Writer Alice Thornton, who lived through the English Civil War, penned several volumes about her life as a 17th century woman during turbulent times.
But one of the books had been presumed missing since early last century, leaving a gap in her story – until now.
Now that missing volume has been found in Durham Cathedral.
Dr Cordelia Beattie, a senior lecturer in medieval history at the University of Edinburgh, made the discovery while researching the cathedral’s archive collections.
Alice Thornton, born in Kirklington in North Yorkshire, was the daughter of the Lord Deputy of Ireland, but fell into poverty following the death of her husband.
She started her autobiography, My first Booke of my Life, when she was 47.
Her eldest daughter, also named Alice, married Thomas Comber, Dean of Durham.
The cathedral discovery has finally put an end to the speculation surrounding the contents of what was Alice’s second manuscript, with Dr Beattie confirming that it revises material covered in the first book, as well as dealing at length with matters of Thornton’s inheritance and finances.
Dr Beattie made the discovery in the cathedral archives after researching Thomas Comber, who was the Dean of Durham from 1689.
Dean Comber’s papers were given to the cathedral library in 1969, one of which was titled Comber 7 and described as “a journal of his wife Alice”.
Today's must-read news, sport and entertainment
Despite the description, Dr Beattie had a hunch that the text was in fact the missing second book of 291 pages.
After examining the text, and finding it was indeed written in Thornton’s own handwriting, Dr Beattie’s judgement was confirmed.
“I am very excited that we can now read Alice Thornton’s autobiographical writings as she intended them to be read,” said Dr Beattie. “It is clear that she saw them as interconnected books as they cross-reference each other.”
The full text of this volume has never been made available to the public, although selected extracts were published by the Surtees Society in 1875.
Founded in 1834, the Surtees Society is dedicated to the publication of manuscripts related to the history of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria.
The Durham Cathedral manuscript is the second of two Cordelia Beattie has located. She found another book by Alice Thornton among private family papers in December 2018. This manuscript is a book of remembrances.
Alison Cullingford, head of collections at Durham Cathedral, said: “We are thrilled that Dr Beattie has made this discovery. The cathedral’s archives are an exceptional record of over 1,000 years of history and this find shows that there are always new and exciting stories to explore.”
Dr Beattie and her colleague from the University of Edinburgh, Dr Suzanne Trill, are currently seeking funding to publish Alice Thornton’s work in print and online.
