CAROLINE NORTON EXHIBITION

About

FORTHCOMING CAROLINE NORTON EXHIBITION

Caroline Norton may no longer be a household name in in many homes up and down the country - but she is in ours - and we are telling her story this year as we believe that she is a pivotal figure in women's history.

Caroline Norton was a Georgian society beauty - born into the Sheridan family of artists and writers, she was hugely talented and incredibly attractive - with a wit to match any man of that time. She married the Hon. George Norton, the brother of 3rd Lord Grantley, and Markenfield is fortunate to hold a considerable number of her writings - letters, poems and plays.

Caroline's looks and her wit attracted many male admirers and after years of simmering jealousy, her husband accused her and Lord Melbourne - the Prime Minister of the time - of "Criminal Conversation" (or adultery as we would know it today).

The resulting trial was referred to as "the scandal of the century" and - although acquitted by the jury (in fact the case was thrown out of court) - it left Caroline cut off from her children and bankrupt - as both her children and her earnings were classed as the property of her husband.

So began Caroline's tireless fight for women's rights - at a time when really they had none.

She has been called one of the most important figures in women's history as her campaigning - including a published letters to the Lord Chancellor on the Infant Custody Bill and to the Queen on Lord Chancellor Cranworth's Marriage and Divorce Bill - were instrumental in shaping women's rights and the custody and divorce laws as we know them today.

The exhibition, which will be held at Markenfield during the Hall's annual open days, will draw on Caroline's written letters, plays and poems from the family archives; as well as other historical sources, to uncover the story of Mrs Norton. The Hall's team of Archive Volunteers has worked tirelessly all winter to transcribe the many documents in the collection, and to put together an exhibition that we hope will make Caroline a household name once more.

“When she died in 1877 her once scandalous and then virtuous reputation faded fast. Now everyone should now about Caroline Norton and her life and work, and every time a woman makes one step forward in securing justice and freedom, thank Caroline.” Diane Atkinson - biographer of Caroline Norton, author of The Criminal Conversation of Mrs Norton

Visitors to the Hall this year will be able to see the exhibition during the open days, which this year are: Sunday 29 April to Sunday 13 May and Sunday 10 to Sunday 24 June, 2:00pm to 5:00pm (last entry 4:30pm). For further information please see markenfield.com or call Sarah Robson on 01765 692303