The Beaulieu Motor Museum might sound like a strange place to unveil one of the best kept secret affairs of the 20th Century, but the museum has created an exhibition showing how this affair created the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy, as found on almost every Rolls Royce in the world.
In a time when affairs amongst the well-healed were simply swept under the carpet and no one had even heard of a super-injunction, one married English gent by the name of John Montagu (aka. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu) became rather besotted with his assistant, the beautiful Eleanor Thornton.
Naturally this was kept very secretive by the few who knew, but such as his devotion to her that he asked a friend Charles Sykes to create a sculpture of his lover. Sykes duly did with a slim lady, one finger to her lips and a flowing nightgown which became known as The Whisperer.
About 6 months after this, John Montagu was talking to Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce, of Rolls Royce fame who mentioned they were looking for an emblem to adorn their cars. Montagu suggested Sykes, who created the world famous Spirit of Ecstasy with a striking resemblance to The Whisperer.
Tragically Eleanor Thornton died while travelling on the SS Persia during World War I, but today she is often seen gliding effortlessly down a country lane or along a motorway and whether adorning a £3 million Silver Ghost or one of the more modern Rolls Royce future classics, she never fails to turn heads. A rather fitting tribute really to someone who helped John Montagu, Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce create some of the most iconic cars in the world, the first of which appeared in May 1911.
The exhibition at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu gives even more details including very rarely seen documents, photos and sculptures from this time. The museum also has cars dating back to this period including a £3 million still running Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle – one of the first cars on which the Spirit of Ecstasy appeared.
More information on the Spirit of Ecstasy.
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