MS 895
Reference code
MS 895
Title
Literary manuscripts of Nora Byron
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
Nora Hermione Wentworth Byron (1886–1969) was House Dame at Eton College for over three decades. Born at Duckmanton Lodge, Derbyshire, she was the eldest daughter of Captain Augustus William Byron (1856–1939) and Constance Caroline Clough-Taylor (1855–1941).
During World War I she served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment of the British Red Cross Society and St John’s Ambulance, from 1916 to 1919, as a Lady Superintendent. After the war, she worked as an assistant nurse at United Services Fund Convalescent Home at Ascot, Berkshire. She moved to Eton in the late 1920s, where she was House Dame and Matron until 1963, first at Hawtrey House and later at Godolphin House.
During World War II she continued as an active member of the Red Cross and found time to do good service at the School’s First Aid and blood transfusion posts.
Her love of music encouraged many boys to play in the house orchestra or sing in a quartet. She played in the School Orchestra and also in the Slough Philharmonic Orchestra, and sang with the Windsor and Eton Choral Society.
Byron continued her Red Cross service during the Second World War, contributing to the school’s first aid and blood transfusion posts. Alongside her professional duties, she encouraged musical activity among the boys, supported house ensembles, and herself played with the Eton School Orchestra, the Slough Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Windsor and Eton Choral Society.
She was remembered for her nursing skill, generosity of spirit, and guidance to generations of pupils. Fluent in French, Italian, and German, she was also a keen traveller. Her memoir, Eton: A Dame’s Chronicle (1965), records her years at the school. Byron lived at 20 Eton Wick Road until her death in Maidenhead in October 1969.
During World War I she served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment of the British Red Cross Society and St John’s Ambulance, from 1916 to 1919, as a Lady Superintendent. After the war, she worked as an assistant nurse at United Services Fund Convalescent Home at Ascot, Berkshire. She moved to Eton in the late 1920s, where she was House Dame and Matron until 1963, first at Hawtrey House and later at Godolphin House.
During World War II she continued as an active member of the Red Cross and found time to do good service at the School’s First Aid and blood transfusion posts.
Her love of music encouraged many boys to play in the house orchestra or sing in a quartet. She played in the School Orchestra and also in the Slough Philharmonic Orchestra, and sang with the Windsor and Eton Choral Society.
Byron continued her Red Cross service during the Second World War, contributing to the school’s first aid and blood transfusion posts. Alongside her professional duties, she encouraged musical activity among the boys, supported house ensembles, and herself played with the Eton School Orchestra, the Slough Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Windsor and Eton Choral Society.
She was remembered for her nursing skill, generosity of spirit, and guidance to generations of pupils. Fluent in French, Italian, and German, she was also a keen traveller. Her memoir, Eton: A Dame’s Chronicle (1965), records her years at the school. Byron lived at 20 Eton Wick Road until her death in Maidenhead in October 1969.
Date
c.1950-c.1959
Extent & medium
1 box containing 1 file and 4 items
Content description
Literary manuscripts of Nora Hermione Wentworth Byron, comprising four notebooks and four typescript short stories:
01 Notebook containing manuscript short stories about 'Gladys' in four parts, c.1950
02 Notebook containing a manuscript draft of an unpublished novel (pp. 1–288), with index, plot summary, and a newspaper cutting, c.1950
03 Notebook containing continuation of the manuscript draft of unpublished novel (pp. 289–337), c.1950
04 Notebook containing a manuscript draft of an untitled play; also includes four unused Italian postage stamps commemorating Lord Byron c.1959
05 File containing four typescript short stories: an untitled story (n.d.); ‘The Curse’ - by Hermione Vironos; ‘The Diplomat’s Picnic’, signed ‘N. Byron’, with note on last sheet: ‘Miss Nora Byron, The Alassio English School, Alassio, Italy’; and ‘Unexpected Advice’
01 Notebook containing manuscript short stories about 'Gladys' in four parts, c.1950
02 Notebook containing a manuscript draft of an unpublished novel (pp. 1–288), with index, plot summary, and a newspaper cutting, c.1950
03 Notebook containing continuation of the manuscript draft of unpublished novel (pp. 289–337), c.1950
04 Notebook containing a manuscript draft of an untitled play; also includes four unused Italian postage stamps commemorating Lord Byron c.1959
05 File containing four typescript short stories: an untitled story (n.d.); ‘The Curse’ - by Hermione Vironos; ‘The Diplomat’s Picnic’, signed ‘N. Byron’, with note on last sheet: ‘Miss Nora Byron, The Alassio English School, Alassio, Italy’; and ‘Unexpected Advice’
Provenance
Unknown
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Number 77 of 121 at this Level
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