Lady Catherine Henrietta Dicken
Lady Catherine Henrietta Dicken was a wealthy young woman born in India during the British Raj. Catherine lived in perpetual luxury and wealth: she met her husband Henry Ulick Brown in India where they spent twenty extravagant years living together. She did not move to Westport House or become the 5th Marchioness of Sligo until she was 66 years of age: her husband inherited the title and the estate in 1903. Catherine was adored by the people of Westport due to her kindness and hospitality. She is by far the most exotic of the three ‘Ladies of Sligo’.
Catherine’s Family History
Catherine Henrietta Dicken was born on the 25th of September, 1837 in Balasore, Orissa, in India during the British Raj. She was born into a wealthy family, to William Stephens Dicken and Catherine Lamb Popham. William was an M.D., Deputy Inspector- General of Hospitals in Bengal, India. William was born in Devon, England but he moved to India after he got a job with the Bengal Medical Services. Her mother Catherine, who she is named after, was also from a wealthy family. She was also from English descent as her family had moved to India from London. Her father, Captain Joseph Lamb Popham, R.N., had a military background: he and his brother Admiral Sir Home Popham were both high up in the military and naval ranks. Catherine Henrietta came from a large family: she was the first born daughter out of eleven children. Catherine grew up as a true Victorian; she always had time to admire the flowers, she kept pets, she rode horses and she played the harmonium in church.
Catherine married Henry Ulick Browne, the sixth son of the 2nd Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo on the 25th of October 1855 in Bankipore, Bengal in India. Henry made a career for himself in the Indian Civil Service and he lived there, alongside his native wife for over 10 years: Catherine Henrietta was the first wife of a Browne man to be native to India. Catherine and Henry Ulick had ten children altogether: the first seven were born in India according to the India, Births and Baptisms 1786-1947 certificates. For Catherine to have given birth to ten children in her lifetime would be considered more of a ‘life of slavery’ to modern day feminists, as opposed to the ‘great fun’ Catherine considered her life as a mother in her memoirs.
Henry Ulick and Catherine moved to England during the 1870s where they lived at 41, Eccleston Square. They inherited Westport House in 1903 after the death of Henry’s brother John Thomas Browne, the 4th Marquis of Sligo. Alongside the house, they inherited the titles of the family. Henry Ulick, now 72 years old and Catherine, who was 66 years old, became the 5th Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo.
Catherine urged her family members to come and visit her in England. She organised accommodation for her sister, Miss Pergronnet, to stay in the luxurious Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath, Somerset for a six week stay. Her children would often visit her in her London home.
Catherine and Westport House
In 1911, the present Marquis returned to Westport House for the last time to spend the summer season alongside his wife Catherine. He died two year later on the 24th of February, 1913. During their years in Westport House, Henry Ulick was referred to as the most English of the Marquis and he even had a nickname of the ‘Nabob’ as while he was in India, as he was used to having servants attend to his every need. However he and Catherine were well liked by their workers in the estate. In wet weather, he and Catherine would dress up in their outdoor clothes and circulate around each inter-connecting room of the ground floor of Westport House: this was a pass time they repeated often.
Catherine immersed herself into life in the west of Ireland. Although it was a major change for her to live in the quiet and rural Westport after spending over thirty years of her life in the exotic India. Catherine, similar to her mother in law Hester, was involved in charity galas. She was on the committee at the ‘Castlebar House Demesne’ charity night. Although Catherine had an interest in part taking in the BAZAAR charity events, she would often miss the occasions when she was spending the season in London. Nevertheless, on such occasions, Catherine would organize a stand in to take her place e.g. her daughter Lady Edith Charles went to the ‘BAZAAR, POLO MATCHES COMIC OPERA, DANCING COMPETITIONS ETC.’ in her place. The night was a success.
Catherine’s Golden Wedding Anniversary
Henry Ulick and Catherine were presented with a beautiful two handled golden cup of Irish design from their surviving sons and daughters, Lords Arthur, Terence and Alfred Browne and Ladies Edith Charles, Nora More, Florence Beresford Ash and Alice Evelyn Mahon. Their children also planted trees in honour of their parent’s anniversary on the grounds of Westport House.
On the evening of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, they invited their friends, family and all of their employees to join them in their celebrations by throwing a supper and dance at the Demesne. Sixty guests were present on the night. The Lord and Lady of Sligo were present at the opening dance to welcome their guests. Dancing and singing with intervals for refreshments were kept going until 6 am the following morning. Catherine and Henry Ulick were renowned for their kindness in relation to their employees in Westport estate. Their employees presented the Lord and Lady Sligo with an address congratulating them in their golden wedding anniversary. The address was beautifully illuminated with views of Westport House, The Demesne, the old and new churches and photographs of the Lord and lady of Sligo. It was enclosed on a costly rift frame. Henry, accompanied by his wife Catherine and several of his family members, thanked his employees for their generosity by giving them the following day off work. He also stated that the ‘comfort and happiness of those in their employment would always be a consideration of first importance with Lady Sligo and himself’.
In 1911, the present Marquis returned to Westport House for the last time to spend the summer season alongside his wife Catherine. He died two year later on the 24th of February, 1913. During their years in Westport House, Henry Ulick was referred to as the most English of the Marquis and he even had a nickname of the ‘Nabob’ as while he was in India, as he was used to having servants attend to his every need. However he and Catherine were well liked by their workers in the estate. In wet weather, he and Catherine would dress up in their outdoor clothes and circulate around each inter-connecting room of the ground floor of Westport House: this was a pass time they repeated often.
Catherine immersed herself into life in the west of Ireland. Although it was a major change for her to live in the quiet and rural Westport after spending over thirty years of her life in the exotic India. Catherine, similar to her mother in law Hester, was involved in charity galas. She was on the committee at the ‘Castlebar House Demesne’ charity night. Although Catherine had an interest in part taking in the BAZAAR charity events, she would often miss the occasions when she was spending the season in London. Nevertheless, on such occasions, Catherine would organize a stand in to take her place e.g. her daughter Lady Edith Charles went to the ‘BAZAAR, POLO MATCHES COMIC OPERA, DANCING COMPETITIONS ETC.’ in her place. The night was a success.
Catherine’s Golden Wedding Anniversary
Henry Ulick and Catherine were presented with a beautiful two handled golden cup of Irish design from their surviving sons and daughters, Lords Arthur, Terence and Alfred Browne and Ladies Edith Charles, Nora More, Florence Beresford Ash and Alice Evelyn Mahon. Their children also planted trees in honour of their parent’s anniversary on the grounds of Westport House.
On the evening of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, they invited their friends, family and all of their employees to join them in their celebrations by throwing a supper and dance at the Demesne. Sixty guests were present on the night. The Lord and Lady of Sligo were present at the opening dance to welcome their guests. Dancing and singing with intervals for refreshments were kept going until 6 am the following morning. Catherine and Henry Ulick were renowned for their kindness in relation to their employees in Westport estate. Their employees presented the Lord and Lady Sligo with an address congratulating them in their golden wedding anniversary. The address was beautifully illuminated with views of Westport House, The Demesne, the old and new churches and photographs of the Lord and lady of Sligo. It was enclosed on a costly rift frame. Henry, accompanied by his wife Catherine and several of his family members, thanked his employees for their generosity by giving them the following day off work. He also stated that the ‘comfort and happiness of those in their employment would always be a consideration of first importance with Lady Sligo and himself’.
Catherine’s Memoirs
Catherine wrote her memoirs during her golden years. Her grandson, Denis Browne recalled stories of his grandmother in his book ‘Westport House and the Browne’s’ in which he describes her as an interesting individual. Catherine wrote about her life in India in a casual matter as if there was nothing unusual about encountering a large tiger cat in her bedroom, engaging with a cobra, two wolves who attempted to break in to her home and a wild jackal that bit her pet dog. In her memoirs she also writes about the famine, plagues, cyclones and the 1857 Indian rebellion known as ‘The Mutiny’ she experienced while in India. Although the 10th Marquis does not go in to much detail regarding her experiences, there is evidence that her early life in India may be the reason that she got involved in charity work.
After the death of her husband Henry Ulick in 1913, Catherine was bequeathed her house in Eccleston Square in London where she spent the remaining year of her life. Her son George inherited Westport House and estate along with the title of the 6th Marquis of Sligo. His wife Agatha Stewart Hodgson became the 6th Marchioness of Sligo: this meant that Catherine is the 3rd Marchioness to have outlived her husband and gain the title Dowager Marchioness of Sligo.
Catherine died a year after her husband on the 26th of November, 1914. She died in her 41 Eccleston Square home in London where she had retired after the passing of her husband. Although she passed away in England, her death did not go unnoticed by her friends in Westport town. The ‘Westport Harbour Commissioners’ offered their deepest condolences to the present Marquis and Catherine’s son George on the passing of the Dowager Marchioness. They stated that ‘they desire to convey their respectful condolence to the Marquis of Sligo upon the death of his mother and they beg to assure him and the other members of his family that they have their deepest sympathies in their hour of trouble and sorrow. George was touched by their kind sympathies and thanked them in a short article which was posted in the Mayo News on January the 9th 1915. In her will, Catherine left £30 to her maid, Kate: she left £50 to her cook Zoide Stewart and £10 to each of her servants.
Catherine Henrietta Dicken was an adored asset to Westport House even though she did not contribute directly to the house or town; she treated the people who lived there with respect and dignity while she also enjoyed going for ‘a turnabout the room’ doing circle laps of the ground floor alongside her husband, much to the amusement of those who had the good fortune of witnessing this.
Catherine wrote her memoirs during her golden years. Her grandson, Denis Browne recalled stories of his grandmother in his book ‘Westport House and the Browne’s’ in which he describes her as an interesting individual. Catherine wrote about her life in India in a casual matter as if there was nothing unusual about encountering a large tiger cat in her bedroom, engaging with a cobra, two wolves who attempted to break in to her home and a wild jackal that bit her pet dog. In her memoirs she also writes about the famine, plagues, cyclones and the 1857 Indian rebellion known as ‘The Mutiny’ she experienced while in India. Although the 10th Marquis does not go in to much detail regarding her experiences, there is evidence that her early life in India may be the reason that she got involved in charity work.
After the death of her husband Henry Ulick in 1913, Catherine was bequeathed her house in Eccleston Square in London where she spent the remaining year of her life. Her son George inherited Westport House and estate along with the title of the 6th Marquis of Sligo. His wife Agatha Stewart Hodgson became the 6th Marchioness of Sligo: this meant that Catherine is the 3rd Marchioness to have outlived her husband and gain the title Dowager Marchioness of Sligo.
Catherine died a year after her husband on the 26th of November, 1914. She died in her 41 Eccleston Square home in London where she had retired after the passing of her husband. Although she passed away in England, her death did not go unnoticed by her friends in Westport town. The ‘Westport Harbour Commissioners’ offered their deepest condolences to the present Marquis and Catherine’s son George on the passing of the Dowager Marchioness. They stated that ‘they desire to convey their respectful condolence to the Marquis of Sligo upon the death of his mother and they beg to assure him and the other members of his family that they have their deepest sympathies in their hour of trouble and sorrow. George was touched by their kind sympathies and thanked them in a short article which was posted in the Mayo News on January the 9th 1915. In her will, Catherine left £30 to her maid, Kate: she left £50 to her cook Zoide Stewart and £10 to each of her servants.
Catherine Henrietta Dicken was an adored asset to Westport House even though she did not contribute directly to the house or town; she treated the people who lived there with respect and dignity while she also enjoyed going for ‘a turnabout the room’ doing circle laps of the ground floor alongside her husband, much to the amusement of those who had the good fortune of witnessing this.