Lady Llanover
|
|
Lady Llanover (March 21, 1802 - January 17, 1896), formerly Augusta Hall, was a Welsh heiress, best known as a patron of the arts.
The heiress to the Llanover estate, Augusta became the wife of Benjamin Hall the younger (who gave his name to "Big Ben"). Hall was created Baron Llanover in 1859. Lady Llanover was greatly influenced by the local bard, Thomas Price, who taught her the Welsh language; she took the bardic name, "Gwenynen Gwent". Her interest in costume led her to standardise the design of the Welsh national costume, an action for which she has subsequently been criticised. In 1850, she helped found Y Gymraes ("The Welshwoman"), the first Welsh-language periodical for women. Her other interests included cookery (on which she published a book) and folk music; she encouraged the production and use of the traditional Welsh triple harp.