Nancy Mitford 1904-1973

In February 1904 [her father] David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale [aged 25] and [her mother] Sydney Bowles Baroness Redesdale [aged 24] were married.

On 28th November 1904 Nancy Mitford was born to David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale [aged 26] and Sydney Bowles Baroness Redesdale [aged 24].

On 17th August 1916 [her grandfather] Algernon Freeman-Mitford 1st Baron Redesdale [aged 79] died. His son [her father] David [aged 38] succeeded 2nd Baron Redesdale of Redesdale in Northumberland. [her mother] Sydney Bowles Baroness Redesdale [aged 36] by marriage Baroness Redesdale of Redesdale in Northumberland.

6th February 1929. The Sketch. The marriage of Mr. Bryan Guinness [aged 23], son of the Hon. Walter Guinness, to the Hon. Diana Mitford [aged 18], third daughter of Lord and Lady Redesdale, was solemnised at St. Margaret's, Westminster [Map]. The lovely nineteen-year-old bride was attended by eleven bridesmaids.

Note. Her sisters Nancy [aged 24] and Unity [aged 14] were two of the eleven bridesmaid. Her younger sisters Jessica Lucy Freeman-Mitford [aged 11] and Deborah Vivien Mitford Duchess Devonshire [aged 8] were unwell but threw rice as her car passed.

1932. Bassano Ltd. Photograph of Nancy Mitford [aged 27].

6th January 1932. The Sketch. Photograph of sisters Nancy Mitford [aged 27], Unity Valkyrie Mitford [aged 17], Jessica Lucy Freeman-Mitford [aged 14] and Diana Mitford [aged 21].

In 1933 Peter Rodd [aged 28] and Nancy Mitford [aged 28] were married.

2nd August 1933. Tatler. The latest bride-to-be is Lord and Lady Redesdale's eldest daughter, whose engagement to the Hon. Peter Rennell Rodd was officially announced last week. The Hon. Nancy Mitford [aged 28] is not only charming to look at but also extremely intelligent and an entertaining conversationalist. Her fiancé is the second son of Lord and Lady Rennell.

On 18th May 1937 Esmond Romilly [aged 18] and [her sister] Jessica Lucy Freeman-Mitford [aged 19] were married in a civil ceremony in Bayonne. Both mothers, Sydney Bowles Baroness Redesdale [aged 57] and Nellie Hozier [aged 49] attended the ceremony. They were second cousins.

On 19th April 1941 [her brother-in-law] Andrew Cavendish 11th Duke Devonshire [aged 21] and [her sister] Deborah Mitford [aged 21] were married. He the son of Edward William Spencer Cavendish 10th Duke Devonshire [aged 45] and Mary Alice Gascoyne-Cecil Duchess Devonshire [aged 45].

At the commencement of their honeymoon Deborah 'stopped the car ... and registered at a small Labour Exchange for National Service,' as per The Sketch.

Before 31st August 1945. William Acton [aged 39]. Portrait of Nancy Mitford [aged 40].

On 26th November 1950 Edward William Spencer Cavendish 10th Duke Devonshire [aged 55] died. His son [her brother-in-law] Andrew [aged 30] succeeded 11th Duke Devonshire, 14th Earl Devonshire, 6th Earl Burlington, 14th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. [her sister] Deborah Vivien Mitford Duchess Devonshire [aged 30] by marriage Duchess Devonshire. On 24th December 1988 Mary Alice Gascoyne-Cecil Duchess Devonshire [aged 55] died. Both the Duke and Duchess were buried in the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].

In 1957 Peter Rodd [aged 52] and Nancy Mitford [aged 52] were divorced.

On 17th March 1958 [her father] David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale [aged 80] died. His brother [her uncle] Bertram [aged 78] succeeded 3rd Baron Redesdale of Redesdale in Northumberland.

In 1963 [her mother] Sydney Bowles Baroness Redesdale [aged 83] died.

On 17th July 1968 [her former husband] Peter Rodd [aged 64] died in Malta.

On 30th June 1973 Nancy Mitford [aged 68] died. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Swinbrook [Map].