Laura Gwendolen Douglas Galton Gascoigne

In 1892 she married Frederic Charles Trench Gascoigne on the 16th of February 1892. He was the son of Colonel Fredrick Charles Trench and Mary-Isabella Oliver Gascoigne and the nephew of Elizabeth Gascoigne from whom he inherited Lotherton Hall. This became the couple's family home. They had three children together:[7] Alvary Douglas Frederick Trench-Gascoigne, Cynthia Mary Trench-Gascoigne (Hill, once she married) and Edward Oliver Trench Gascoigne, who died as an infant.[8][9]

In 1905 the couple inherited Parlington Hall and moved many of the furnishings from Parlington to Lotherton.[10] Colonel and Mrs. Gascoigne made Lotherton their family home and abandoned Parlington hall which was demolished by the couple in 1950. They equipped Lotherton with central heating and electricity, [11] restored the chapel[12] and added a drawing room, dining room, entrance hall, and servant's wing.[10]

In the 1930s the Gascoignes had a lift installed as Colonel Gascoigne was too elderly to get up and down the stairs. After he passed away in 1937,[10] Lady Gascoigne used the lift until one day it became jammed and she was stuck in it for several hours. After that she refused to use it and insisted on being carried up to bed.[13]

Lady Gascoigne had a keen interest in gardening. She used this knowledge and passion to redo the Lotherton gardens to her liking.[14] Lady Gascoigne and her well known gardening friends of the time William Goldring and Ellen Willmott, designed the Lotherton gardens to complement the rooms of the house. The gardens she designed cover eight acres of the front of the hall as were a project that started between 1903 and 1949.[15] The gardens are made up of walled roses, a rockery and a herbaceous borders.[16]

During the First World War Lotherton Hall was transformed into a Voluntary Aid Detachment hospital, catering to injured soldiers. Lady Gascoigne was Commandant of the hospital and her daughter Cynthia was on the nursing staff. Cynthia was also in charge of the soldier's entertainment and organized card parties, concerts, and shoots on the estate. Due to her work in the war Lady Gascoigne was awarded a CBE in 1918.[17] The following year she was also awarded the title of Lady of Grace of the Order of St. Johns Jerusalem. [18]

After her death Lotherton Hall was passed down to her son Sir Alvary Gascoigne.[19]