Divorce History, Author at A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1857-1923

This is the front cover of a book in a dark blue with white lettering. The writing says Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales. 'For Wives Alone' By Jennifer Aston (Author) and Olive Anderson (Author). There is an image below the wording of the inside of the Divorce Court with a woman stood giving evidence in front of a courtroom full of men in suits.

Friday 6th December 2024 5.30-7.30pm – Book launch: Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales: For Wives Alone

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Come along to the book launch as part of the Women’s History Seminar Series at the Institute of Historical Research (or join online-via Zoom) for Dr Jennifer Aston and Professor Oliver Anderson’s new book: Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales: For Wives Alone. In this seminar we will be celebrating […]

Friday 6th December 2024 5.30-7.30pm – Book launch: Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales: For Wives Alone Read More »

This image is the front cover of an old paper Divorce Court case file. It is a dirty shade of cream with black writing on it, some printed and some handwritten. The writing says 7764 in the top right-hand corner. On the left the letters UND. are stamped in red with the numbers 145 handwritten next to it. Below this in print it says: In the High Court of Justice PROBATE, DIVORCE, AND ADMIRALTY DIVISION (DIVORCE.) In handwriting it says: H.D. Below in handwriting it then says: Lodge Frederick James v Lodge Mary Ann & Dudley Joseph. Below this in print it says: COURT MINUTES. Below this in black print it says Petition Filed, followed by the date 3 July 1907 handwritten in black ink. Below this in print it says Setting Down Cause, followed by the date 6 September 1907 handwritten in black ink. Below this in print it says Decree Nisi, followed by the date 11 Nov 1907 handwritten in black ink. Below this in print it says Final Decree, followed by the date 18 May 1908 handwritten in black ink. Below this is a square box with the letters DA inside, stamped in black ink. At the bottom are small illegible letters printed onto the sheet. On the back page which is visible when the sheet of paper is opened is a green sticker and on it are the words: Closed until 2009. Stamped on top of this in red ink is a cross with the words CANCELLED inside.

What’s in a divorce case file?

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In our last blog we outlined how to find Divorce Court records, so that you can use them in your own research, whether that’s for academic study or to explore your own family history. Once you start to delve inside the case files, you’ll find some fascinating information that can tell you a great deal

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This image is a photograph of the inside of an archive. There is green shelving running along both sides of the photograph from front to back. In the centre of the shelving is a grey walkway. On the shelving are light brown box files with white labels on them, and white ribbon wrapped around them. The walkway leads to a yellow door with circular handles on, the door is in the centre of the photograph in the distance.

How to find Divorce Court records (estimated read time 3 minutes)

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Over the next 18 months, we’ll be working in close partnership with The National Archives (TNA) to carry out the project ‘A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce’. TNA houses the records of the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes from 1858-1875 and its later iteration as the Supreme Court of Judicature, Probate,

How to find Divorce Court records (estimated read time 3 minutes) Read More »

The image is an old, coloured etching that is on a cream background. There is a yellow border in a rectangle shape, and within that are smaller rectangles (six running along the bottom by four high). There should be 24 equal boxes in total but on the top line the two central boxes are merged into one larger box with the following wording inside: "The art of talking with the fingers." The wording continues: "The learner will perceive, on a mere inspection, that the vowels, A,E,I,O and U, are represented by the thumb and fingers of the left hand, held up, as in the first figure. When a particular vowel is to be pointed out, it is to be done by distinctly touching the end of the finger which represents it, with the first finger of the right hand. The method of representing, or expressing, the other letters of the alphabet, is sufficiently described by the figures respectively annexed to the them in the plate, except that it will be necessary to point out to the learner the dotted lines in the figures H, and J. The first of these, proceeding from the end of the fingers of the left hand, indicates, that to express the letter H, the right-hand is to be passed over the left, passing it off in the direction of this line; whilst the second signifies, that to express the letter J, the end of the first finger of the right hand is to be drawn across the palm of the left hand, commencing the movement at the root or insertion of the first finger of the left hand. A fillip or flirt with the thumb and second finger of the right hand, is used to signify that the spelling of a word has been completed. It is hoped that this little publication will prove not merely the source of much innocent amusement, but that it will be found substantially valuable as a means of enabling persons unfortunately deprived of the usual organs of conversation, to carry on an intercourse with their friends." Within the other 22 boxes are etchings of hands showing sign language with corresponding letters of the alphabet next to them.

Deafness in the Divorce Court

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Content Note: Please be aware that this blog post contains descriptions of domestic abuse. It also includes historic language about deafness, directly quoted from a historic source. While we would not use this language ourselves, we have retained it here to accurately reflect the 19th century source material. On 25 July 1876, a solicitor by

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The image is an old coloured painting with the words THE LAW COURTS written in black writing in the bottom right-hand corner. The image shows a street with no road markings, and multiple horses and carts and old vehicles. On either side of the road are pavements with people dressed in Edwardian era clothing, and old tall grand buildings made of cream coloured stone on either side. The Law Court building is the focal point and imposing, with turrets, and arched windows.

Introduction to the Divorce Court

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The Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes (Divorce Court) was established as part of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 which became law in January 1858, removing jurisdiction over marriage breakdowns from ecclesiastical to civil courts in England and Wales. The creation of the new court improved access to divorce for many unhappily married spouses who

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Welcome to ‘New Histories of Divorce’

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Welcome to the Blog Series of the ‘New Histories of Divorce’ project. My name is Dr Jennifer Aston, and I am the Principal Investigator on the project and an Associate Professor in Law at Northumbria University. This project came about after I (like so many scholars before me) fell down an archival rabbit hole at

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The image is of the inside of an old stone building. There are three arches with steps leading up to them. On top of the image to the right is a green rectangle with white writing on top. The writing reads: 3-6 July 2024: Insiders and Outsiders in the History of Law.

4th July 2024 2-4pm – Dr Jennifer Aston – Presenting a paper on divorce at the British Legal History Conference 2024