Belle Bilton
(1867-1906), Music hall entertainer; wife of 5th Earl of Clancarty; daughter of John George BiltonIsabel Maude Penrice ('Belle') Le-Poer-Trench (née Bilton), Countess of Clancarty
Sitter in 34 portraits
In 1889 the music-hall entertainer Belle secretly married Viscount Dunlo, heir to the Earl of Clancarty. Disapproving of his son's actions, the Earl forced his son to leave Belle and travel abroad. Belle was left pregnant and destitute, having ended her career after the wedding. Encouraged by his father, the Viscount filed for divorce in a case that was widely followed by the press. After losing the case he returned to live with Belle. Cut off from his allowance, the pair lived off Belle's earnings from her theatrical work. In 1901 the Viscount succeeded to his father's title as Earl of Clancarty and Belle became Countess of Clancarty.
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152513
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152514
Belle Bilton as Beauty in 'Beauty and the Beast'
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152515
Belle Bilton as Beauty in 'Beauty and the Beast'
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152516
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152517
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152519
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152520
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152523
by and after Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate film copy negative, 1889
NPG x152524
copy by Bassano Ltd, after Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1926 (1889)
NPG x34232
copy by Bassano Ltd, after Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1926 (1889)
NPG x34233
by Alexander Bassano
albumen cabinet card, 1889
NPG x957
by Alexander Bassano
albumen cabinet card, 1889
NPG x958
by Alexander Bassano
bromide print, 1889
NPG x135958
by Alexander Bassano
bromide print, 1889
NPG x138129
by Alexander Bassano
albumen cabinet card, 1889
NPG x197248
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1889
NPG x96533
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1889
NPG x96534
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1889
NPG x96535
by W. & D. Downey, printed by The Photoglyptic Co
woodburytype carte-de-visite, 1890-1893
NPG x135959
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Lucy Brown
08 January 2017, 16:16
Belle Bilton and her husband lived in Dunloe Lodge in Maiden Head, England. It burnt down in the 1970's and has been abandoned ever since, it is a huge Mansion secluded on the Thames surrounded by an over grown garden.