Violet Herbert, Countess of Powis


Violet Ida Eveline Herbert, Countess of Powis and suo jure 16th Baroness Darcy de Knayth was a British peeress in her own right.

Early life

Violet was born on 1 June 1865 in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, England. Lady Powis was the youngest child of Sackville Lane-Fox, 12th Baron Conyers, and his wife, Mary Curteis. Her sister, Hon. Marcia Lane-Fox, became the Countess of Yarborough, and her brother, Hon. Sackville Fitzroy Henry Lane-Fox, died at age 18 at Durban, South Africa. Her paternal grandparents were Sackville Walter Lane-Fox and Lady Charlotte Mary Anne Georgiana Osborne.

Barony of Darcy de Knayth

In 1888, Lady Powis' father died and the Baronies of Darcy de Knayth and Conyers fell into abeyance between his two daughters. On 8 June 1892, the abeyance of the Barony of Conyers was terminated in favour of the Countess of Yarborough. Eleven years later, on 29 September 1903, the Barony of Fauconberg, was also granted to Lady Yarborough. On the same date, The House of Lords also agreed that their father had held the barony of Darcy de Knayth, which was granted to Lady Powis.

Personal life

On 21 August 1890, she married George Herbert at St George's, Hanover Square, London, England. Lady Powis persuaded her husband to entrust the entire management of the deteriorating gardens at Powis Castle to her in 1911. Over the next 18 years, she effectively recreated the gardens of Powis into the internationally renowned form that they have today.
The Earl and Countess of Powis had three children:
Lady Powis died in 1929, age 63, in a motorcar accident, and was buried in the churchyard of Christ Church in Welshpool. Her eldest surviving son, Mervyn, succeeded to title.