Photograph of Ellen Rose St.John Morgan, c1880

Ellen Rose, or Nellie as she was known, was the daughter and only surviving child of Henry 5th Viscount Bolingbroke and his long-time mistress Ellen Medex.

Nellie was born in 1863 and given the surname Morgan on account of her parents masquerading under the names of Mr and Mrs Morgan. Her moving story is told by local historian Frances Bevan (See Good Gentlewoman - Ellen St. John) who writes:

'Ellen St.John visited Lydiard Park for her father's funeral. Whether this was the one and only time she ever saw her ancestral home remains unknown. In fact most of Ellen's life is something of a mystery, living as she did on the periphery of of St. John family life'

The photograph was part of a large collection of family photographs belonging to the late Lord Bolingbroke (d.1974).