Will of the England’s first ‘modern lesbian’ up for auction
July 19th, 2010 by Chloe.Setter
The will of a prominent 18th century lesbian recently shown in a BBC drama will go under the hammer next month.
The will of Anne Lister, dubbed the first ‘modern lesbian’ is up for sale for around £400-£600. It is dated April 25, 1841.
Lister, nicknamed Gentleman Jack, was recently featured in an acclaimed TV drama starring Shameless actress Maxine Peake. It was based on her coded 4m-word diaries, which were discovered at her former home Shibden Hall, near Halifax, West Yorkshire.
The will contains one large bequest to her girlfriend Ann Walker, whom she lived with for eight years prior to her death. However, in 1853, Walker was committed to a lunatic asylum and the estate of Shibden was put into the hands of trustees.
Lister’s will is just one of 100 lots from a Wakefield collector that will go under the hammer on 19 August, from 1pm at Ludlow Racecourse, Shropshire.
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