The Ladies of Llangollen: Love, Liberty, and a Cottage in Wales
At first glance, the Gothic cottage of Plas Newydd in Llangollen, North Wales, may seem like a quaint remnant of the 18th century. But this house tells a far more compelling story. It was the home of two upper-class Irish women, Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, who defied the expectations of their time by choosing to live together in what many have interpreted as a romantic and possibly queer partnership. Known as the Ladies of Llangollen, their lives became both a subject of scandal and fascination throughout Georgian Britain.
Who Were the Ladies of Llangollen?
Eleanor Charlotte Butler (1739–1829) came from the powerful Butler family of Kilkenny Castle, while Sarah Ponsonby (1755–1831) was connected to the influential Ponsonby political dynasty in Ireland. The two met in 1768 and formed a close friendship that soon developed into an inseparable bond. Faced with the pressures of arranged marriage and restrictive social roles for women, they fled Ireland together in 1778.
After a brief struggle with their families, who attempted to thwart their plans, Butler and Ponsonby settled in Wales. In 1780, they established a home just outside Llangollen, calling it Plas Newydd, meaning “New Mansion.” Their decision to live together as a couple was viewed as radical and unconventional in 18th-century Britain, drawing both admiration and gossip.
Life at Plas Newydd in Llangollen
The women lived modestly at first, supported by limited funds from their families and eventually a royal pension. Over the years, they transformed Plas Newydd into a distinctive home. They decorated it in the Gothic Revival style, using carved oak panelling, stained glass, and pointed arches. They also amassed a significant library, reflecting their shared love of literature, languages, and intellectual inquiry.
While their lifestyle may appear peaceful, it was far from mundane. The Ladies of Llangollen became a cultural phenomenon. Notable visitors included literary figures such as William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, and Anna Seward. Even the Duke of Wellington and Queen Charlotte expressed interest in their home, with the latter reportedly encouraging King George III to grant them a pension so she could visit.
To The Lady E. B. And The Hon. Miss P.
Their cottage became a stop for tourists and curious admirers travelling between Dublin and London. This attention transformed their reclusive life into a semi-public existence. Yet, through it all, Butler and Ponsonby remained devoted to one another and to their carefully constructed world.
A Quiet Challenge to Social Norms
The couple dressed alike in dark riding habits and top hats, and were often seen walking the hills of North Wales. To some observers, their appearance and way of life were eccentric. To others, they were quietly revolutionary—two women who lived independently, without husbands, and with apparent romantic affection for each other.
Rumours regarding the nature of their relationship circulated widely. A 1791 magazine suggested they were in a sexual relationship, which prompted outrage from the women. They even sought legal advice from the politician Edmund Burke regarding the possibility of suing for libel. Their surviving letters and diaries, however, do not provide clear evidence of a sexual relationship.
“We have built ourselves a new life—quiet, independent, and our own.”
Today, scholars interpret their bond in various ways. Some describe it as a Boston marriage—a term used to denote long-term cohabitation between two women, possibly romantic but not necessarily sexual. Others, like historian Norena Shopland, argue that the relationship fits within the modern framework of LGBTQ+ history, identifying the couple as queer pioneers. Scholar Fiona Brideoake contends that their lives are best understood as queer in the broad sense: lived in resistance to societal norms.
Enduring Legacy of the Ladies of Llangollen
After the death of their faithful servant Mary Caryll in 1809, the two women lived on together at Plas Newydd until Eleanor’s death in 1829. Sarah died in 1831. The three women are buried side by side in St Collen’s Church, Llangollen. Their gravestone reflects the deep bond they shared over more than five decades.
Plas Newydd is now a museum managed by Denbighshire County Council, allowing visitors to explore the lives of these two remarkable women. Eleanor is commemorated by Butler’s Hill, and a public house in Llangollen, the Ponsonby Arms, is said to be named after Sarah.
Over 200 years later, the story of the Ladies of Llangollen continues to inspire. Their life together was more than a romantic escape—it was an act of quiet rebellion, a shared life forged in love and intellectual companionship that resonates across centuries.