Mitford family to "The Times" journalist Ben Macintyre, as "Diana the Fascist, Jessica the Communist, Unity the Hitler-lover; Nancy the Novelist; Deborah the Duchess and Pamela the unobtrusive poultry connoisseur". The family traces its origins in Northumberland back to the time of the Norman conquest. In the Middle Ages they had been Border Reivers based in Redesdale. The main family line had seats at Mitford Castle and Mitford Old Manor House prior to Mitford Hall in 1828. The sisters achieved notoriety for their controversial but stylish lives as young people, then for their public political divisions between communism and fascism. Nancy and
Sisters of the Holy Family of Helmet Sisters of the Holy Family of Helmet The Religious Sisters of the Holy Family of () are a congregation of women founded in Belgium to provide education to young women in most need. They were founded by three sisters, Rosalie, Henriette and Mélanie Van Biervliet in 1856. The members of the congregation use the post-nominal initials of R.S.F. after their names. The sisters were among the ten children born at the start of the 19th century to Pierre-Francois Van Biervliet and his wife, Marie-Jeanne, residents of Izegem in the West Flanders region of the country. Five of the children died