A Comparative Study of the Societal Norms of Nineteenth Century Women in the Elite Tier of Society with Particular Reference to Sarah Vivian, Lady Charlotte Guest and Amy Dillwyn

Jones, Pamela Jane (2025) A Comparative Study of the Societal Norms of Nineteenth Century Women in the Elite Tier of Society with Particular Reference to Sarah Vivian, Lady Charlotte Guest and Amy Dillwyn. Masters thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

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Abstract

The events of the nineteenth century brought societal upheaval to the norms of the social class structure which had existed largely unchanged in Britain for many centuries. Urbanisation due to the Industrial Revolution brought the working class together living in proximity, which had not been the case during the previous generally rural patterns of population location. This brought the demand for rights from the newly urbanised working class sharply into focus, as the power of paternalism as a method of controlling the lower classes declined. Furthermore, the rapid increase in the size of the middle class largely due to fortunes made in manufacturing changed the structure of society. The elite tier of society was also impacted. Previously the preserve of the landed gentry who had inherited wealth, titles and deference, the elite tier expanded to include the manufacturers who were the most successful. The more minor manufacturers remained firmly in the middle class. This study conducted through research in various South Wales archives, looks at the lives of three women from the elite tier, who were all resident in South Wales for varying periods during the nineteenth century. Sarah Vivian, Lady Charlotte Guest and Amy Dillwyn all belonged to families whose male relatives were engaged in metallurgical manufacturing. Sarah Vivian’s husband John Henry Vivian owned the Hafod Copper Works in Swansea. Lady Charlotte Guest’s husband Sir Josiah John Guest owned the Dowlais Iron Works near Merthyr. Amy Dillwyn’s father owned Dillwyn and Co., a spelter works in Swansea. All three women also were connected to parliament as their male relatives were Members of Parliament. Accordingly, their lives were split between living in London when Parliament was sitting and then returning to South Wales for the remainder of the year. Their London residence allowed them access to the social events of ‘the Season’. The role of Women in the elite tier during this period is widely regarded as living in ‘separate spheres’, being responsible for running the home and being a good wife and mother. Their role sometimes referred to as being the ‘Angel in the House.’ This study aimed to determine if this is truly reflected in the lives of the three women being studied. Their journals and notebooks still available in the archives, allowed a view of their actual rather than theoretical lives reflected through their own words. As a Swansea resident my interest stemmed from Sarah Vivian whose son Henry Hussey Vivian was created the first Lord Swansea. If this study had only referred to Sarah Vivian, this would have resulted in a simple retelling of events in her life. Therefore, Lady Charlotte Guest and Amy Dillwyn have provided a suitable foil to provide a wider comparison to other nineteenth century women in the elite tier. Accordingly, the findings of the study partly disprove the ‘Angel in the House’ epithet and reveal striking individual differences as to how the three women chose to conduct their lives.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Theses and Dissertations > Masters Dissertations
Depositing User:	Victoria Hankinson
Date Deposited:	04 Mar 2025 09:20
Last Modified:	04 Mar 2025 09:20
URI:	https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/3489

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