Earl of Warwick (1853 – 1924) (Lord Brooke) was married to Frances Maynard (Daisy) in April 1881 – the society wedding of the year.
Francis Greville, The Earl of Warwick
Photograph – Clutton History Group.
The Countess of Warwick, with her son Maynard
Photograph – Clutton History Group.
Photographs – ''Daisy - The Life and Loves of the Countess of Warwick'' by Sushila Anand
He took an interest in Daisy’s welfare work and attempts to improve working conditions. His absorption in fishing, field sports and yachting, an interest shared with the Prince of Wales (Edward VII), was undoubtedly a factor in the cooling marriage passion after five years of their marriage.
At a shoot at Blenheim Lord Brooke and three of his friends bagged 400 hares in a day.
The Earl of Warwick’s Clutton Estate - Saturday 8 September 1894, Somerset Standard
Clutton – Outing
On Saturday the employees of the Earl of Warwick’s Somerset collieries, Clutton, had an outing to Weymouth, through the kindness of Lord Warwick. The men, accompanied by their families and friends, numbering altogether 650, started from Clutton about 6a.m., and arrived home about 9:30p.m. The weather was favourable, and all seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly and to appreciate their employer’s kindness.
The Marriage of the Earl of Warwick to Frances Evelyn Maynard (Daisy)
The two arches were erected by the residents of Clutton and these were by the Railway Station.
Photographs – Clutton History Group.
Beautiful weather was experienced at Clutton on Friday afternoon, when extensive festivities were held by the Earl of Warwick in honour of the marriage of Lord and Lady Brooke. Almost every house in the village was gaily decked with bunting. Flags floated from the parish church, and the bells rang joyously at intervals during the day. The festivities were held in a large field known as the Park, close to the church. Here a number of tents had been erected. The largest was set apart for the entertainment of the colliers and their wives, and about 700 were provided with a most substantial dinner. In another tent about 500 or 600 children attending the day and Sunday schools were regaled with tea.
At half past four the colliers and their wives and sweethearts, about 700, sat down to dinner. Dinner being over, Lord and Lady Brooke entered the tent, and after hearty cheering, Lord Brooke, addressing the assembly, said he need hardly tell them all what a great pleasure it had given Lady Brooke and himself to come amongst them that day.
The tenants subsequently dined together, and as Lord and Lady Brooke had to leave to be present at the performance at the Theatre in Bath.
During the evening a programme of athletic sports was gone through, and various other amusements were provided in the field for the delectation of visitors. At night there was a display of fireworks. The band of the Bristol Volunteers Artillery was on the ground during the day.
King Edward VII
The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII and Daisy became lovers in 1889 and for the next nine years their affair was conducted with discretion.
Daisy had also had an affair with Lord Beresford which came to an end when he told his wife, however the Beresfords were excluded from Royal circles and in 1891 their anger could not be contained and they accused the Prince of Wales of “behaving like a blackguard and coward,” and threatened to expose him. The Brookes then agreed to temporarily withdraw from court.
Prince of Wales later to become King Edward VII
Musical score for the song Daisy Daisy
The lyrics featured a tandem - a bicycle made for two - and the song was said to be based on the real-life Countess of Warwick, Frances Evelyn 'Daisy' Greville; a champion of women's rights.
New Road from Greyfield Pit to Clutton
Map showing the new road from Greyfield Pit To Clutton
The Oak tree planted by the
Countess of Warwick
Photograph - Alan Gray (2025)
Source - Bristol Mercury - Friday 12 August 1898
PEOPLE'S CLUB AT CLUTTON OPENING.
Favoured with beautiful weather the Countess of Warwick yesterday morning performed the opening ceremonies in connection with the new road front Grayfield Colliery to Clutton, and the Clutton People's Club. The want of a more direct traffic communication between High Littleton and Clutton has been long felt in the neighbourhood. Up to the present time, with the exception of a footpath, the communication between the two villages was by couple of very circuitous routes, one leading from the top of High Littleton to Clutton, and the other from Clutton through Farrington Gurney and then to High Littleton. The inconvenience thus caused to persons having connections with the two villages was very great. Now this has been removed by the construction of a good broad roadway, which runs in an almost direct line from Grayfield colliery to the roadway near Clutton station. The distance thus saved by taking this road in preference to the other two is at least 1½ miles. The Countess of Warwick, accompanied by Lady Majorie Greville, a young visitor and Mr. M. Watson, the colliery manager, visited the point where the new road commences at Grayfield. There a halt was made, and Mr Watson called upon Lady Majorie Greville to plant an oak tree to commemorate the opening of the new road. Lady Warwick superintended the planting, and expressed a wish that the tree would shortly become a fine oak. The ceremony terminated with cheers from the spectators. The carriage then drove by the new road to Clutton, where the Countess proceeded to the premises of the Clutton People’s Club in Station road to perform the opening ceremony.