Sitter: Margery Waterlow (1881-1970), daughter of George Sidney Waterlow and Charlotte Elizabeth, née Beauchamp; m (1909) Lt.-Colonel John Herbert Norton (1879-1963). They had issue and lived at West Lodge, Wickham, Hants, in the 1950s.

Margery Waterlow, later Mrs John Herbert Norton (1881-1970), was the only girl out of the five children of George Sidney Waterlow and his wife, Charlotte Elizabeth, née Beauchamp. Her grandfather, Sir Sydney Waterlow, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1872-1873, is fondly remember to this day for giving his land, now called Waterlow Park, to “the gardenless people” of north London.

For the Drawing Room of 11 March, Miss Waterlow was dressed in white, her skirt and bodice trimmed with frills of pleated chiffon edged with satin. Her train is of white satin, with a cluster of lilies of the valley and trails of ivy on it. A trail of ivy, catching in clusters of lilies runs down her bodice from the left shoulder. She also carried a large bouquet of lilies of the valley, which symbolise humility, chastity, sweetness and purity, and which, according to legend, sprang up on the spot where the Virgin Mary’s tears hit the ground beneath the cross. Her delicate pearl necklace reflects lilies of the valley and is intended to convey an air of extreme innocence.

Margery married Lt.-Colonel John Herbert Norton in 1909. They had two sons and one daughter.

Biog: Granddaughter of Sir Sydney Waterlow.

Date: 11 March 1898.

Occasion: The Drawing Room, 11 March 1898: presented by Lady M'Gregor.

Location:The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street, London, W.

Descr: FL standing.

Costume: Court dress: "...charmingly attired in white. The skirt and bodice were trimmed with frills of pleated chiffon edged with satin, and the train was of white satin, with a cluster of lilies of the valley and trails of ivy on it. A trail of ivy, catching in clusters of lilies was placed right across the bodice..." (see: The Daily Telegraph, 12 March 1898, p 5b).

Costume Designer: -

Costume Supplier: -

Jewellery: -

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop; painted column.

Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London, W.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 3 (see also neg nos 1640 and 1640A).

Copyright: V&A Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References:

Biog: [NB David Norton of New Zealand, in an email 14 June 2019), says this sitter does not look like his grandmother.]

Occasion: The Times, 12 March 1898, p 10b.

Costume: The Daily News, 12 March 1898, p 6d; The Daily Telegraph, 12 March 1898, p 5b; The Gentlewoman, 19 March 1898, p 366c; The Queen, 19 march 1898, p 500c; The Ladies' Field, 26 March 1898, pp 53b-54a.

Costume Designer: -

Costume Supplier: -

Jewellery: -

Reproduced: Lady's Pictorial, 19 March 1898, p 374; (version) The Sketch, 23 March 1898, p 377.

Additional Information: -