Lady Mabel Fitzwilliam

Lady Mabel Florence Harriet Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (14 July 1870 – 26 September 1951) was an English socialist politician, later known as Lady Mabel Smith. [ [http://www.maltbyonline.co.uk/chapter11.shtml Maltbyonline.co.uk] ]

Her father was William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Viscount Milton, the eldest son of William Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 6th Earl FitzWilliam. Her father died before inheriting the Earldom and it passed to her brother, William Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 7th Earl FitzWilliam [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p5741.htm#i57409 The Peerage.com] ] whose lifestyle she criticized; "he had so much and everyone else had so little" [Bailey, C (2007). "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty", p399. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2] .

She married Lt. Col. William Mackenzie Smith on 29 July 1899 and went to live in Barnes Hall near Grenoside, Sheffield [Bailey, C (2007). "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty", p400. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2] . After her marriage she was known as Lady Mabel Smith.

She was a local politician in South Yorkshire, firstly as a West Riding County Councillor and later as a county Alderman and member of the Workers' Educational Authority [Bailey, C (2007). "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty", p401. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2] .

In 1918 she visited France as Inspector of Yorkshire's Women's Agricultural Auxiliary Corps [ [http://www.1914-1918.net/women.htm Women in the Great War] ] .

She served on the Departmental Committee on Public Libraries which was appointed by the then President of the Board of Education Charles Trevelyan in 1924, reporting in June, 1927 [ "Public Libraries. National Scheme Of Cooperation, Report Of Departmental Committee", "The Times", June 15, 1927] and was appointed a member of the Adult Education Committee set up by the then President of the Board of Education Eustace Percy in 1927 [ "Adult Education - Committee Reconstituted", "The Times", November 16, 1927] . She served on the Labour Party National Executive Committee in 1932 ["The Tom Mann Case Deputation To Prime Minister", "The Times", December 30, 1932] and 1934 ["T.U.C. and Labour Party "Going to the Country as one body", "The Times", October 4, 1934] .

She was a committed Christian and social worker [ [http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/graphics/Learning/Archives/Rotherham+Greats/_The+20th+Century.htm Rotherham Council website] ] . She stated that her social conscience developed after seeing the conditions of children who lived on the Wentworth estate. [Bailey, C (2007). "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty", p400. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2] . Lady Mabel's niece, Joyce Smith, described her as a "rabid socialist" whose name was "absolutely taboo" at Wentworth Woodhouse [Bailey, C (2007). "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty", p399. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2] .

From 1949 to 1974, Wentworth Woodhouse was changed into a College of Physical Education, for this period the college was named after Lady Mabel, as she had brokered the deal for its establishment, allowing the family to maintain private apartments [Bailey, C (2007). "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty", p401. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2] . The college trained female physical education teachers. The college later merged with Sheffield City Polytechnic and the name Wentworth Woodhouse was restored. [The Sunday Times Magazine, 11 February 2007, page 19] [ [http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/wentworth_house.htm Solarnavigator.net] ]

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