Rhoda Birley

Rhoda Vava Mary Birley was born on 3 February 1899 in County Carlow ^[2] to Catherine Henrietta Pike (née Howard; c.1858–1930) ^[3][4] and Robert Lecky Pike (c.1858–1933).^[5][6] Birley's birth year is sometimes miscited as 1900.^[7]

Birley grew up in Kilknock House in County Carlow.^[8] On the 14 September 1921, Birley married the portrait painter Oswald Birley at St Mary's Church, in St Marylebone, London.^[9][10] The couple had two children Maxime de la Falaise, born in 1922, and Mark Birley, born in 1930.^[11][12][13]

In 1931, Birley and Oswald bought 12th century Charleston Manor in East Sussex. In 1932, the couple employed Walter Godfrey to restore the property, and to transform the properties barn into a concert hall.^[14] Birley designed the gardens, and planted them alongside Oswald.^[15][14]

Rhoda Birley founded the Charleston Manor Festival, initially calling it the Sussex Festival.^[7][15] The festival emerged from poetry recitals, readings and talks that Birley began organising at the Manor in 1935.^{[citation needed]}

Charleston Manor was sold in 1980.^[16]

Birley died on the 15 June 1981 aged 82.^[17]

In 1928, William Reid Dick carved a stone bust of Birley.^[18] Birley was the inspiration for Peter Jensen's Spring 2017 Ready-to-wear collection.^[19][20]

• Charleston Farmhouse, a similarly named property also in East Sussex, which holds the similarly named "Charleston Festival"