A Forgotten Princess: Irene Duleep Singh and the Evolution of Mental Health and Law
Erasmus Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7AD
**UPDATE: Online recording now available. Password = @yig&r42
Join us at Erasmus Darwin House, and online, for a free two-day Heritage Open Days event on Princess Irene Duleep Singh (1889–1926), the last legitimate child of the Sikh royal family of Punjab, whose family once possessed the world-famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, now part of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Born in exile to an English mother in 1889 and ended her life in 1926, Princess Irene’s story offers a unique lens on empire, mental health, and law.
Main Talk (13.00–14.30, both days): A Forgotten Princess: Irene Duleep Singh and the Evolution of Mental Health and Law
DAY 1: Friday 12 Sept – Mental Health Focus (Deep Dives)
14.45–15.40: Princess Irene and the History of Mental Health: From ‘Neurasthenia’ and Freud to Today.
16.00–16.45: Litigation Drama After Death: Princess Irene’s Remaining Family Fight for Her Estate
DAY 2: Saturday 13 Sept – Legacy Focus (Deep Dives)
14.45–15.40: The Warrior Princess Juxtaposed — Irene beside her suffragette half-sister, Sophia Duleep Singh.
16.00–16.45: Curse of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond — empire, inheritance, and the decline of the Sikh royal family.
Bonus (TBC): guest heritage tour with Ramblings of a Sikh (Amar Singh) to Lichfield Cathedral’s Anglo-Sikh War Memorial.
Content warning: references to suicide. If you are struggling, please call Samaritans free on 116 123.
Timings & Tours
- Friday 12 September:
- Day 1 Fri 12 Sept, 13.00–16.45: Main Talk 13.00–14.30, Deep Dives 14.45–15.40 & 16.00–16.45
- Saturday 13 September:
- Day 2 Sat 13 Sept, 13.00–16.45: Main Talk 13.00–14.30, Deep Dives 14.45–15.40 & 16.00–16.45
- Friday 19 September:
- Online recording available
- Saturday 20 September:
- Online recording available
- Sunday 21 September:
- Online recording available
Location & directions
Erasmus Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7AD
- Directions:
- Wheelchair access is available for the tours. Due to the museum lift being out of order, in-person talks are not wheelchair accessible — but talks will also be available online. Nearest Car Parks: Lombard Street (WS13 6DW): Short walk Friary Inner (WS13 6QH): ~5 minutes’ walk Bird Street (WS13 6PR): Close to city centre Accessible Parking: Designated disabled spaces are available opposite the Cathedral, near the venue entrance. Additional Parking: JustPark offers reservable parking nearby, including Cherry Orchard and Friary Road. Public Transport: By Train: Lichfield City Station (~0.8 miles from the venue) By Bus: Main station on Birmingham Road — a short walk away.
- Contact on day:
- Sundeep Braich (email: [email protected])
- Telephone number:
- +447454516820
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking preferred
- Booking conditions:
- Pre-booking is preferred so we can plan for access needs. IN-PERSON: Limited places available, best to book via the website link below. ONLINE: You will need to book in order to receive the Zoom link for the event. Please email to reserve a place.
- Booking contact name:
- Sundeep Braich
- Booking telephone number:
- +447454516820
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking website:
- https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sundeep-braich-for-heritage-open-days-114986150901?_gl=1*1rars8l*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTkyMjYwMzc3OC4xNzU2NzM5OTc3*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NTY3Mzk5NzYkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTY3Mzk5NzYkajYwJGwwJGgw
Accessibility details
Please note: the museum lift is currently out of order. As a reasonable adjustment, all talks will also be available online. Step-free access is available via Cathedral Close and the herb garden. Disabled parking is located opposite the Cathedral, near the entrance, and an accessible toilet is available inside the museum. If you have any access needs, please get in touch — we’ll do our best to help. Refreshments will be provided for this event, although this is not a typical feature at the museum.
Additional information
Content warning: references to suicide. If you are struggling, please call Samaritans free on 116 123. Free entry, limited places — please email [email protected] stating whether you want to attend in person (Lichfield, Staffordshire) or online via Zoom. This event has the potential to be popular, so pre-booking is preferred to avoid disappointment and to help ensure that any access needs or reasonable adjustments can be planned in advance. If attending online, you’ll receive a Zoom link by email before the event. (Zoom is free to download and use)
- Max no of people per tour:
- 25
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)
