Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, who settled in Llangollen in Wales

The women met in 1768, when Sarah was 13 and Eleanor 29. Ten years later they left their native parts together, setting off on a journey through Wales and, a little later, settling in Llangollen. They turned their house into a veritable pearl of local architecture and, given their way of life, quickly became a local attraction. After a time they were talked of throughout the country, and then in Europe too. The unusual pair were visited by guests from London, by celebrities passing through, by their friends in correspondence. And these were truly impressive names: from Byron to the Duke of Wellington himself! The seclusion of country life, adorned by visits from kindred spirits from every corner of the island, suited the couple entirely; they devoted their time to embellishing house and garden, to the library and to scholarly pursuits. Crockery, bed linen, handkerchiefs and envelopes in the Butler-Ponsonby household were marked with the initials of both ladies. The life of the pair is described in Mary Gordon's book of 1936, The Llangollen Ladies: The Story of Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, Known as the Ladies of Llangollen. Eleanor and Sarah were parted by death: the first was 90 years old, and Mrs Ponsonby left this life two years later, in her 77th year.