Could the original owner of a 19th century maths textbook have been the inspiration for D.H Lawrence’s legendary literary creation Lady Chatterley?
That’s what organisers of an upcoming charity sale in Carlton are trying to find out after stumbling across the unusual book amongst donations.
The textbook, which is dated 1899, belonged to a Constance Chatterley, who was born in the same year as renowned author, Lawrence. She also lived in Eastwood around the same time.
The rare find was amongst items donated to the Federation of Masked Booksellers for their charity book sale, ExLibris, which begins this weekend.
READ MORE: Literary lovers to flock to Carlton charity book sale
The team, intrigued by their find, began carrying out research to find out more about the Constance, using a genealogy website and found her details very intriguing.
Records from 1891 show that a seven-year-old Constance Chatterley, born in Greasley, lived in a house with her parents in Eastwood. Interestingly, her father and Lawrence’s both worked at the local colliery in Brinsley.
The 1901 census shows the family are still residing in Eastwood. Constance now lives in the house with her parents, a sister, baby brother and also a servant. Her father, George, is now a company accountant.
Ten years later Constance is 27, still single, and still living with her parents and little brother Leslie George. George Chatterley is a now colliery accountant; Constance has no occupation listed.
Constance Chatterley died in February 1951 at the City Hospital. Her brother Leslie George administered her affairs and she left over £6,500 – a considerable sum. She had been living at Hawton Crescent, Wollaton.
Chris Cann, one of the book sale’s organisers, said: “We’ve been really excited by find, and speculation is rife. A favourite theory amongst the team is that Lawrence had a crush on Constance as they were about the same age, but she rejected him because of class differences – or so he perceived. Years later he got his own back in a particularly imaginative way.”
This book will be one of the raffle prize drawn at the end of the mega charity book sale which takes place over the next two weekends at 16,Vernon Avenue, Carlton. Tickets for the raffle are £1 or 5 for £4. Those wearing a mask to the book sale, which is run by the Federation of Masked Booksellers, you can ask for a free ticket.
For more information about the event visit https://www.facebook.com/Ex-Libris-939813552768798/
