On the Wings of Love: Georgian Elopement Stories

TALES OF HUMAN FRAILTY, GREED AND OBSESSION AND, OCCASIONALLY, LOVE

"The eldest son of a great family, a youth of eighteen, has, we hear, lately eloped to Scotland, with his mother's maid" - Leeds Intelligencer, 7 May 1765
"A young lady eloped with a French dancing-master. She is said to have no less than £70,000 in her own possession" - Derby Mercury, 14 February 1777
"The young lady rose from the bed and escaped out of a window. An officer is supposed to have been waiting for her in a single horse chaise, which he had previously hired…" - Leeds Intelligencer, 21 October 1805

Why was runaway marriage such a phenomenon in the Georgian era? Should some elopements more accurately be described as abductions? Newspapers, plays and paintings portrayed the romance of elopement — but what was the reality?

Naomi Clifford delves into the archives to bring to light a fascinating selection of long-forgotten stories of desperation, greed, obsession and, occasionally, true love.

With contributions by Sarah Murden and Joanne Major.