Elizabeth Twining (Born 1805) was born into the esteemed tea dynasty. The dynasty still trades under the family name. She was from a well-off family and decided to dedicate her life to support others and also to her passion for art and botany. Her talent as an artist could be seen from an early age. She studied works displayed at galleries in London and then went ahead to create very detailed copies for decorating the houses for her doll. Her second passion was for flowers, and this passion was nurtured by her visits to the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Chiswick and at Kew respectively. In 1849, he published his illustrations of the Natural Order of Plants. The British Museum now houses the original drawings of these exceptional botanical studies, evidence to their accuracy. Deeply devout, she wrote fourteen pamphlets and books of religious essays.
Her love was unquestionable, and like many affluent ladies of the time, together with her sister, she was actively involved in caring for the disadvantaged. Elizabeth founded the Bedford College for Girls. She’s also said to be the first to introduce a meeting for mothers in London. She moved to Dial House in 1866, the family home next to St Mary's Church in Twickenham. Here Elizabeth continued her charity work. She restored the parish almshouse and established the St John's Hospital. She illustrated and wrote a number of books. She lived in Twickenham in and old family residence of Dial House. Elizabeth died in 1889, and left Dial House to the parish to be used as a vicarage.
