Did you know...
...that one way that a husband could get rid of his wife was by selling her? Although this was a fairly rare practice, it did occur, even up to the early 20th century, particularly amongst the poorer classes. A wife was 'sold', usually to her lover, by her husband, on market day. It was mostly pre-arranged and was a symbolic transfer of person, property and responsibility. It had no legal basis but it did mean that both parties were protected from any future liabilities, as it took place in public in front of witnesses. Many of the marriages had been informal contracts in the first place. It was the custom for the husband to put a halter around his wife's neck and parade her around the marketplace, extolling her virtues. Those interested would then place a bid. After the sale had taken place, the trio would retire to the local inn to the seal the deal with beer. Not surprisingly, the Church and most respectable people disapproved strongly of this custom. The majority of references to the event are found in newspapers. In literature, Thomas Hardy describes a wife sale in a famous scene in 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'.
7 July 2006