Alice Thornton's Books: Remembrances of a Woman's Life in the Seventeenth Century

Lead Research Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of History, Classics and Archaeology

Abstract

This project will edit and make available online the four books of 'my life' that Alice Wandesford Thornton bequeathed to her daughter in 1707. Thornton was the daughter of a former Lord Deputy of Ireland and she married a member of the lesser gentry in North Yorkshire. Three of the manuscript books were edited in 1875, for the Surtees Society (dedicated to the history of north east England), and have been read widely for their insight into life in seventeenth-century England with its civil war, plague and high infant mortality rate. However, while Thornton's manuscripts retrace the events of her life multiple times, the 1875 edition created a single narrative from the three original volumes by placing the entries in chronological order. In so doing Thornton's original arrangement of her life story was obscured and some significant material was omitted. The whereabouts of the manuscripts was unknown for many decades. In 2009 two of the texts, the first and third books of her life, were acquired by the British Library but the second volume remained untraced. In 2019 it was traced to Durham Cathedral Library by Cordelia Beattie, who had also recently located a smaller 'Book of Remembrances,' also in Thornton's hand, in a chest in a terraced house in Shropshire.

Now that all the original manuscripts have been located, we are finally able to 'unedit' the Victorian edition and to ask both how this alters critical understanding of Thornton's life and texts in particular and what implications this has for the broader fields of early modern history and life-writing. While by no means the only woman to write her life in early modern England, Thornton's books offer an extraordinarily rich example of how a woman below the ranks of the nobility did so. The fact that she produced more than one version of it makes her even more exceptional. Although it has long been established that many male diarists (such as Pepys) curated their texts, such evidence does not appear to survive for early modern women writers.

This project will edit all four books and make them freely available on the web in a Digital Scholarly Edition (DSE) so as to reach the widest possible audience; the importance of this form of access has been highlighted at a time in which travel and library access has been curtailed by a global pandemic. The digital aspect of this project means that, as well as making each text available in its entirety, searches for key people, places and events are enabled, which will make it useful to those interested in an array of historical issues ranging from healthcare to the British civil wars. The encoding means that we will be able to show how the content changes between the different manuscript books and how Thornton drew on other sources, especially the Bible, to write about her life. Collectively, these factors will enable us to better appreciate Thornton as an early modern writer. The DSE will also contribute to existing debates on editorial methods within the Digital Humanities and allow future scholars to develop alternative approaches to our dataset.

The topics at issue are still of keen interest today and we aim to prompt critical reflection on present-day ideas of gender, religion, science and place and their relationship with the distant past through a series of public lectures at Durham Cathedral, talks to local history groups and blog posts on our website. For example, the writings of Alice Thornton, mother-in-law of a former Dean of the Cathedral, can encourage reflection on the longer history of women's role in the Church of England. Our project partner, Durham Cathedral, has also offered to host an exhibition of Thornton related manuscripts and a one-woman play in which Thornton's words are brought to life for a modern audience. In sum, the project seeks to rescue Alice Thornton from the nineteenth-century prism through which she has long been viewed and re-present her for a twenty-first century audience.

Publications

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Beattie C (2023) Book of Remembrances

 
Title The Remarkable Deliverances of Alice Thornton 
Description Researchers collaborated in the writing and development of a project stage play with Writer Performer Debbie Cannon, produced by Flavia D'Avila. 
Type Of Art Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact The play was presented to 50 people at Durham Cathedral in 2023. It will tour further UK arts festivals in 2024 e.g. Buxton. Audiences have reported increased interest and a change in views. We have had media interest, requests for further information from members of the public, and public involvement in the project as a result of performances to date. 
URL https://debbiecannon.org/the-remarkable-deliverances-of-alice-thornton/
 
Description We are starting to see our findings used by those outside academia. English Heritage have made use of our findings about Middleham Castle on one of their new interpretation boards and, now we have a partial edition and search interface live, a museum team in Lancashire are using some of our work in a forthcoming exhibition they are planning. The writer we worked with on the play is now taking it to festivals independently of us and she has started to talk to other professionals about how it might be repurposed as a radio drama. Family historians and independent researchers have started to use the search interface for their own research.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

 
Description Live Literature Part-Funded Sessions
Amount £115 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Book Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2024 
End 06/2024
 
Description Collaboration with English Heritage 
Organisation English Heritage
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Our research has informed the text of a new interpretation panel at English-Heritage run Middleham Castle.
Collaborator Contribution Senior properties historian, Dr Will Wyeth, joined our project board and he consulted with us on the final text for the interpretation panel and he pitched the podcast idea of an episode on Alice Thornton, which we participated in.
Impact Podcast first aired in July 2022. New interpretation panel installed at Middleham Castle in September 2022.
Start Year 2021
 
Description A podcast episode for 'History with H' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The project was asked if they would like to take part in a c.50 minute episode about Thornton. Jo Edge spoke about Thornton, the project and its connection to Middleham Castle. The project host was keen to learn more about the connection with the castle.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heatherrowe3/episodes/S1-E8---Lets-talk-about----Middleham-C...
 
Description Alice Thornton Week at Durham Cathedral 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We put on two public lectures (Beattie, Trill), four 'show and tell' exhibitions at Durham Cathedral in October 2023, and two performances of a play followed by a Q&A session. Audiences numbers were down on the bookings as there was a red weather warning issued. But the audiences were very engaged and feedback indicated increased interest and desire to learn more or to be further involved in the project. We have since had discussions with some attendees about other research leads and links with other heritage properties.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://thornton.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/posts/news/2023-07-26-durham-events-tickets-now-on-sale/
 
Description Being Human Cafe 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Three sold out project talks (60 people total) for general public, with crafts (an additional 10 people involved) and guided walks. Part of Being Human Festival. A partnership formed with a local community park and planning underway for a further summer event together. Audience all reported increased interest in the topic and a wish to engage further.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/alice-thorntons-cafe
 
Description Citizen Writers' Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A talk (Beattie, Trill, Edge) giving some background on Thornton and the project for a local writing group working on short stories inspired by the themes of the project. We have seen continued engagement with the writing group as the project develops, and additional engagement with a cohort of undergraduate illustration students at Edinburgh College of Art who are illustrating the writers' stories.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://thornton.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/posts/news/2023-11-21-citizen-writers/
 
Description Contributed to English Heritage podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Cordelia Beattie and Jo Edge took part in a podcast which focussed on Alice Thornton and her connection with an English Heritage property, Middleham Castle. It has had 24.5K listens so far and has led to some emails from listeners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://soundcloud.com/englishheritage/episode-173-civil-war-and-childbirth-alice-thornton-and-middl...
 
Description Facebook page for project 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We set up the page as an alternative to twitter and to reach a different demographic. We have 117 followers to date. Our posts have generated some questions about the project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://www.facebook.com/thornton.books
 
Description Interview for podcast, CavalierCast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Cordelia Beattie was interviewed for this podcast on the civil war period which regularly features in a ranking of top History podcasts as shared on social media. It has had 376 plays and has led to further contacts from people interested in our project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.buzzsprout.com/1194917/13556873-episode-28-alice-thornton-s-manuscripts
 
Description Interview on Durham OnAir Radio 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An interview about the project's background and the project's planned series of events taking place at Durham Cathedral. The intention was to share news of the project generally, the forthcoming events and how to get tickets.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Interviewed on BBC Radio Tees 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An interview about the project's background and the project's planned series of events taking place at Durham Cathedral. The intention was to share news of the project generally and the forthcoming events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Interviewed on local radio, EHFM 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Undergraduate student, who hosts a local radio show, requested an interview with Cordelia Beattie and Suzanne Trill to learn more about the project. The recording has been one of her more popular shows.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.mixcloud.com/jasmine-webster2/entry-16-alice-thornton/
 
Description Leith Scottish Women's Institute talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A talk for Leith Scottish Women's Institute group by Suzanne Trill. Presentation followed by lively Q&A and attendees reporting increased knowledge and interest.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://thornton.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/posts/news/2024-01-04-leith-swi-talk/
 
Description Project Bluesky account 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Bluesky provides an alternative to Instagram/Facebook/Twitter (x) and is currently a popular social media platform on which to reach historians, academics working in related fields, those in the GLAM sector and increasingly the general public. To date we have 333 followers and we have had questions about the project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://bsky.app/profile/thorntonsbooks.bsky.social
 
Description Project Instagram account 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Set up July 2023 to share project updates and as an alternative to Facebook / Twitter (x). We also use the gallery of images to showcase project themes in a way that is visually appealing. We have 213 followers to date. Via Instagram, we were contacted by the maker of a history podcast 'History with H'. This resulted in an episode on the project and Thornton's connection with Middleham Castle.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://www.instagram.com/thornton_books/
 
Description Project twitter (X) account 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We have tweeted about the project since 1 September 2021 to generate interest in the project and promote wider awareness of Alice Thornton and her writings. We have 1183 followers; our tweets reached 124.5K people in the first 6 months. We have had responses to tweets asking for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024
URL https://twitter.com/thornton_books
 
Description Project website, with news/blog section 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We launched the website in July 2022 and have had 32,876 unique visitors. We have published 28 blog posts so far, with new posts driving up traffic to the site on the day of release.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://thornton.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/posts/