lady Katharine, Viscountess Tredegar. These postings are an attempt to reveal the truth and scoff the lies and myths told at Tredegar House.