Historic silverware directly from the table of the notorious ‘Ladies of Llangollen’, will go under the hammer at the Cheffins Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 21st August.
The legendary couple - Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby - captivated Regency-era Britain with their lifelong partnership, defying social conventions and sparking intrigue across the country. Their story, which partly inspired the acclaimed 2019 BBC series Gentleman Jack, attracted the attention of cultural luminaries including Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, the Duke of Wellington, Josiah Wedgwood, and William Wordsworth, who famously penned a sonnet in their honour.
The cutlery, which will go on sale at the Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 21st August
Now, a 23-piece harlequin silver cutlery set, complete with ten additional pieces and bearing the initials of both women, will be offered for sale. The set, which was used by the Ladies during their time at Plas Newydd, their famed gothic home in Llangollen, Wales, carries a pre-sale estimate of £800 to £1,200.
The cutlery is being sold by the descendant of Mr Richard Jebb, who bought the silver at the Plas Newydd estate auction in 1832, following the deaths of ‘The Ladies.’ Richard Jebb lived in Chirk and was the land agent to the Trevor family at Brynkinalt Estate, where the ladies were tenants before moving to Plas Newydd.
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The Ladies of Llangollen. Credit: Alamy
The story of ‘The Ladies’ captivated Georgian Britain. Both from aristocratic Irish families, Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby met in 1768 and quickly formed a romantic relationship. They fled their homes in County Kilkenny, Ireland, to Wales in 1778 to escape the social pressures of conventional marriages, and in 1780 purchased Plas Newydd, a large house in North Wales, which they redesigned in a Gothic style. They lived there together as a couple, along with Sarah’s servant, and quickly became some of the most notorious members of Regency society at the time. They lived together for fifty years, and towards the end of their lives, dressed in black riding habits and men’s top hats, which many at the time thought was eccentric and outdated. Eleanor Butler died on 2 June 1829 at the age of 90. Sarah Ponsonby died two years later on 9 December 1831, aged 76. They are buried together at St Collen’s Church, Llangollen, and Plas Newydd is now a museum dedicated to the life and times of ‘The Ladies.’ Butler and Ponsonby were known to sign all correspondence with both of their initials, and many of their personal items also bared their initials, including glassware and tableware, some of which is now held in the British Museum.
The cutlery, which will go on sale at the Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 21st August
Steven Collins, Head of Jewellery, Silver & Watches at Cheffins comments: “The Ladies of Llangollen’s unconventional relationship captured Georgian imagination. This is a tale of true romance, where against all odds, two women broke through societal norms to live together in what is now one of the most fascinating museums in the UK. These items come with a cast-iron provenance, having been bought directly from the estate and then handed down through the generations. Also, the fact that each of the pieces is marked with The Ladies’ iconic joint initials helps to make this lot incredibly desirable. Having never appeared on the open market before; I am confident that they will be of great interest to fans of Regency history and also cultural institutions throughout the UK. It is a privilege to be able to offer these important pieces to the market, and this sale represents a chance to acquire not just fine Georgian silverware, but a powerful symbol of love, legacy, and defiance that continues to resonate nearly 250 years later.”
Auction: The Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Wine Sale – 21st August 2025
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk