Margaret à Barrow

I love finding out about women who were outstanding in a time when women were not valued for their intellect.

Margaret à Barrow was born in 1500, the daughter of Sir Thomas à Barrow (or Aborough). She was one of a small group of children educated at the home of Thomas More. She studied alongside More's daughter, Margaret, being educated in law, history, philosophy, and theology. This sort of education was unusual for a girl at the time.

Her links to the More family continued into adulthood; she was often present at meetings at his home where intellectuals gathered and discussed humanist theology.

Around 1520, she married the author Thomas Elyot. She was the owner of many valuable manuscripts and books. She presided over meetings of authors and intellects in her home and was well known for her learning and views. Her husband died around 1545, and she would go on to remarry in 1551 to Sir James Dyer, a member of the Middle Temple and scholarly lawyer who became Speaker of the House of Commons.

She died on August 26, 1560, and is buried in St Andrew's Churchyard, Great Staughton.

A sketch by Holbein in preparation of a portrait now lost to history

Sources:

Thomas More: A Lonely Voice Against the Power of the State, Peter Berglar

https://web.archive.org/.../www.../TudorWomenA.htm

https://www.rct.uk/.../margaret-lady-elyot-c-1500-1560...