Miss Evelyn Neeld
(1854-1936)
13 March 1861

Volume 2, page 302, sitting number 2499.

Born at Holt Manor in Wiltshire on 20 April 1854, Evelyn Mary Neeld was baptised at Leigh Delamere on 28 May 1854. She was the daughter of John Neeld, who in 1859 was created 1st Baronet Neeld in return for his service as Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Queen Victoria. From 1835 to 1859 he was the MP for Cricklade in Wiltshire; from 1865 to 1868 he represented Chippenham, also in Wiltshire. In 1845 he had married Eliza Harriet Dickson, daughter of Colonel Dickson of Beenham House, Reading. When Sir John Neeld died in 1891 he left an estate valued at £319,998.

Evelyn, her parents and her six older siblings appear on the 1861 census living at Grittleton House in Wiltshire Also present that night were a governess and nineteen servants, including a butler, an under-butler, three footmen and a groom.

On 4 February 1875 she married the landowner and Conservative politician Philip Wroughton, who sat in the House of Commons from 1876 to 1895. Their marriage produced eight children.

In 1891 the family were living at Woolley Park, Chsddleworth, Berkshire. The household included twelve servants

In 1901 Evelyn was with her widowed mother at 91 Eaton Place, London.

In 1911 she was herself a widow, living at 19 Eaton Square. The head of the household was her 23-year-old son Philip. Also present that night were three unmarried daughters and seven servants.

Her elder son Major Philip Musgrave Neeld Wrougton was killed in action during the First World War while serving with the Berkshire Yeomanry at Gaza in Palestine.

Evelyn Mary Wroughton died on 17 April 1936 at Chaddleworth House near Wantage in Berkshire. She died three days before her 82nd birthday.

According to an account of her funeral  in the North Wilts Herald (24 April 1936), ‘Mrs Wroughton’s long life was spent in helping others.’