Poem - Blankney Masquerade

In her book, Henry Chaplin a Memoir, his daughter The Marchioness of Londonderry writes, 'an old yellow sheet of paper has been preserved on which in faded ink is written , A List of the Company as they danced at the Masquerade at Blankney, the 9th January 1749'. Shortly before the masquerade Diana Chaplin had been married and it is thought the event may of been held in her honour. Her father Thomas Chaplin had died in 1747 and it was presumed his unmarried son John Chaplin, Diana's brother, hosted the occasion. Today's poem was written based on details from that faded piece of paper and accompanying notes.

Blankney Masquerade

It was January 1749
The event, a masquerade ball
The occasion, to mark a society wedding
The place was Blankney Hall
Diana, daughter of the late Thomas Chaplin
Had allowed her heart to be won
By Lord George Sutton Manners
The Duke of Rutland's son
To mark this great occasion
A match in heaven made
Excited servants prepared the Hall
For the Blankney masquerade
John Chaplin, brother of the bride
Acting as mine host
Was in the guise of King Henry V111
As he rose to propose the toast
The groom appeared as a Spaniard
As a Jardiniere the bride did revel
And Sir Francis Dashwood, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Was there dressed up as the Devil
Among other guests that danced that night
In their costumes so bizarre
A Priest, a Russian, a Chimney Sweeper
A Vandyke, a Turk and Huzsar
Miss Mannering wore a black gown with stars
Representing night
Dominos, Dancers and Queen of the Scots
Helped to make such a dazzling sight
Oh to have been there, that January night
As a fly upon the wall
And witnessed the rich and colourful sight
Of the Blankney masquerade ball.

Rodney Garlant