Barbara Villiers &ndash; 'The Curse of the Nation'

Barbara Villiers – 'The Curse of the Nation'

The Friends of St Nicholas Church present a talk by Jamie Paterno Ostmann

Barbara Villiers

October 21, 2023

The Friends of St Nicholas Church are to host a talk on Barbara Villiers.

Jamie Paterno Ostmann, researcher and PHD Candidate for Historic Royal Palaces, the National Trust and Durham University will give lecture on the former resident of Walpole House on Chiswick Mall, Lady Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland. It takes place on Thursday 9 November at 7.00pm at St Nicholas Church, Church Street, W42PJ

Barbara Villiers was one of the most significant figures of 17th century England. Dubbed “the curse of the nation” by diarist John Evelyn, she deeply influenced both the personal and political life of Charles II and the people who surrounded him. This talk will explore both the private and public lives of Barbara, from her meteoric rise to power in the Restoration court to the Chiswick parish where she was lived in Walpole House on Chiswick Mall and was buried in St Nicholas Church following her death on 9 October 1709.

Jamie Paterno Ostmann’s research focuses on the early modern history of chocolate. Her work on the women of the English Restoration Court (including Barbara Villiers) was recently featured in the exhibition 'Permissible Beauty' at Hampton Court Palace.

St Nicholas Church still holds a number of its parish registers, accounts and archives chronicling births and deaths and parish life and business during past centuries. Cromwell’s troops are rumoured to have been billeted in the Church during the Civil War and to have burnt all the pre 1622 Church records to keep warm while they were installed. The parish registers hold the record of Barbara Villiers’ death, believed to be the only record of her death which exists.

The Church’s archivists will be in Church prior to and following Jamie’s talk and will be displaying the register with the entry of Barbara’s death as well as registers with other entries of interest.

Entrance costs £12.00 or £10 for students and is free for friends of St Nicholas Church. Doors open at 6.30pm when refreshments will be available.

All profits to the St Nicholas Church Development Fund for restoration of the outside stonework of the Church.

St Nicholas Church is the earliest of the parish churches of Chiswick. Founded some 1,300 years ago, it was rebuilt in the 1880s, but the tower dates from 1425.

The purpose of the Friends of St Nicholas Church is the repair and maintenance of the building and churchyard, and its fixtures, fittings, and contents. The group raises funds from Friends’ subscriptions, and from events in the church and elsewhere. New members are always welcome. Click here for information on how to join.

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