She was a philanthropist,[2] a Lady of Grace of the Order of St John,[3] Marchioness of Maranham,[4] and was known within Wales by her bardic name, Rhiannon.

She was born into the royal house of Marchudd ap Cynan, the founder of the VIII Noble Tribe of North Wales.

Cynan's descendants, the Lloyds of Plas yn y Gwrych were based in the Parish of Abergele, where Winifred, through her ancestors shared co-sanguinity with Llywelyn the Great.

[7] Growing up, Winifred Bamford Hesketh lived at her family's residences in London, Torquay and Gwrych Castle.

There is an account of Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein staying at Gwrych in September 1901, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, where they then went on a day trip to Caernarfon.

Feeling distraught, her daughter, Louisa Hamilton fainted on the platform at Chester Station whilst waiting for her connection to Abergele, on the way to the service at Llanddulas.

In 1914, Winifred supplied warm clothing to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Denbighshire Hussars, following an appeal,[25] in November of the same year, she presented a large ambulance (presumably a Ford Model T) fully equipped and accompanied by a driver to the Red Cross Society (seventh division), she also donated a great deal of anaesthetics to several hospitals, she stressed that there was urgent need for chloroform at the base hospitals.

In 1899 & 1900 she was involved in a bitter dispute with the District Council over road improvements, and as a consequence she felled an avenue of trees much loved by the inhabitants of Abergele.

[35] In 1900, the association held an exhibition at 83 Eaton Square, (which was Winifred's address in London) at which; Princess of Wales visited.

[36] In the same year, Winifred opened an exhibition at the Anglesey branch of the Welsh industries, which was held at Menai Bridge.

[41] It is not known for how long she held the position, however in an article from 1914, she is mentioned as being the president of 'Vale of Clwyd Toys', a company which was founded by a Mary Heaton in 1909.

[42][43][44] Knowing how vulnerable local poor people were during the winter months, like her father before her, Winifred would often donate firewood from the fell at her properties to keep them warm.

Winifred was a member of the NSPCC, which often held parties at the Queen's Hall to raise money for preventing cruelty to children.

[47] She was also one of the leading members of the 'children's happy evenings association', an organisation which raised money to fund the purchase of sports equipment.

The charity is based in Groes Llwyd, Abergele and owns ten purpose-built, one bedroom bungalows for elderly residents.