• Manuscripts and Special Collections
• Collections and Catalogues
• Collections by Subject
  • Archdeaconry Resources
  • Family and Estate Resources
    • Collections at Nottingham
    • Chaworth-Musters of Annesley
    • Clifton of Clifton
    • Denison of Ossington
    • Drury-Lowe of Locko Park
    • Eyre of Grove
    • Galway of Serlby Hall
    • Manvers of Thoresby and Holme Pierrepont
    • Mellish and Buchanan of Blyth and Hodsock
    • Middleton of Wollaton Hall
    • Newcastle of Clumber Park
    • Portland of Welbeck Abbey
      • Portland Collection: family history
      • Family Seats
      • Biographies
    • Thoroton Hildyard of Screveton and Flintham
    • What they are used for
    • Who might use them
    • Points to consider
    • Record types
    • Searching the catalogues
    • Further reading
  • Health Resources
  • DH Lawrence Resources
  • University Archives
  • Water Resources
  • East Midlands Collection
  • Nonconformist Churches
  • Medieval Literary Manuscripts
  • Business Records
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • NameIndex
• Learning Resources
• Research Guidance
• Schools Resources
• Exhibitions and Gallery
• Visiting the Reading Room
• Tours and Talks
• Reprographic Services
• Heritage Digitisation
• Magazine
• About Us
• Contact Us

Biography of Winifred Anna Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland (1863-1954)

Winifred, daughter to Thomas Yorke Dallas-Yorke, was born at Murthly Castle, Perthshire. Following her marriage to the 6th Duke of Portland, she became a prominent society figure. She also moved in court circles - Queen Victoria stood sponsor in person for her daughter, and the duchess served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Alexandra from 1913-1925.

The duchess had a strong interest in the welfare of birds, and in 1891 became the first, and longest-serving, president of the Society for the Protection of Birds - a position which she held until her death and in which she helped the society obtain its royal charter. She was also active on behalf of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, serving as vice-president and president of the ladies' committee.

Winifred was also interested in improving social conditions. In the year of her marriage, the Duke of Portland won a large amount of horseracing prize money. The duchess persuaded him to use the greater part of this in building the Welbeck Almshouses. She actively supported the local mining community, paying for medical treatments for miners and organising cookery and sewing classes for their daughters. Indeed, the Nottinghamshire Miners' Welfare Association petitioned the king to have an honour bestowed on her on account of her work, and so in 1935 she was made a Dame of the British Empire.

Family

In 1889 she married William John Arthur James Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland and had:

• William Arthur Henry (1893-1977), later 7th Duke of Portland
• Francis Morven Dallas (d 1950) died unmarried
• Victoria Alexandrina Violet (b 1890) m Captain Michael J.E. Wemyss in 1918

Archive Collections

• Details of collections held elsewhere are available through the National Register of Archives.

Published Sources

• There are apparently no biographies dedicated to the duchess.