Violet Bonham Carter Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Lady Violet Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury (1887-1969), was a prominent British politician, writer, and Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. She lived at 43 Gloucester Square in Westminster, London, a historic and prestigious area known for its beautiful Georgian architecture and notable residents.

Bonham Carter was born into a distinguished political family. Her father, H. H. Asquith, served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. Following in her father’s footsteps, she became a passionate advocate for liberal causes and women’s rights. She was a member of the Liberal Party and served as President of the Women’s Liberal Federation from 1923 to 1925 and again from 1939 to 1945.

Throughout her career, Bonham Carter held various positions of influence. She was a member of the House of Lords, having been created Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury in 1964. She also served as a governor of the BBC from 1941 to 1946 and was a member of the Royal Commission on the Press from 1947 to 1949. As a writer, she contributed to several publications and wrote a biography of her father, entitled “H. H. Asquith” (1932).

Bonham Carter’s contributions to British politics and society were recognized with her appointment as a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1953. Her legacy as a trailblazing woman in politics and a champion of liberal values continues to inspire generations.

The blue plaque at 43 Gloucester Square, erected in 1994, commemorates Lady Violet Bonham Carter’s remarkable life and her connection to this historic London neighborhood. Visitors to the area can appreciate the significance of her achievements and the impact she had on British politics and society during her lifetime.