Events

The image is a picture of an old building in red brick with large windows made up of smaller panes of glass including some with arches. In the centre of the building are steps leading up to an entrance. In front of the building are trees and a pavement with people walking along.

One Day FREE Academic Conference CfP ‘Broken Bonds: New Perspectives on Marital Breakdown in the English Common Law World 1801-1969’, 20th April 2026, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne & Online

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Marital breakdown is not a modern phenomenon. Options available to separating spouses in the English Common Law World were, however, heavily restricted by gender and economic status, with wives occupying a significantly more vulnerable position. Before 1857, full divorce remained the preserve of wealthy men who could navigate the expensive Parliamentary divorce process. The Divorce […]

One Day FREE Academic Conference CfP ‘Broken Bonds: New Perspectives on Marital Breakdown in the English Common Law World 1801-1969’, 20th April 2026, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne & Online Read More »

The image is the logo for the project with the words: New Histories of Divorce in the centre in black writing. This is on top of a pale green background. Surrounding the text is the outline of two faces, looking away from each other.

One day FREE Workshop: Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform in Marital Breakdown, Domestic Abuse and Child Welfare, 20th January 2026 Virtual Event

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This FREE one-day workshop showcases the results of a groundbreaking two-year interdisciplinary project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council: ‘A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1858-1923’. Led by Dr Jennifer Aston with Dr Diane Ranyard at Northumbria University Law School, the project offers the first large-scale, systematic examination of historical

One day FREE Workshop: Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform in Marital Breakdown, Domestic Abuse and Child Welfare, 20th January 2026 Virtual Event Read More »

The image is an old etching of a church in black ink on an off-cream background. The church has a central tower and spire, and around it are other areas of the church building with pointed roofs, smaller spires and arched windows. Around the etching of the church is a circular border of leaves, and in the bottom left-hand corner are the words: ST SAVIOURS SOUTHWARK.

Tuesday 29th July 2025 – Dr Jennifer Aston’s paper on Marital Status and Credit at the World Economic History Congress

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Dr Jennifer Aston will be giving a paper ‘Marital Status and Credit: navigating the legal constraints of being a married woman in England and Wales 1850–1925’ at the World Economic History Congress in Lund, Sweden  https://wehc2025.com/ This will be part of the panel: Following The Money: Insights on Women’s Engagement in Finance in Industrialized and

Tuesday 29th July 2025 – Dr Jennifer Aston’s paper on Marital Status and Credit at the World Economic History Congress Read More »

The image is a black and white sketch of the inside of the Divorce Court from 1910, which is a large room. The central focus of the image is a woman dressed in a hat and dress who is stood at the witness box/stand, and she is being questioned by a legal professional who is dressed in a long black gown and a wig. He is stood up on the right of the image and is surrounded by other men who are sat down and dressed in similar clothing. On the left-hand side of the image is a man sat high up behind a desk who is the judge. He is also dressed in a black gown and wig, and he is reading some papers in front of him. In front of him is a larger desk with five men in suits sat writing or reading and there are books and papers piled up on the desk. At the back of the image behind the woman at the witness box/stand are another 12 men who are sat in what appears to be a public gallery.

Tuesday 8th July 2025 – Dr Jennifer Aston’s paper on divorce at the Social History Society Conference

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Dr Jennifer Aston will be presenting a paper called ‘Navigating Mental Illness in the Pre-1937 Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes’ at the 49th Annual Social History Society Conference at the Black Country Living Museum. This will be on Tuesday 7th July 2025 as part of Panel 4 from 2.15-3.45pm on ‘Constructing (In)sanity in 19th

Tuesday 8th July 2025 – Dr Jennifer Aston’s paper on divorce at the Social History Society Conference Read More »

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 »

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  

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Dr Jennifer Aston, the Principal Investigator on this project, will be presenting at the 2024 British Legal History Conference, with a paper called Domestic Abuse and Pregnancy in Marriage in England and Wales, 1858-1918: Evidence from the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes.   This year’s British Legal History Conference: Insiders and Outsiders in the

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

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