-
Early Days
Lady Eleanor Butler was born in 1739 in France, while her future soulmate Miss Sarah Ponsonby was also born in France in 1755. The two girls met in 1768 when Sarah, who had become orphaned at the early age of 13, started living with Eleanor's father's cousin in their County Kilkenny Castle. The two would meet up during school, where they developed their close-knit friendship. -
Getting Serious
Sarah and Eleanor began having pressures of getting married. Sarah was close to being married to a man once his sick wife died. Ultimately the two came to a decision to run away and begin new lives on March 30, 1778. They dressed as men and traveled to Waterford with a goal of going to Wales. Unfortunately the pair was caught and returned home. -
Final Escape
A couple months later, the families of the girls finally gave in and let them leave. The two girls, along with Sarah's servant Mary Carryl pictured here, finally travelled to Wales. -
Settling Down
After several months of wandering around Wales, the pair finally found a home in Llangollen in the Welsh Valley. The home was where they would live happily for the next 50 years. -
A Fraction of Their Story
The chocolate cups and plates are what has been preserved to tell about their friendship that ultimately turned into one of histories first same sex love stories. The ladies used these cups almost everyday, and was one of the nicest things they owned. -
Legacy
The Llangollen ladies left a legacy even greater than they could have ever imagined. Not only did their story empower those in same-sex relationships but also women in general, that they can branch outside of what the idea of how a woman's life should be.