The first crèche in London originated from the initiative of Ellen Hollond in 1844. Beyond her contributions to social welfare, she maintained a prominent salon in Paris for decades, drawing together a diverse group of nineteenth-century liberals and intellectuals to discuss politics and society under the shadow of the Second French Empire.
Early Life and Marriage
Born in 1822 in Chennai, Ellen Julia Teed was the daughter of Thomas Teed and his wife, whose maiden name was Jordan. She moved to England during her early childhood, eventually residing with her parents in Stanmore, Middlesex. In 1840, she entered into marriage with Robert Hollond, a man noted for his activities as a balloonist and his service as an MP for Hastings.
The Parisian Salon
Until the death of her husband in 1877, Hollond divided her time between England and France. In Paris, she hosted a salon described by Edmond de Pressensé as the city's most distinguished gathering. The circle included figures such as Odilon Barrot, Montalembert, Charles de Rémusat, François Mignet, Henri Martin, Laboulaye, Joseph d'Haussonville, Pierre Lanfrey, and Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol. Discussions often centered on opposition to the Second French Empire and ultramontanism, attracting a mix of royalists, republicans, and liberal Catholics. In 1862, Nassau Senior met Jules Armand Dufaure at this salon, where Hollond preferred to listen rather than speak.
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Hollond’s public work extended to the establishment of healthcare support systems. In addition to opening London’s first crèche, she founded an English nurses’ home in Paris. She also established a branch of this home in Nice, which remained operational through the end of the nineteenth century.
Literary Contributions
As a writer, Hollond published several works, often anonymously. Her bibliography includes 'Channing, sa vie et ses œuvres' in 1857, which featured an introduction by Charles de Rémusat, 'La vie de village en Angleterre' in 1862, and 'Les Quakers, études sur les premiers Amis et leur société' in 1870. In 1864, she published 'A Lady’s Journal of Her Travels in Egypt and Nubia (1858-9)' through Emily Faithfull.
Artistic Representation and Death
Hollond served as a model for artists during her lifetime. In 1846, she sat for the figure of Monica in a painting by Ary Scheffer depicting St. Augustine and his mother. Scheffer completed a portrait of her in 1852, which is now held in the National Gallery. She died at Stanmore Hall on 29 November 1884.
Fast facts
- Born: 1822, Chennai
- Died: 1884, London
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Spouse: Robert Hollond
- Occupation: Writer, entrepreneur, socialite, model, patron of the arts
- Notable project: First crèche in London (1844)
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Ellen Hollond write about?
Her writings included biographies, studies of Quakers, English village life, and travel accounts of Egypt and Nubia.
Where were her philanthropic projects located?
She established the first crèche in London and founded nursing homes in Paris and Nice.
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