Marianne Woods (1781 – 1870) was an English woman who opened a girls' school in Drumsheugh Gardens,

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

in the autumn on 1809 and who became involved in a court case as a result of being accused of

lesbianism A lesbian is a homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with fema ...

with the co-founder of the school,

Jane Pirie Jane Pirie (27 March 1779 – 6 March 1833) was a Scottish woman who opened an exclusive girls' school in Edinburgh in 1809 and who became involved in a court case as a result of being accused of displays of "inordinate affection" with the co-f ...

(1779–1833). Her accuser was Jane Cumming, a pupil of mixed race, and a granddaughter of Lady Helen Cumming Gordon, who alleged that the two women "engaged in irregular sexual practices" and "lewd and indecent behaviour." Jane Cumming was the first pupil to leave the school, and within forty-eight hours, all the other pupils left as well. Lady Cumming Gordon spread rumours of these allegations and the school was forced to close in November 1810, depriving Woods and Pirie, both in their 20s, of their good names and only means of support.

"I am utterly ignorant of what was laid to my charge and I am not conscious of anything," Marianne Woods told one mother.

Marianne Woods and Jane Pirie sued Lady Cumming Gordon for libel and the case went to court on 15 March 1811. Despite winning the case in 1812, the case was appealed to the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

over the level of the damages, which ultimately dismissed the appeal years later in 1819. The pair had successfully claimed £10,000 from their wealthy accuser. Yet they were financially ruined as they received no more than £1000 each after legal fees. Although Marianne Woods obtained employment in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, at Camden House Academy where she had previously taught, Jane Pirie stayed in Edinburgh and was unable to find employment, and "possibly had a nervous breakdown." The story of the

court case A legal case is in a general sense a dispute between opposing parties which may be resolved by a court, or by some equivalent legal process. A legal case is typically based on either civil or criminal law. In most legal cases there are one or mor ...

was the inspiration for Lillian Hellman's 1934 play '' The Children's Hour''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Marianne Businesspeople from Edinburgh Founders of Scottish schools and colleges Lesbian history House of Lords cases 1781 births 1870 deaths