Newsletter of the Elizabeth Craven Society 2022
Rockley Manor. The highlight of the year was the talk given in February 2022 by author Nicola Cornick to the Friends of Lydiard Park, entitled "A Georgian Love Story" about the marriage of General the Hon. Frederick St. John and Arabella Craven, the youngest daughter of Elizabeth Craven. Many interesting details emerged about their eventful lives, including the fact that when they went to India they took their three sons with them, and nearly lost all three when the ship caught fire. On their return to England they lived at Rockley Manor in Wiltshire, halfway between Lydiard Park and Ashdown House. The house survives (above). Ms Cornick has used the manuscripts in the Lydiard Archives as her source, and we look forward to many more fascinating discoveries about the Cravens and St. Johns, two closely connected families with estates in the neighbouring counties of Berkshire and Wiltshire. Elizabeth Craven i...