Background
She was born Sibyl Halsey in Wimbledon into a noted family in society and lived in Cawnpore, India, until the age of 20 when she went on the Grand Tour.
She was born Sibyl Halsey in Wimbledon into a noted family in society and lived in Cawnpore, India, until the age of 20 when she went on the Grand Tour.
They set up home at Argyll House, King"s Road, Chelsea and at Old Buckhurst in Kent. The advent of war cut short this partnership. During the Second World War, she organised a soup kitchen and continued to entertain.
She often held small lunch parties at The Dorchester known as "Ordinaries" after which the guest would receive a small bill.
In 1944 the business, managed by John Fowler, took a lease on 39 Brook Street, Mayfair where it remains to this day. Also in 1944 Sibyl Colefax sold the business to Nancy Tree (Nancy Lancaster as she became in 1948) for a sum in the order of £10000.
She renamed the business Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler Limited, the name continuing today as the decorating division of the Colefax Group Plc.
Sibyl Colefax died at her home in Lord North Street, Westminster on 22 September 1950. Harold Nicolson penned an affectionate tribute that appeared shortly after in The Listener.
A Passion for Friendship by Kirsty McLeod.
Michael Joseph, London, 1991. Great Hostesses by Brian Masters. Constable, London, 1982.
"John Fowler, Prince of Decorators" by Martin Wood.
Frances Lincoln, London 2007.