Dr Diane Ranyard
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dianeranyard.bsky.social
Dr Diane Ranyard
@dianeranyard.bsky.social
4.2K followers 1.6K following 10 posts
Historian researching marriage & divorce @ Northumbria Law School working on ESRC funded @divorcehistory.bsky.social. Interested in social, cultural, legal, gender, class & emotions history
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dianeranyard.bsky.social
Dr Diane Ranyard @dianeranyard.bsky.social · Nov 10
It's great to have new followers and to see so many historians on bsky. If you're interested in finding out about the project I'm working on with PI @drjenniferaston.bsky.social about the history of divorce then give us a follow on bsky.app/profile/divo...
bsky.app
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
drjenniferaston.bsky.social
Do you work on #domesticabuse #divorce #economicabuse #childcustody in the third sector/policy? Then we have the workshop for you! 'Archives to Action' is a free 1-day workshop exploring the important role archival research can play in policy reform. Details 👇
www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/new...
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
ihr.bsky.social
🎉 All stipendiary IHR Fellowships, Bursaries, & Prizes are now LIVE! 🎉

universityoflondon.smapply.io/prog/lst/

(All of our open competitions start with "IHR" in the title.)

Got a question? Please check the application page & our website for more information.

www.history.ac.uk/fellowships-...
Programs - School of Advanced Study
universityoflondon.smapply.io
November 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
drjenniferaston.bsky.social
Calling all #lawyers #policymakers #charityworkers #genealogists #familyhistorians #archivists! This FREE workshop on 20 Jan 2026 will showcase #divorce project findings & welcome speakers from policy, practice & the 3rd sector to highlight the power of #archival research. In person/hybrid. Details👇
November 11, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
See below for details of a FREE one-day workshop 'Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform in Marital Breakdown, Domestic Abuse, and Child Welfare' held @northumbriauni.bsky.social on Tuesday 20 January 2026.

www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/new...
Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform
This 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 ...
www.northumbria.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
whoamiftr.bsky.social
Great news!
#Genealogy
#FamilyHistory
britishlibrary.bsky.social British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 16d
We’re launching our new catalogue on Monday 8 December.

To keep our collections safe while we do this, access and ordering will be suspended for a week before launch and all requests for 8 December onwards must be made on the new system when it launches.

Find out more: bit.ly/CollectionSu...
A person reaches for an item from a shelf of books.
November 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
royalhistsoc.org
We've two new titles forthcoming in our New Historical Perspectives book series:

> Gareth Roddy's 'Atlantic Isles' is published on 30 October bit.ly/3WFhpRg
> Rachael Harkes's 'Forging Fraternity' is available from 6 November bit.ly/4ogSm2H

Full details from @uolpress.bsky.social #Skystorians 1/2
Cover images for the two forthocming titles in the New Historical Perspectives book series: 'Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880–1940', by Gareth Roddy Forging Fraternity in Late Medieval Society. The Palmers' Guild of Ludlow, by Rachael Harkes
October 15, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
royalhistsoc.org
This week we welcomed 248 new Fellows, Associate Fellows, Members and Postgraduate members to the Royal Historical Society following a meeting of the RHS Council bit.ly/4o0xhJV

Applications to join the Society are invited at any time: next closing dates 13 Oct & 15 Dec bit.ly/3VQTFcF

#Skystorians
Society elects 248 new Fellows, Associate Fellows, Members and Postgraduate Members - RHS
At its latest meeting on 12 September 2025, the RHS Council elected 73 Fellows, 62 Associate Fellows, 50 Members and 63 Postgraduate Members, a total of 248 people newly associated with the Society, f...
bit.ly
October 4, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
At the World Economic History Congress in Lund? wehc2025.com #WEHC2025 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’ on 29th July 2025 from 9.30-10.30am in Universitetshuset, Room 125.
World Economic History Congress 2025
wehc2025.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
...had deserted him in September 1900 after informing him that ‘she did not intend to live with him again’. If you’d like to find out what happened next, and why we saw Mary Alice and John Burke back in the Divorce Court you can read our latest blog here shorturl.at/F6F80 (16/16)
If at first, you don’t succeed...Remarriage and the Divorce Court - A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1857-1923
In our last blog we focused on suits for restitution of conjugal rights and how they could be used in repeat applications to the Divorce Court as a means to prove desertion in a divorce case and circumvent the usual two-year period of desertion. In this blog we’re going to continue with the theme of […]
shorturl.at
May 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
In case you missed it, here’s out latest blog ‘If at first, you don’t succeed...remarriage and the Divorce Court’ that looks at a couple with links to the #Guinness brewing family who used legislation to reconcile their romantic entanglements #Divorce #LegalHistory #Genealogy #Remarriage (1/16)
Image Description: The marriage certificate for Mary Alice and John Burke’s second marriage on 15 February 1896 from the divorce case file J 77/715/1722 Alternate Text: The image is of a marriage certificate that is on off white paper. The wording and format of the document are printed in green ink and there is a seal printed on the bottom right-hand side in a red/orange colour. The document has been filled in with handwriting in black ink. It says that the marriage took place at the Register Office in the District of St George’s Hanover Square in the County of London. The date of the marriage is the Fifteenth of February 1896 between John Burke and Mary Alice Burke. John Burke is 30 years old listed as a Bachelor (falsely) and under ‘Rank or Profession’ it says ‘Of Independent Means’. He is living at Artillery Mansions on Victoria Street at the time of the marriage and his father is listed as John Burke (deceased) who was a Merchant. Mary Alice Burke is 29 years old and listed as a Widow (falsely) and was living at 16 North Street, Westminster. Her father is listed as Henry Vansittart Riddell (deceased) a Colonel B.S.C. The document also notes the witnesses to the marriage and who conducted the ceremony. Image Citation: The National Archives; London, England, UK; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/715/1722; Series Number: J 77; Piece Number: 715
May 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
Our latest blog ‘If at first, you don’t succeed... #remarriage and the #Divorce Court’ focuses on a couple with links to the #Guinness brewing family and gives a unique glimpse into their attempts to reconcile their romantic entanglements with legislations #legalhistory #genealogy shorturl.at/F6F80
Image Description: All Saints Church, Binfield where Mary Alice and John Burke’s first marriage took place. Alternate Text: The image is of a small village church that is surrounded by a grassed graveyard that is filled with multiple tombstones. There is a path leading up to the church entrance which is in the shape of an arch. The church is made of small, pebbled bricks with arched windows and has a sloped tiled roof. There is a small tower on the left side of the church. Image Citation: All Saints Church, Binfield by Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
April 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
Thanks to @hartpublishing.bsky.social you can also read the Introduction of the book for free here: tinyurl.com/bdfe8u9d #womenshistory #legalhistory Image Credit: London – St Saviours Church, Southwark by Chronicle/ Alamy Stock Photo (11/11)
collection Point
tinyurl.com
March 28, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
Find out what happened to Margaret by reading the rest of this blog on our website tinyurl.com/4tz2wb34 This is also the topic of a new book by Dr Jennifer Aston and Professor Olive Anderson, Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th Century England and Wales: For Wives Alone. (10/11)
The Most Radical Legislation of the Nineteenth Century: ‘Wherefore She Prays for an Order for the Protection of her Earnings and Property’  - A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1857-1923
On an unseasonably warm Wednesday in May 1825, Miss Margaret Shands travelled to St Saviour’s Church, Southwark, to marry mariner, Alexander Christie. They set up home together on Watling Street in the City of London and were joined by a daughter, Rebecca in 1827, and a son, William, in 1830. The Christie’s marriage (perhaps unsurprisingly, […]
tinyurl.com
March 28, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
For #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM we’re reposting our blog on one of the most radical pieces of legislation in 19thC England that women could use, protection orders. The topic of the book Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce by Dr Jennifer Aston and Professor Olive Anderson. #womenshistory #women (1/11)
Credit: London – St Saviours Church, Southwark by Chronicle/ Alamy Stock Photo ALT TEXT: 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.
March 28, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
...you can read our latest blog here: hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/divorce_hist... #genealogy #familyhistory #history #marriage #divorce #letters (9/9)
‘Are [you] prepared to put away this woman and make a home for me...’: applications for restitution of conjugal rights in the Divorce Court  - A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1857-1923
What was a restitution of conjugal rights?  Divorce was the most common form of litigation in the Divorce Court. But as we discussed in an earlier blog, there were other forms of litigation available to deal with marital discord. In this blog we’re going to focus on one of those, a restitution of conjugal rights, […]
hosting.northumbria.ac.uk
March 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
#genealogy #familyhistory #history #marriage #divorce #letters On the 16 June 1885, a 23-year-old Miss Charlotte Jane Bell (the daughter of a local gentleman) married Charles Marshall Dix (a 30-year-old widower) at the Parish Church in the small market town of Louth in Lincolnshire. After... (1/9)
Image Description: The front cover of a petition for a restitution of conjugal rights, Dix v. Dix. Image Citation: The National Archives; London, England, UK; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/904/7439; Series Number: J 77; Piece Number: 904 Alt Text: This image is the front cover of an old paper Divorce Court case file. It is a dirty shade of cream with black writing on it, some printed and some handwritten. The writing says 7439 in the top right-hand corner. On the left the letters UND. are stamped in red with the numbers 119 handwritten next to it. Below this in print it says: In the High Court of Justice PROBATE, DIVORCE, AND ADMIRALTY DIVISION (DIVORCE.) In handwriting it says: W.R.C.R. Below in handwriting it then says: Dix Charlotte Jane v Dix Charles Marshall. Below this in print it says: COURT MINUTES. Below this in black print it says Petition Filed, followed by the date 27th February 1907 handwritten in black ink. Below this in print it says Setting Down Cause, followed by the date 4 May 1907 handwritten in black ink. Below this in print it says Decree Nisi with the Nisi crossed through and RCR written on instead. This is followed by the date 31 July 1907 handwritten in black ink. Below this in print it says Final Decree, with no date written in. Below this handwritten in black ink are the words ‘Further proceedings for W.D.’ On the left-hand page at the bottom is a green sticker and on it are the words: Closed until 2008. Stamped on top of this in red ink is a cross with the words CANCELLED inside.
March 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
As it’s #InternationalWomensDay you can read a free chapter from @drjenniferaston.bsky.social and Professor Olive Anderson’s new book: Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales: For Wives Alone? tinyurl.com/bdfe8u9d #history #legalhistory #womenshistory #genealogists
Image Description: The Front Cover of the book Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales 'For Wives Alone' Jennifer Aston and Olive Anderson. Alt Text: The image is of some books. One faces forward and you can read the front cover. On that it says. Deserted Wives and Economic Divorce in 19th-Century England and Wales 'For Wives Alone' Jennifer Aston and Olive Anderson. The wording is in white against a dark blue background. Below the wording is an image of a courtroom from the 19th-Century. A woman is stood in the centre facing a male judge who is sat behind his desk. Around them are sat other men who are in wigs and robes or suits. Next to this book are 5 others where you can see the spine which also includes the title and author names.
March 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
In our latest blog we explore restitution of conjugal rights. A type of matrimonial cause available in the #DivorceCourt to deal with #desertion, #childcustody and #maintenance issues that could also be used as evidence of desertion in a #divorce case

hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/divorce_hist...
Image Description: An extract from a ‘Come back to me’ letter described in an affidavit from the Dix v. Dix restitution of conjugal rights petition. Image Citation: The National Archives; London, England, UK; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/904/7439; Series Number: J 77; Piece Number: 904 Alt Text: The image is of a piece of old paper with faint lines drawn horizontally and one line vertically on the left-hand side creating a margin. On the horizontal lines are words written in a flowing handwriting in black ink. The quoted words from the letter have a double quote sign at the start of every line even though the quote has not ended, and it says: ‘2. That on the 20th December 1906 I wrote my husband a letter which was as follows:- “I think I have waited long “enough to see if anything would happen and “I now ask you to tell me definitely if you “are prepared to put away this woman and “make a home for me and Jacqueline”. Such letter was address[ed] by me to my husband at his office situated at 2 Collingwood Street Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he practices as a solicitor.
March 3, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
If you’d like to read more about the J77 files so that you can use them in your own research, or find out more about our trip then read our latest blog post here: hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/divorce_hist... (9/9)
New Year, New Stage of the Project! Our visit to The National Archives, Kew  - A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1857-1923
Last week we got to an exciting point in the project, with a visit to our Project Partners, The National Archives at their site in Kew. We, the Principal Investigator, Dr Jennifer Aston and Senior Research Assistant, Dr Diane Ranyard, spent 5 days exploring the archives.  So why were we there?  Our trip was a […]
hosting.northumbria.ac.uk
February 18, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
In January we got to an exciting point in the project, with a visit to our Project Partners #NationalArchivesUK in Kew. We, the Principal Investigator @drjenniferaston.bsky.social and Senior Research Assistant @dianeranyard.bsky.social spent 5 days at the archives. So why were we there? (1/9)
Image Description: The National Archives, Kew. Alt Text: This image is a photograph of the outside of The National Archives at Kew. The building is made of beige brickwork, large glass windows and grey roofs and canopies. In front of the building is a pond filled with water and railings around. At the front of the picture is a walkway with patterns in the stonework, including a circle. Image Description: The Book Launch for Dr Jessamy Carlson’s Approved Schools for Girls in England, 1933-1973. Alt Text: The image is a photograph that shows the inside of a lecture theatre. The focal point is a big screen that has a presentation visible. It says APPROVED SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS IN ENGLAND, 1933-1973 in a dark bold font, on a primarily yellow background with a white shape in the centre. In front of the screen are two chairs and a table with books on. The view is taken from the audience, and it is possible to see some of the chairs and attendees looking on. Image Description: A photograph of a trolley filled with J 77 box files. Alt Text: This image is a photograph of the inside of the National Archives reading room, and there are two trollies loaded with J 77 box files. One trolley is green, and the other is red. Both have three shelves that have multiple brown box files on them. Image Description: Photograph of the inside of a box file at the archives with a stack of divorce case files inside. Alt Text: This image is a photograph of a rectangular box file made of brown heavy cardboard, which is sat on a desktop made of light wood. The box file is open with the lid removed, inside the box is a pile of J 77 divorce case files. On top you can see the front cover of a J 77 file for Jane and Henry Alexander Mawson that has the number 6916 handwritten in black ink at the top.
February 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
As it’s Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week we’re resharing a blog written in collaboration with our project partner #WelshWomensAid #ITSNOTOK #domesticabuse #LegalHistory tinyurl.com/4y85uy3t
Finding the Words: Descriptions of Domestic Abuse in the Victorian Divorce Court  - A New Methodological Approach to the History of Divorce, 1857-1923
Content Note: Please be aware that this blog post contains descriptions of abuse that readers may find distressing. If Lucy’s story resonates, you can find relevant links and contact details for organisations who can offer advice and support at the end of this blog post.  While this blog does explore a divorce case from the […]
tinyurl.com
February 7, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
Find out what we've been working on recently in our latest blog 'New Year, New Stage of the Project! Our visit to #TheNationalArchives, Kew' hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/divorce_hist... #archives #divorce #Ancestry #legalhistory #genealogy #familyhistory #history
Image Description: The National Archives, Kew. Alt Text: This image is a photograph of the outside of The National Archives at Kew. The building is made of beige brickwork, large glass windows and grey roofs and canopies. In front of the building is a pond filled with water and railings around. At the front of the picture is a walkway with patterns in the stonework, including a circle.
January 31, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
As today (the first Monday of the year) is known as #DivorceDay our latest blog looks at a case from the Victorian Divorce Court that began in early January 1898 tinyurl.com/hcvb49n8 #Divorce #Separation #LegalHistory #History #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #TheNationalArchivesUK #Ancestry
Source Citation: Divorce Court 1910; Contributor: Chronicle/Alamy Stock Photo. Alternative Text: 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.
January 6, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
bsky.app
Merry Christmas from us to you 🎄🎁💙 We launched Trending Topics today, and you can find it by tapping the search icon on the bottom bar of the app or the right sidebar on desktop.
Screenshot of trending topics launched on Christmas 2025. Topics trending include: Virat Kohli, Red Panda, Porzingis, Post Malone, Beyoncé, Gavin and Stacey Finale, Sixers, A Complete Unknown, King Henry, Joel Embiid, Pentatonix
December 26, 2024 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Dr Diane Ranyard
divorcehistory.bsky.social
In case you missed our latest blog, Finding the Words: Descriptions of Domestic Abuse in the Victorian Divorce Court, is written in collaboration with project partner #WelshWomensAid. You can read the blog on our website here: tinyurl.com/4y85uy3t #Divorce #Christmas #DomesticAbuse #History
Image Citation: Christmas Eve by E C Bauer from Niday Picture Library/ Alamy Stock Photo Alternate Text: The image is an old painting of a snowscape. In the centre is an old church with a spire and there are lights shining out of the arched windows. In front of this is a road and a pavement that are covered in snow. There are a few trees at different points along the road, they have no leaves on them but there is snow on the branches. On the road are two horse drawn sleds with people sat inside in Victorian dress. On the snow-covered pavement are some people walking towards the church also dressed in Victorian clothing, these people include a man and woman walking together. The sky is a pale shade of blue with hues of sunlight shining through as the sun sets and there is a faint outline of the moon appearing.
December 24, 2024 at 8:44 AM