Charlotte Julia Weale

Charlotte Julia Weale (9 December 1829 – 27 December 1918) was an English religious philanthropist. She assisted Mariquita Tennant helping abused women near Windsor and funded good causes. She was a keen Anglican who banned Catholics from entering her house.

Life Weale was born in Marylebone, London, in 1829, the daughter of James Weale who died when she was a child, and Susan de Vezian (died 1855). Her father was the librarian to John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield and the family had a large book collection of their own. Weale had a sister, Henrietta, and her brother was William Henry James Weale. One of her godparents was the theologian Hugh James Rose. A lifelong Anglican, she was confirmed by Bishop Blomfield in 1846.

She went to help Mariquita Tennant who lived in a large 16th century mansion, 'The Limes', in Clewer near Windsor. Mariquita Tennant had begun to take in 'helpless women'. By June 1849 she had twelve. These women could be unruly so she needed the help. However, Tennant herself could be a difficult person and none of her previous helpers had stayed very long, but Weale helped her for six months.

Weale was a great help and she documented not only the lives of the women they took in but Tennant's life as well. She recorded the daily routine and correspondence with supporters like William Gladstone. Tennant was not a fluent English speaker but she was ambitious. Tennant called Weale Sister Dorotea and she had grand plans to establish a religious order.

Weale returned to her home in Dorset, but she continued to support the work by employing women from 'The Limes' as servants at her home in Whitchurch Canonicorum. Her house gained class two listed status in 2004.