Exhibition showcasing the life of the Yellow Earl to come to The Beacon

The Beacon Museum will be showcasing an exhibition showcasing the life of Hugh Lowther, The Yellow Earl. 

A spokesperson from The Beacon Museum said: "Hugh Lowther - known as The Yellow Earl because of his fondness for the colour – became the fifth Earl of Lonsdale in 1882.

"He owned much of Whitehaven and its coalfields, as well as assets around the country, but is said to have lived an extravagant lifestyle and spent the family fortune.

"The Earl was a sportsman and an adventurer - creating modern boxing and donating the Lonsdale belt. He was a patron of the Automobile Association (hence its yellow livery) and set up an animal charity.

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"This new exhibition covers the extraordinary highs and lows of Hugh Lowther’s unusual life."

His residences included Lowther Castle and Whitehaven Castle as well as two estates in London. 

The Earl also spent some of his life in the military and was a peer in the House of Lords but was rarely seen in attendance. 

Because of his extravagance and the closure of the Cumberland Coalmines he had to move from Lowther Castle because he could no longer afford to live there. 

Because of his excessive spending his estate became almost destroyed and his heir was forced to auction the contents of Lowther Castle. 

The exhibtion also includes lots to do for children and families - igloo-making workshops because the Earl visited Alaska and claimed to have reached the North Pole. There will also be circus skills, Wii boxing and dressing up - as well as all the museum's normal galleries and hands-on exhibits.

'The Yellow Earl – the Life of Hugh Lowther' opens at 10am on Saturday, April 2. To book, or find out more, visit www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk, or call 01946 592302.

For more information about The Beacon Museum please visit the following link: https://thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk/. 

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