Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform in Marital Breakdown, Domestic Abuse, and Child Welfare

This one-day virtual 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 Divorce, 1858-1923'.

Led by Dr Jennifer Aston with Dr Diane Ranyard at Northumbria University Law School, the project offers the first large-scale, systematic examination of historical records from the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, established under the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act 1857.

Using an innovative interrelational database, the project combines detailed quantitative analysis of divorce petitions with meticulously researched case studies. This approach reveals, for the first time, a comprehensive (and sometimes surprising) history of the family court system in England and Wales, as well as stories of the women, men and children who navigated it.

Working alongside project partners The National Archives, CAFCASS and Welsh Women's Aid, and featuring guest speakers from policy, practice, and the third sector, this workshop highlights the vital role that historical archival research can play in understanding inequalities of the past and positively shaping the future for those experiencing the breakdown of a relationship. 

Programme

The programme for the workshop is available to download here as a PDF: Archives to Action Programme 2026

Registration