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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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