The Agatha d'Ascoyne Papers

Odhams Press published the "Woman Weekend Book Number Two" in 1950. I have recently acquired a copy, it is inscribed: " To Margaret with love from Aunt Elsie, Xmas 1950". The first section is called "Woman to Woman" and contains a series of letters on general topics. They are very telling on what it was like to be a woman at the turn of this oppressive decade: Enjoying Bad Health Some months ago, my husband was at home on washday, and helped with the washing and mangling. By 10.30am he was asking if it were not time for "elevenses" yet, and added thoughtfully he hadn't realised what hard work washing is. The result of his efforts was an all-electric washing machine. Just before Christmas I was unfortunately ill (or should I say fortunately?) and though the machine did the family wash, I couldn't tackle the ironing. My husband came to the rescue, bless him, but the job took from 7.15pm till just after eleven. I was ill for three weeks, and...

 Letter to Home Chat's problem page, February 1951: Is it true that men never fall for clever women? The reason I ask is because I'm thirty and my love affairs have always stopped short of marriage. I've men friends - but that's all. I'm particularly frustrated at present because a man I care for has just got engaged to a completely feather brained little creature! I'm a qualified accountant, and considered capable and successful - I'd exchange it all for a really happy marriage! Answer: This is one of those questions on which it is impossible to generalise, my dear. I think it all depends on the girl herself and also on the men that she meets. I'm sure it's not true to say that men never fall for clever women - there are scores of happily married, clever women! But I do think - and I mean this very seriously - that a woman who flaunts her cleverness will find it hard to get a beau! It's a fatal mistake for a woman to make her superior knowledge ...

 On Hallie Rubenhold's "Story of a Murder" (Doubleday, 2025). I wanted to review this book heere as a portrait of women's lives in the Edwardian era. Hallie Rubenhold's study of the Dr Crippen case is fascinating and a thumping good read. No, you really could thump a chauvinist with it and get satisfying results. But though it is a heavy book in weight terms, I immersed myself in the text and it was over far too soon. As you would expect from the author of books such as "The Five" - about the Jack the Ripper case from the perspective of the victims - this book concentrates on the three women in Crippen's life, arguably all of them victims of his quietly evil self-regard. We all know his name, but how many knew the name of the wife that he butchered? First of all, we are introduced to Charlotte, Crippen's first wife. Her death was suspicious but never investigated. Was this a "successful murder" that gave him the confidence to do it agai...

If you've been reading my Stitchwitch Directive posts and are interested in using the female stronghold of sewing as a means of empowerment, here's my thoughts on the connections between sewing and the ancient goddess Brigid.  Goddess of Smithcraft: The Stitchwitch's tools are a product of smithcraft - we wield the needle, the pin and the scissors. Thank Brigid for a finely crafted pair of scissors (Sheffield forged of course). Goddess of Creativity: We produce poetry in the form of stitches. What we make can deliver a profound message on who we are, what we want to be, our view of the world. Goddess of Healing: When we darn or patch we are healing an item of clothing so that it can continue its useful life.  Bringer of Light: If anyone needs a good source of strong light, it's us! Brigid's festival falls at Imbolc - the time of year when the light strengthens and spring begins to show its green shoots. Celebrate this time (early February) by beginning a new project...

Hastings, May 1946 The Hastings and St Leonards Observer reported on the recent assembly of the Railway Clerks Association.  Almost 600 delegates attended from around the country - and with accompanying partners this resulted in an "invasion" of an estimated 1000 people. It was a welcome invasion, as it was reckoned that between them they spent over £5,000 over the course of the week. Topics under discussion were what you might expect at a trade union meeting at that time in history - the rebuilding of Europe, Stalin, Communism, overtime and pay. And then the topic of women workers...who as we all know had just spent the war years helping to keep the trains and buses running. Here's where we were at in May 1946: Women figured prominently in the debate on a Bristol motion urging that women railway clerks should be permitted to continue their railway service after marriage. There was an amendment by Glasgow Central to introduce the words "only in exceptional circumstan...

 From Everywoman magazine, July 1947, illustrating the inherent misogyny at the heart of marriage arrangements: " A man I know was "badly treated" by a girl. She first required of him a most expensive courtship, which was ended by an equally lavish engagement ring, and she then proceeded to have all sorts of costly fancies in the fitting up of the new house. About a week before the wedding, however, she got on a plane for New York with a wealthy American.  I hope for his sake he's not the marrying kind.  Having observed the whole sad story of the engagement from what might be called a ringside seat, I asked a legal brain what redress a man has when thus treated. Can he sue for "breach"? I asked. The reply was - theoretically yes; but he would have to convince a jury that he had really suffered damage in losing the girl, whereas most of them would think that they'd had a terrific stroke of luck. "So it comes to this", I said, " a girl can ...