Dorothy Hartley

Writer, historian and artist, whose '50s book Food in England is still used to this day.

Born:

1892

Died:

1985

Place of Birth:

Skipton, Yorkshire. But lived for most of life in Froncysyllte, near Llangollen.

Biography:

Dorothy Hartley travelled extensively around the British Isles, observing and writing down all that she saw. Through her writing she preserves rural customs and lifestyles.

Author of Food in England, which was first published in 1954 and remains in print to this day, she also published a six-volume work on Life and Work of the People of England. In her books she recorded facts and ways of life that have now all but disappeared. Subjects included recipes, folklore and much more.Food in England was reviewed in the magazine British Weekly in which it said: "The woman who owns this book can throw away all the others."

This was not a high-brow cook book, instead, containing earthy recipes more associated with grandma's traditional cooking. Searching the web, her words have been borrowed by a diverse range of organisations and her cookery advice is still used to this day. A US farm management firm quotes Miss Hartley: "In all things, including acute discomfort, the land is a great leveler."

Matthew Fort, Guardian Unlimited food writer and the co-author, with Paul Heathcote, of Rhubarb and Black Pudding, lists Hartley's Food in England as among his top 10 all-time favourite classic cook books. An online delicatessen in Hertfordshire, England, still uses Miss Hartley's words when referring to curing ham.

"The methods of curing and salting varied locally - some districts dry-salting and some brine-salting, some using sugar and treacle (the old replacements of the original honey), some juniper berries, and others ale and sundry herbs."

In Froncysyllte, Hartley is remembered for the woman she was rather than the great author she became. It is thought she was first connected to "Fron" through her grandfather, Walter Eddie a local businessman who had built Fron House. Locals say her mother lived there until about 1940. The house stayed in the family until her death in 1985. She lived in a cottage in the village before moving into Fron House in the early 1960s. She was living in the village at least as early as 1931 and a book preface was signed "Vron 1931-1938". 'F' is pronounced 'V' in Welsh.

Contributor Bill Evans, Gordon Sherratt and Ron Thomson who helped with this pen portrait, said Miss Hartley once returned to her house to find a burglar, her kitchen knife in his hand.

Not at all put out she had a chat with him and gave him supper. After the meal she sent him on his way, then called in the local policeman. On checking upstairs he found that the burglar had ransacked the bedrooms. Later the burglar gave himself up. Bill also recollects that in the 1960s Miss Hartley gave free art lessons to villagers at the house.

She died in 1985 and her ashes were interred in the family grave at St David'sChurch, Froncysyllte.

your comments

Jack Murray from Cyprus
I have a book EARY POEMS, by T. Geoffrey W. Henslow, MA., and there are about 90 line illustrations in the book by Dorothy Hartley, mainly all drawn about 1912/14. Very good illustrations.
Mon Jul 14 08:16:29 2008

Neil Huff from Florida, USA
In 1981, I found and bought Miss Hartley's book entitled: "Lost Country Life" and discovered that it was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I have it still and reread it every few years. It is a treasury. God bless the labors of this dear woman.
Wed Jun 11 09:05:03 2008

Michael Armitage
My grandparents, Grace and Wilfred Jones, lived next door to Dorothy Hartley in Froncysyllte for many years. They thought she was a lovely kind and eccentric old lady.
Wed May 14 08:10:45 2008

Lori Bennett from New Zealand
I didn't know who this lady was until I was reading little note in a horse notebook when I decided to find out who these people are. She seemed like a great lady! She wrote: "...it was quite customary as late as 1890 to see a countryman returning from the market, fast asleep, slumped forward over his saddle bar while his horse plodded his own way home."
Tue Nov 20 08:35:56 2007

John Perkin
I have been loaning her book "Water in England" from libraries for over 40 years but now have my own copy and just recommended it to a friend in the US.
Fri Oct 26 09:01:40 2007

Julian Hamer, Oregon, USA
I found the book Food in England 32 years ago in a library in Lome Togo, West Africa. I swapped it with the librarian for a colorful book that I had about insects. Ironically, Food in England was damaged by bookworm. I loved Food in England particularly from the rich historical content.
Tue Nov 28 07:48:20 2006

John Willmott from Tallahassee,
A follow to Mr. Markovits' comments about Ms. H whitewashing naked. Growing up as a youngster in Froncysyllte my mother used to tell us young boys, as we came back up from the canal fishing, to avert our eyes passing Fron House as the lady there "did her housework in the nude". In later life I remember meeting Ms. H ... what a charming lady.
Thu Aug 10 07:39:51 2006

Christine Birch, Llanrhychwyn
I have been a great admirer of Dorothy Hartley for years and have most of her books. Her drawings are delightful and thanks to her for saving and cataloging those long treasured recipes, handicrafts and folk-lore.
Mon Jul 17 10:02:09 2006

Geraldine Duncan
I had the great good fortune to meet Miss Hartley the year before she died. I too am a food writer, food historian, collector of folk legends and traditions. Miss Hartley knew just about everything I ever wanted to know. I feel so fortunate to have met her and had tea with her on her farm in Wales. I own several of her books including 'Food in England', and her translation of Thomas Tusser's '500 Points of Husbandry'.
Wed Apr 26 07:40:14 2006

aldp buckley
I never met the lady, but wish I had, and would dearly love to see some of her paintings people speak of,and so my search starts, to find and enjoy what others have, a.l.d.p
Sat Mar 25 00:57:46 2006

Ron Thomson from Froncysyllte
Gordon Fuller might be interested in a list of Dorothy Hartley’s books that I have made. I believe the list is complete but I would be pleased to hear from anyone who knows of any others. Dorothy Hartley, books published in England: - Life and Work of the People of England, In six volumes with Margaret M Elliot, pub. Batsford 1928. The Old Book, A Medieval Anthology, Editor and Illuminator, pub. Alfred Knopf 1930. Tusser, Elizabethan Famous Life Study, pub. Country Life 1931. Medieval Costume and Life, pub. Batsford 1931. Here’s England, Reprinted articles, pub. Rich and Cowan 1934. The Countryman’s England, pub. Batsford 1935. Holiday in Ireland, pub. Lindsay Drummond 1938. Made in England, pub. Methuen 1939. Food in England, pub. Macdonald & Janes 1954. Water in England, pub. Macdonald & Janes 1964. The Land of England, pub. Macdonald & Janes 1964.
Sat Feb 18 00:42:35 2006

Nick Markovits from Bristol
It's great to see the interest in "Auntie D" as we called her. My parents, Magda and Edmund Markovits, rented Vron House from about 1947 until 1953 and ran it as a guest house. Unfortunately Mum was not much of a businesswoman, but she was a fabulous cook and many of the guests became friends. They found D through a family friend, Doris "Dar" Campbell Preston, who was a fellow student at the London School of Needlework (or some such). My sister and I used to rampage round the steep garden, and I managed to knock out my front teeth (aged about 6) by riding my tricycle down a bank into one of the stone flower pots which are still there. Two quick tales: My father went round to D's cottage one days to find her stark naked except for a turban, whitewashing a room. As she explained "It's much easier to get paint off your body than off your clothes"! Also I started learning the piano on her Victorian upright. Incidentally my teacher was Lloyd Edwards, a talented musician who worked in the stores at the local chemical factory, but still managed to found the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir - which is still in good voice. When we left, D knew we could not afford a piano, so gave us hers. I still have it and play it most days. A lovely and delightfully eccentric lady. And she could cook and paint too.
Mon Jan 23 13:37:55 2006

Gordon Fuller, Guelph, Ontario
Where can I get a list of all Ms. Hartley's writings, columns, etc.? I am particularly interested in obtaining more information relating to "clarified fat method of Elizabethan store jars" pages 320, 321 Food in England 1985 edition, Futura Publications.
Mon Jan 16 20:09:15 2006

Lisa Silva, Littleton, CO
I was traveling for business (State of Colorado) and found a quaint used bookstore in the North Carolina airport. Upon picking up "Lost Country Life," I was enchanted, and it's one of my (our) most prized books. I keep its tattered paper cover in a separate folder, and the book itself is usually by my bedside. Once I loaned it to a friend, who was also very respectful of it. He's someone who taught us where to find wild asparagus in a nearby park. I believe Peg Boettcher of Seattle and I understand each other. Wish we had known Dorothy. --Lisa Silva 12/28/05
Thu Dec 29 01:35:20 2005

Susan Hindley, Devon
Dorothy Hartley has been one of the most inspirational people of my life. Her writing is for me a link with ancient knowledge. She is an absolute joy to read.
Thu Sep 22 19:41:14 2005

Peg Boettcher from Seattle
I don't know why or how Dorothy Hartley's "Lost Country Life" became one of my most treasured books, but every so often I find I must read it cover to cover... each reading rewards me with fresh delights.
Fri Sep 2 04:30:16 2005

Robert Arndt from Texas
I would be very interested in getting in touch with Ron Thomson about possible use of his photograph on this Web site of Dorothy Hartley, or of other photographs of her.
Fri May 20 23:09:55 2005

Jackie Alfonso from Minnesota
It is always wonderful for me to find more information about and more people interested in Miss Hartley. Such a treasure. Thank you
Thu Jul 22 19:09:32 2004

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