Our speaker in November was Sheelagh James, who members will remember recently talked to us about the history of tea drinking. She opened this talk by explaining that it would not be about the condiment; but would be an account of prostitution on Georgian streets. An activity which is sometimes known today as "the oldest profession".

Prostitution was overt and visible in the 18th century; notably in printed material by Richardson, Gilray and the artist Hogarth, which contained carictures of prostitutes. Habits were changing. People were moving from the country into urban areas and marriages were taking place later in life. There was always violence, disease and abuse attached to the profession. The women used prositiution to fund their drug addition as well as to buy food; but for some it was aspirational, promising a better life.

So why is this a suitable topic for a talk to Lichfield Civic Society?

Sheelagh told us that one Christmas she was feeling 'frazzled' and, leaving the children with her mother, she popped out to the shops and chanced to see the centrefold of a magazine showing the "The Modern Courtesan". She was surprised to see a girl from her school there, lying on a fur rug wearing a basque. The article stated that one lover took her to Paris for meals. Sheelagh took comfort on the fact that she herself had taken 'A' levels.

London was a draw for many girls seeking better employment and prospects in the 18th century: girls such as milkmaids; girls such as "Tess of the D'Urbavilles" and others reflected in literature. There was a shortage of domestic servants. While they might be fed and clothed and have some time off they had no rights and no protection. They would often be dismissed when the family went away. An alternative opportunity might be as a seamstress; but this was poorly paid work.

Patience Williams from Wales was one of the lucky ones. She went to a lodging house run by a Miss Eyre and there she met her lover. She married him and they went to the continent. But she returned to England and later in her career she inherited Swinfen Hall! Formerly a scullery or parlour main she was one of the lucky ones. More details about Patience can be found in Howard Clayton's book "The Great Swinfen case".

About half of 18th century prostitutes came from the country. Hogarth's prints tell the story of "The Harlot's Progress". There were 1,240 subscribers to this set of prints; but pirate copies were made, so Hogarth delayed the printing of "The Rakes Progress" until the new Copyright Law was introduced.

William Hogarth (1697-1764) published "The Harlot's Progress" in 1732. This consists of six prints; a cautionary tale about the fictional Moll Hackabout, a harlot lured into prostitution by Mother Needham who ended up aged 23 in Bridewell Prison dying of venereal disease. Sheelagh suggested that this story was very similar to modern enslavement, where women are met by someone waiting for arrivals on the coaches coming from abroad. Hogarth did not like the Church of England, which he felt turned a blind eye to the plight of such girls.

Bawdy houses were frequently raided. In 1752, Mary Parkinson was discovered in a brothel raid. She had previously met a naval officer who seduced her and left her without money. She was decoyed to a boarding house by a woman with a £ 5 note and there prostituted by several men; with all her fees going to the mistress. Mary threatened to tell the police; but ended up in debtors prison.

Bath houses were one of the places where women could tout for business. Covent Garden and the pleasure gardens with their high class "walkers" were also a typical venues; while street walkers had sex 'en plein air'.

In 1758 "A Congratulatory Epistle from a Reformed Rake" described eight types of prostitute. These included women of fashion. Bored wealthy women, courtesans or kept women, they could enjoy the height of luxury, often speaking French with their gallants. Their perks might include an annuity or retainer, often with various lovers. Such women of pleasure were intelligent, had their own rooms and were often accomplished in playing a musical instrument; rather like a Geisha.

The nursery rhyme "Lucy Locket lost her Pocket, Kitty Fisher found it", relates to the reputation of the latter lady. Kitty (or Catherine Maria Fisher), was born in Soho to Henry and Ann Fisher. She was painted by both Joshua Reynolds and Nathaniel Hone. She may have originally been a milliner. She was introduced to London high society by Commodore Keppel in 1771 or Lieutenant General (then Ensign) Anthony George Martin (d. 1800). With her flair for publicity she was known for her affairs with wealthy men. Seen as a celebrity she was a role model for women who copied her form, style of beauty and dress. She featured in newspapers, magazine articles and several portraits, including by Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792); as well as in broadsheets and stories of a derogatory nature.

Reynolds painted Kitty nine times and one of his portraits was engraved. Prints of this were sold to her fans - an early example of a 'pin up' girl. That print depicted her her as Cleopatra, dissolving a pearl into a goblet of wine to attract Mark Anthony. Another portrait of her by Nathaniel Hone (1718-1784) includes an image of a kitten fishing for goldfish in the corner. The reflection of a window can be seen in the bowl with onlookers catching a glimpse of the celebrated Kitty. In 1763 the famous Italian, Giacomo Cassanova, visited her. She could demand 100 guineas for her services and when the Duke of York offered only £ 50 she threw it back at him!

Another of Kitty's lovers was Lord Anson and she was mentioned by some other notables in diaries and letters; including Horace Walpole, Earl of Oxford (1717-1797), writer, art historian and MP for Kings Lynn. She eventually married John Norris in 1776, the grandson of Admiral Sir John Norris, and lived at the family house, Hempsted (which is now Benenden public school). Sadly, she died just four months after her marriage and was buried in Benenden Churchyard wearing her best ball gown.

Harriet Wilson (1786-1846), one of four daughters of a Swiss watchmaker, was just 15 she went to live with the Earl of Craven (marriage was legal at the age of 12 then), followed by the Earl of Argyll. When she was 40 she published an autobiography and, prior to printing, she sent drafts to all her former lovers, hoping they would pay to keep their names out. The Duke of Wellington is reputed to have said "Publish and be Dammned". The book was published in 1825, becoming a bestseller although much of it was fictional. Thirty-one editions were printed in a year (better than "50 Shades of Grey"). Harriet died aged just 59. Many prostitutes died of disease at a time when the main treatment, Mercury, was almost as bad. Many women of good reputation were infected by their husbands and their unfortunate children might then be born with congenital syphilis.

The London Lock Hospital was the first voluntary hospital for venereal disease; the first of many 'lock hospitals'. It was founded in 1747 by the eminent surgeon William Bromfeild (1712-1792). The name 'lock' was derived from the French 'loque' (rag) referring to leprosy dressings (the forerunner of the Lock hospitals were the leper hospitals, which dated back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

A key feature of the building was its chapel which, from 1750, had a charismatic chaplain, Martin Madan (1726-1790). By 1766/7 the chapel's pew rents totalled £ 521 2s 0p, approximately one third of its annual income. Madan was forced to resign after publishing a treatise advocating polygamy as a solution to prostitution; but sermons continued. The slavery abolutionist William Wilberforce was often among the congregation.

Samuel Johnson's friend James Boswell frequently enjoyed liasons with prostitutes - resulting in his catching syphilis. His attitude to women was appalling; only paying them a small fee. He onve even accused a street walker of stealing a handkerchief - at a time when the punishment for theft could be branding or even tranportation. In contrast, the Jewish customers in North London were said to be very respectful clients.

While his own liaisons were not of a sexual nature, Samuel Johnson had a better, more progressive, attitude to such women; he helped various prostitutes. In the mid 18th century sexual liaisons were considered to be a healthy outlet for male passions; but writing in "The Rambler" Johnson hoped to re-habilitate these women and girls. There were even suggestions that brothels could be regulated.

Another example of a successfull prostitute was Theresa Berkeley, who ran a high class flagellation brothel - famous for the "Berkeley Horse". The use of this by both men and women apparently earned her a fortune. She left her wealth to her brother, who had been a missionary in Australia for 30 years. Appalled by her "ill gotten gains" he renounced all claim and returned to Australia. Her medical attendant and executor, Dr Vance, also refused to administer her estate, which was vaued at £100,000 (£10m in 2020), and it all went to the Crown.

Despite the current controversy over the Magdelene Laundries, these did help to quell prostitution by 60% after the first Magdelene was founded in Whitechapel in 1758; with the help of the actor David Garrick. By the standards of the day they were very humane. The women could excercise in the garden and some put on too much weight! By 1916 an estimated 14,000 women had been helped.

To assist gentlemen in their pursuit of pleasure, "Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies", a directory of prostitutes working in Georgian London, was published from 1757 to 1795. Costing two shillings and six pence, about 8,000 copies were sold each year. Between 120 and 190 prostitutes were listed; their appearance and sexual specialities were described in lurid detail, both complimentary and the reverse. Addresses and prices were included. The author credited with this book was Samuel Derrick (1724-1769). His title may have been inspired by a Covent Garden pimp, Jack Harris. Kitty Fisher is included in at least one editions and famous men, such as James Bosewell and George IV, were also mentioned as noted customers.

Sheelagh's talk was amplified by many illustrations taken from published books; including "The Harlots Progress", which merits close scrutiny. She also displayed some books on the subject; including "The Secret History of Georgian London" by Dan Cruickshank and "The Covent Garden Ladies" by Hallie Rubenhold (with an introduction to Harriet Wilson's memoirs by Lesley Blanch) which inspired the BBC TV series "Harlots".

Lorna Bushell
December 2023