Raine, Dowager Countess Spencer, died aged 87, was an aristocrat known for her association with one of the most famous woman in the world, her stepdaughter, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The countess was also the daughter of the prolific romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and amassed a collection of aristocratic titles from her marriages to men from the upper echelons of society. At various points in her life she was known as Raine McCorquodale, the Honourable Mrs Gerald Legge, Viscountess Lewisham, the Countess of Dartmouth, Countess Spencer, the Dowager Countess Spencer and Countess Jean-Franois de Chambrun.
However, she was also formidable and sometimes controversial in her own right: as a councillor in London, she was a key figure in preventing a disastrous redevelopment plan for Covent Garden; she also led a huge redevelopment of Althorp, the family seat of her husband Earl Spencer, which some liked and others hated.
Countess Spencer was born Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of Alexander McCorquodale, who ran the family printing business, and Barbara Cartland, who went on to become the country’s most famous romantic novelist. The marriage was not a success though and after Alexander had an affair, Cartland divorced him before marrying Hugh McCorquodale, a cousin of her husband,.
Apart from a short sojourn in Canada, where the family moved to escape the danger of the Second World War, Raine grew up in England and attended Owlstone Croft School in Bedfordshire.
After the war, as a debutante, she met Gerald Legge, the future Earl of Dartmouth, and they were married in 1948, but the new wife was determined to have more than just a domestic life looking after children and in 1954 embarked on a long career as a Conservative councillor in London, beginning as councillor for the St George’s Ward in Knightsbridge.
Soon she was a familiar figure on television and in newspapers, campaigning on anything from litter to old age pensioners. She also appeared on the 60s television hit Juke Box Jury.
Raine had ambitions to become an MP and in 1966 attempted to become the Conservative candidate for Richmond. The following year she was elected to the Greater London Council as councillor for the area. As such, she fought a successful campaign against plans to redevelop the Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.
Later, as chairwoman of the Covent Garden redevelopment committee, she also succeeded into protecting the area from plans which would have seen many of the existing buildings demolished.
By 1972, Lady Dartmouth had had enough of local politics and resigned from the GLC, although she continued to have roles on a number of public bodies including the English Tourist Board. She also served on the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
By the mid 70s her marriage to Lord Dartmouth was over and she married Earl Spencer in 1976. Earl Spencer’s health was not good however and he struggled to recover after suffering a stroke, only just managing in time to walk his daughter Diana down the aisle when she married Prince Charles in 1981.
Back at Althorp, the new Countess led a massive renovation programme, selling off some of the contents to fund it. It infuriated other members of the family who thought the family heirlooms were being sold off too cheaply.
Raine Spencer’s association with Althorp ended with the death of her husband in 1992 and she married again to a French count Jean-Francois de Chambrun. they divorced three years later.
The death of Countess Spencer at her London home was announced by her son William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth. In addition to Lord Dartmouth she is survived by Rupert Legge, Charlotte Paternó Castello, Duchess of Carcaci and Henry Legge.
The countess was also the daughter of the prolific romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and amassed a collection of aristocratic titles from her marriages to men from the upper echelons of society. At various points in her life she was known as Raine McCorquodale, the Honourable Mrs Gerald Legge, Viscountess Lewisham, the Countess of Dartmouth, Countess Spencer, the Dowager Countess Spencer and Countess Jean-Franois de Chambrun.
However, she was also formidable and sometimes controversial in her own right: as a councillor in London, she was a key figure in preventing a disastrous redevelopment plan for Covent Garden; she also led a huge redevelopment of Althorp, the family seat of her husband Earl Spencer, which some liked and others hated.
Countess Spencer was born Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of Alexander McCorquodale, who ran the family printing business, and Barbara Cartland, who went on to become the country’s most famous romantic novelist. The marriage was not a success though and after Alexander had an affair, Cartland divorced him before marrying Hugh McCorquodale, a cousin of her husband,.
Apart from a short sojourn in Canada, where the family moved to escape the danger of the Second World War, Raine grew up in England and attended Owlstone Croft School in Bedfordshire.
After the war, as a debutante, she met Gerald Legge, the future Earl of Dartmouth, and they were married in 1948, but the new wife was determined to have more than just a domestic life looking after children and in 1954 embarked on a long career as a Conservative councillor in London, beginning as councillor for the St George’s Ward in Knightsbridge.
Soon she was a familiar figure on television and in newspapers, campaigning on anything from litter to old age pensioners. She also appeared on the 60s television hit Juke Box Jury.
Raine had ambitions to become an MP and in 1966 attempted to become the Conservative candidate for Richmond. The following year she was elected to the Greater London Council as councillor for the area. As such, she fought a successful campaign against plans to redevelop the Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.
Later, as chairwoman of the Covent Garden redevelopment committee, she also succeeded into protecting the area from plans which would have seen many of the existing buildings demolished.
By 1972, Lady Dartmouth had had enough of local politics and resigned from the GLC, although she continued to have roles on a number of public bodies including the English Tourist Board. She also served on the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
By the mid 70s her marriage to Lord Dartmouth was over and she married Earl Spencer in 1976. Earl Spencer’s health was not good however and he struggled to recover after suffering a stroke, only just managing in time to walk his daughter Diana down the aisle when she married Prince Charles in 1981.
Back at Althorp, the new Countess led a massive renovation programme, selling off some of the contents to fund it. It infuriated other members of the family who thought the family heirlooms were being sold off too cheaply.
Raine Spencer’s association with Althorp ended with the death of her husband in 1992 and she married again to a French count Jean-Francois de Chambrun. they divorced three years later.
The death of Countess Spencer at her London home was announced by her son William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth. In addition to Lord Dartmouth she is survived by Rupert Legge, Charlotte Paternó Castello, Duchess of Carcaci and Henry Legge.
Raine, Dowager Countess Spencer, died aged 87, was an aristocrat known for her association with one of the most famous woman in the world, her stepdaughter, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The countess was also the daughter of the prolific romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and amassed a collection of aristocratic titles from her marriages to men from the upper echelons of society. At various points in her life she was known as Raine McCorquodale, the Honourable Mrs Gerald Legge, Viscountess Lewisham, the Countess of Dartmouth, Countess Spencer, the Dowager Countess Spencer and Countess Jean-Franois de Chambrun.
However, she was also formidable and sometimes controversial in her own right: as a councillor in London, she was a key figure in preventing a disastrous redevelopment plan for Covent Garden; she also led a huge redevelopment of Althorp, the family seat of her husband Earl Spencer, which some liked and others hated.
Countess Spencer was born Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of Alexander McCorquodale, who ran the family printing business, and Barbara Cartland, who went on to become the country’s most famous romantic novelist. The marriage was not a success though and after Alexander had an affair, Cartland divorced him before marrying Hugh McCorquodale, a cousin of her husband,.
Apart from a short sojourn in Canada, where the family moved to escape the danger of the Second World War, Raine grew up in England and attended Owlstone Croft School in Bedfordshire.
After the war, as a debutante, she met Gerald Legge, the future Earl of Dartmouth, and they were married in 1948, but the new wife was determined to have more than just a domestic life looking after children and in 1954 embarked on a long career as a Conservative councillor in London, beginning as councillor for the St George’s Ward in Knightsbridge.
Soon she was a familiar figure on television and in newspapers, campaigning on anything from litter to old age pensioners. She also appeared on the 60s television hit Juke Box Jury.
Raine had ambitions to become an MP and in 1966 attempted to become the Conservative candidate for Richmond. The following year she was elected to the Greater London Council as councillor for the area. As such, she fought a successful campaign against plans to redevelop the Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.
Later, as chairwoman of the Covent Garden redevelopment committee, she also succeeded into protecting the area from plans which would have seen many of the existing buildings demolished.
By 1972, Lady Dartmouth had had enough of local politics and resigned from the GLC, although she continued to have roles on a number of public bodies including the English Tourist Board. She also served on the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
By the mid 70s her marriage to Lord Dartmouth was over and she married Earl Spencer in 1976. Earl Spencer’s health was not good however and he struggled to recover after suffering a stroke, only just managing in time to walk his daughter Diana down the aisle when she married Prince Charles in 1981.
Back at Althorp, the new Countess led a massive renovation programme, selling off some of the contents to fund it. It infuriated other members of the family who thought the family heirlooms were being sold off too cheaply.
Raine Spencer’s association with Althorp ended with the death of her husband in 1992 and she married again to a French count Jean-Francois de Chambrun. they divorced three years later.
The death of Countess Spencer at her London home was announced by her son William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth. In addition to Lord Dartmouth she is survived by Rupert Legge, Charlotte Paternó Castello, Duchess of Carcaci and Henry Legge.
The countess was also the daughter of the prolific romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and amassed a collection of aristocratic titles from her marriages to men from the upper echelons of society. At various points in her life she was known as Raine McCorquodale, the Honourable Mrs Gerald Legge, Viscountess Lewisham, the Countess of Dartmouth, Countess Spencer, the Dowager Countess Spencer and Countess Jean-Franois de Chambrun.
However, she was also formidable and sometimes controversial in her own right: as a councillor in London, she was a key figure in preventing a disastrous redevelopment plan for Covent Garden; she also led a huge redevelopment of Althorp, the family seat of her husband Earl Spencer, which some liked and others hated.
Countess Spencer was born Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of Alexander McCorquodale, who ran the family printing business, and Barbara Cartland, who went on to become the country’s most famous romantic novelist. The marriage was not a success though and after Alexander had an affair, Cartland divorced him before marrying Hugh McCorquodale, a cousin of her husband,.
Apart from a short sojourn in Canada, where the family moved to escape the danger of the Second World War, Raine grew up in England and attended Owlstone Croft School in Bedfordshire.
After the war, as a debutante, she met Gerald Legge, the future Earl of Dartmouth, and they were married in 1948, but the new wife was determined to have more than just a domestic life looking after children and in 1954 embarked on a long career as a Conservative councillor in London, beginning as councillor for the St George’s Ward in Knightsbridge.
Soon she was a familiar figure on television and in newspapers, campaigning on anything from litter to old age pensioners. She also appeared on the 60s television hit Juke Box Jury.
Raine had ambitions to become an MP and in 1966 attempted to become the Conservative candidate for Richmond. The following year she was elected to the Greater London Council as councillor for the area. As such, she fought a successful campaign against plans to redevelop the Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.
Later, as chairwoman of the Covent Garden redevelopment committee, she also succeeded into protecting the area from plans which would have seen many of the existing buildings demolished.
By 1972, Lady Dartmouth had had enough of local politics and resigned from the GLC, although she continued to have roles on a number of public bodies including the English Tourist Board. She also served on the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
By the mid 70s her marriage to Lord Dartmouth was over and she married Earl Spencer in 1976. Earl Spencer’s health was not good however and he struggled to recover after suffering a stroke, only just managing in time to walk his daughter Diana down the aisle when she married Prince Charles in 1981.
Back at Althorp, the new Countess led a massive renovation programme, selling off some of the contents to fund it. It infuriated other members of the family who thought the family heirlooms were being sold off too cheaply.
Raine Spencer’s association with Althorp ended with the death of her husband in 1992 and she married again to a French count Jean-Francois de Chambrun. they divorced three years later.
The death of Countess Spencer at her London home was announced by her son William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth. In addition to Lord Dartmouth she is survived by Rupert Legge, Charlotte Paternó Castello, Duchess of Carcaci and Henry Legge.
Family Members
See more Spencer or McCorquodale memorials in:
- North Sheen Cemetery Spencer or McCorquodale
- Richmond Spencer or McCorquodale
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Spencer or McCorquodale
- Greater London Spencer or McCorquodale
- England Spencer or McCorquodale
- Find a Grave Spencer or McCorquodale
