Location
At the time of writing this memorial was at the foot of the stairs leading to upper floor meeting rooms, on the north side of the building, leaning against a wall. It is destined for a permanent place on the wall of the stairs. It had formerly been on the southern wall of the Choir Vestry.
LOVING MEMORY OF
LOUISA ANNE BYNG
WIFE OF COMMANDER THE HON. NELSON BYNG R.N.
BORN 5TH MARCH 1830. DIED 1ST APRIL 1897
SHE WAS THE ONLY CHILD OF
THE LATE T.E. OWEN ESQ. OF DOVER COURT
FOUNDER OF THIS CHURCH
AND WIDOW OF THE REV. T.R. BROWNRIGG M.A.
THE FIRST INCUMBENT
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HER DAUGHTERS
Further Information
Louisa Ann was the only child of Thomas Ellis and Catherine Owen. The family had lived and worked at 16 -18 High Street in Old Portsmouth before moving to a large property in Kent Road, Southsea, that Thomas had designed as their home. They called it Dover Court.
Louisa Ann married the Reverend Thomas Richard Brownrigg, the first vicar of St Jude's Church in Southsea. After he died, she married the Honourable Nelson Byng but this was apparently not a great success. Present-day descendants believe that Nelson married Louisa for her money and she married him for his title. He did not have a title when they met, however, so perhaps his attractions were related to the fact that he was 15 years her junior.
Whilst married to Rev Brownrigg, Louisa - later known to her family as Loo or Granny Byng - had six children. She was remembered for rather ostentatiously handing out sweets to the children during sermons at St Jude's "probably to keep them quiet".
[Information courtesy of the Thomas Ellis Owen web site]
In the 1881 census, Louisa A. Byng is recorded as living at 31 South Parade with her daughter Ethel Brownrigg, aged 19.
See also, the memorials on this site to:-
Rev. Thomas Richard Brownrigg
Thomas Ellis Owen
Mary Owen
Jeremiah Owen
Lydia Owen
