Alison Uttley
Encyclopedia
Alison Uttley née Alice Jane Taylor, was a prolific British writer of over 100 books. She is now best known for her children's series about Little Grey Rabbit
, and Sam Pig.
Born in Cromford
and brought up in rural Derbyshire
, she was educated at the Lea School in Holloway and the Lady Manners School
in Bakewell
, where she developed a love for science which led to a scholarship to Manchester University to read physics
. In 1906 she became the second woman honours graduate of the University.
After leaving university she trained as a teacher in Cambridge
and in 1908 took up the post of physics teacher at the Fulham Secondary School for Girls. Three years later she married James Arthur Uttley. The Uttleys had one son, John Taylor. James Uttley committed suicide by drowning in 1930, his health having been affected by his service in the First World War. John also killed himself, deliberately driving his car off a cliff in 1978.
The Uttleys lived at Downs House, 13 Higher Downs, Bowdon
, Cheshire from 1924 to 1938 which now has a blue plaque
to signify the association.
Alice began writing to support herself and her son financially after she was widowed. Her first books were a series of tales about animals, including Little Grey Rabbit
, The Little Red Fox, Sam Pig and Hare. She later wrote for older children and adults, particularly focussing on rural topics, notably in The Country Child (1931), a fictionalized account of her childhood experiences at her family farm home, Castletop, near Cromford
. The close, vivid empathetic powers of nature observation exhibited in that book are combined with her interest in dreams and fantasy in one of her most popular works, A Traveller in Time (1939). Based on the Babington Plot
of Anthony Babington
at Dethick, near her family home, this romance mixes dream and historical fact in a story about a twentieth-century girl who is transported to the 16th century, becoming involved in a plot to free Mary, Queen of Scots from nearby Wingfield Manor
. Uttley later settled in Beaconsfield
, in a house named Thackers after the house in A Traveller in Time.
She had little time for one of her competitors, Enid Blyton
, describing her as a boastful and a "vulgar, curled woman".
Uttley was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters
degree by Manchester University in 1970 in recognition of her literary work.
In 2009 her private diaries, covering the period 1932 to 1971, were published for the first time - edited by Professor Denis Judd who had previously written Uttley's biography.
Little Grey Rabbit
Little Grey Rabbit is the lead character in an English classic series of children's books, written by Alison Uttley and illustrated by Margaret Tempest.-Characters:* Little Grey Rabbit* Hare* Milkman Hedgehog* Mrs Hedgehog* Fuzzypeg, a hedgehog...
, and Sam Pig.
Born in Cromford
Cromford
Cromford is a village, two miles to the south of Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales district in Derbyshire, England. It is principally known for its historical connection with Richard Arkwright, and the Cromford Mill which he built here in 1771...
and brought up in rural Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, she was educated at the Lea School in Holloway and the Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School is an English secondary school and Specialist Music College as designated by the Specialist Schools Trust situated in Bakewell, a market town in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire...
in Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, where she developed a love for science which led to a scholarship to Manchester University to read physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. In 1906 she became the second woman honours graduate of the University.
After leaving university she trained as a teacher in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and in 1908 took up the post of physics teacher at the Fulham Secondary School for Girls. Three years later she married James Arthur Uttley. The Uttleys had one son, John Taylor. James Uttley committed suicide by drowning in 1930, his health having been affected by his service in the First World War. John also killed himself, deliberately driving his car off a cliff in 1978.
The Uttleys lived at Downs House, 13 Higher Downs, Bowdon
Bowdon, Greater Manchester
Bowdon is a suburban village and electoral ward in the Altrincham area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England.-History:...
, Cheshire from 1924 to 1938 which now has a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
to signify the association.
Alice began writing to support herself and her son financially after she was widowed. Her first books were a series of tales about animals, including Little Grey Rabbit
Little Grey Rabbit
Little Grey Rabbit is the lead character in an English classic series of children's books, written by Alison Uttley and illustrated by Margaret Tempest.-Characters:* Little Grey Rabbit* Hare* Milkman Hedgehog* Mrs Hedgehog* Fuzzypeg, a hedgehog...
, The Little Red Fox, Sam Pig and Hare. She later wrote for older children and adults, particularly focussing on rural topics, notably in The Country Child (1931), a fictionalized account of her childhood experiences at her family farm home, Castletop, near Cromford
Cromford
Cromford is a village, two miles to the south of Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales district in Derbyshire, England. It is principally known for its historical connection with Richard Arkwright, and the Cromford Mill which he built here in 1771...
. The close, vivid empathetic powers of nature observation exhibited in that book are combined with her interest in dreams and fantasy in one of her most popular works, A Traveller in Time (1939). Based on the Babington Plot
Babington Plot
The Babington Plot was a Catholic plot in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, on the English throne. It led to the execution of Mary. The long-term goal was an invasion by the Spanish forces of King Philip II and the Catholic league in...
of Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington was convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots...
at Dethick, near her family home, this romance mixes dream and historical fact in a story about a twentieth-century girl who is transported to the 16th century, becoming involved in a plot to free Mary, Queen of Scots from nearby Wingfield Manor
Wingfield Manor
Wingfield Manor is a deserted and ruined manor house some 4 miles from the town of Alfreton in the English county of Derbyshire...
. Uttley later settled in Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
, in a house named Thackers after the house in A Traveller in Time.
She had little time for one of her competitors, Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
, describing her as a boastful and a "vulgar, curled woman".
Uttley was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
degree by Manchester University in 1970 in recognition of her literary work.
In 2009 her private diaries, covering the period 1932 to 1971, were published for the first time - edited by Professor Denis Judd who had previously written Uttley's biography.
External links
- Alison Uttley Papers at the University of Manchester.
- Biography at Derbyshire UK.
- Altrincham Local History Society - Biographies of Local People
- Tribute page for Alison Uttley at Lasting Tribute
- Alison Uttley Alison Uttley Society