The British had to 'sell their wives' to end their marriage because divorce was too expensive

Around the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century, in the United Kingdom suddenly appeared a strange custom called "selling wife".

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, every year the press had to post at least one trial regarding the sale of a wife. From 1780 to 1850, about 300 wives were sold as goods.

Picture 1 of The British had to 'sell their wives' to end their marriage because divorce was too expensive
From 1780 to 1850, about 300 wives were sold as goods in England.

But why? First of all, it is very difficult and expensive to know that the process of ending marriage before 1850 in the UK. At the time, wanting to legally go, they had to spend at least 3,000 pounds - the equivalent of £ 15,000 at the moment, which is nearly 440 million dong.

This is a very high price for an average person in the middle class, so the only way to divorce and bid farewell is to bring his wife to the market . At that time, such trading was illegal, but because it was the only way to circumvent the law, the authorities ignored it.

Picture 2 of The British had to 'sell their wives' to end their marriage because divorce was too expensive
At that time, this was the only way to circumvent the law, so the authorities ignored it.

It all starts when the husband leads his wife to the market or an auction site and registers the "item" for sale. The women were strung to the neck and led away like in the ancient slave trade scenes.

Nearly every woman sold or auctioned is voluntary, and where they go after they break up with their husbands is decided by themselves. Therefore, they often publish newspapers and arrange buyers in advance. And the sale of the wife is not just a farewell ceremony.

Picture 3 of The British had to 'sell their wives' to end their marriage because divorce was too expensive
Mr. Milord's painting, John Bull, is on his way to Smithfield Market to sell his wife.

A typical example of this sale was published in 1733, in Birmingham, Samuel Whitehouse sold his wife, Mary Whitehouse, at the market for Thomas Griffiths for only £ 1.

This practice was most popular between 1820 and 1830. However, later husbands were under heavy social pressure - because selling a wife also meant that the married life was not happy. After all, few people want to do it and the sale of the wife gradually disappears.

Update 18 December 2018