Elizabeth Louisa Penelope Theobald, Countess of Stamford (d.1959) and her two children, Roger Grey, later 10th Earl of Stamford (1896-1976) and Lady Jane Grey, later Lady Turnbull (1899-1991) by John Ernest Breun (1862-1921)

This elegant family portrait commemorates Mothering Sunday which falls this year on 11^th March. Elizabeth Theobald was the wife of Roger Grey who, in 1890 on the death of his first cousin Harry Grey, 8th Earl of Stamford in Africa, inherited the titles of Earl of Stamford and Baron Grey of Groby and the 3,000-acre estate at Dunham Massey. They married in London in 1895 when Elizabeth was 30 and Roger fifteen years her senior. Within a year of their wedding they had a son, Roger, and in 1899 a daughter, Jane.

Margaret Field, Mrs James Samuel Beale by Sir William Nicholson (1872 – 1949)

Mothering Sunday was once the day on which people would visit their “mother” church but has now become an occasion for honouring the mothers of children and giving them presents.

Mother and Child by James John Hill (1811-1882)

Mothering Sunday was once the day on which people would visit their “mother” church, but has now become an occasion for honouring the mothers of children.