Cynn Chadwick Author of The Incorrigible Rogue is back
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- Sep 20
- 4 min read
By Steve Cooke
Cynn Chadwick, author of the excellent Rochdale centred novel An Incorrigible Rogue, was back in town for a workshop run jointly with Jenny Driver from Rochdale Local Studies Centre.
The Incorrigible Rogue was inspired by the life of her great-grandmother, Martha Anne Ashworth Chadwick, who lived in Rochdale from 1875-1948. Martha's son, Cynn's grandfather, Harry Chadwick, migrated to the USA in the 1920s and Cynn lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Throughout her life Cynn had heard stories of her family's ancestors and was especially intrigued by the fact that her great grandmother Mary Anne had a somewhat turbulent past. Indeed, had been officially labelled in court an ‘Incorrigible Rogue’.
Cynn was driven to find out more about her great grandmother, "She'd been known to me through family stories as: a fishwife, a drunkard, a whore, and a brawler. There were stories of a husband who fled her, a man who beat her, sons who dragged her from fights in pubs, and yet, something didn't ring true as she'd lived long and kept her family close."
After extensive research, much of it undertaken in Rochdale with the support of Jenny Driver of Rochdale Local Studies Centre , and an impromptu imaginary meeting with ten-year-old Martha Anne Cynn found the inspiration to write An Incorrigible Rogue.
This is the story of strong women, mill workers, wise-women, herbalists, women who were denied a voice in a harsh paternalistic society. Women like Rochdalians Martha Anne and Betty Nuppy. Cynn elaborated, “In the nineteen century there were thousands of women registered as prostitutes – they weren’t – they were women who had left their husbands and were living with other men as it was impossible at the time for women to obtain a divorce!”
An Incorrigible Rogue is a damn good read, rich in incident and Rochdale in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and emotively realized, thanks to Cynn's extensive on-site research and connection to her roots.
Visit:
In the recent workshop in Rochdale Central Library participants were asked to come with a family story, historical event, interesting incident, or their own crazy, tragic, or heroic ancestors to share. Together they talked about the tools, available resources (including online and those held locally), and perspectives for exploring missing pieces. They investigated actual accounts, finding creative ways to approach and meld anecdotes into fruitful stories.
The workshop was attended by storytellers of both the written and spoken word, and those of every level of experience, and none.
I caught up again with Cynn and revelled in her enthusiasm and boundless energy as she revealed that while in the UK she is undertaking research for her next novel with the working title Witness Marks.
She explained that her interpretation of witness marks is, “The moments in time when we know ourselves”. [A term she has adopted from the world of technology where it is defined as “A scratch or other mark that is used to position a part in its correct location. Typically, two parts in an assembly each have their own witness mark. When these marks are lined up, it tells you that everything is in the right position.”]
The inspiration and central character for Witness Marks is Dorothy Wordsworth the sister of poet, William. While back in the UK Cynn has been in the Lake District researching and soaking up the atmosphere in such as Dove Cottage.
Undertaking extensive research into Dorothy’s letters and journals to provide the springboard for her plot and characterisations.
From what she revealed the new novel, due in about two years’ time, will not only bring Dorothy to life but provoke controversy among William fans.
I shall be in touch with Cynn to keep readers up to date with how the book progresses.
Cynn’s joint presenter in the recent workshop, Jenny Driver, was central to the extensive research undertaken for The Incorrigible Rogue.
Jenny is a Local Studies Assistant and Archivist based at Sparth Local Studies Centre, part of YourTrust Rochdale. She has over 15 years’ experience of helping people discover their family histories and the history of the Rochdale area. She holds a postgraduate certificate in Archival Studies, including a module on ‘Skills and Sources for Family History in England’ and is a very valuable resource herself.
The Local Studies Centre at Sparth holds the main Local Studies and Archives collection for Rochdale Borough. Over the years the collection has grown to include a wide range of material relating to the Rochdale Borough including Castleton, Littleborough, Milnrow, Wardle and Norden.
Now based and the former Sparth Community Centre, having moved out of Touchstones during renovation, it is the place to go to uncover the history of your local area.
You can get assistance to access such as Church Records, Cemetery Records and Wills, Electoral Registers and Historical Burgess Rolls, Newspapers, Photographs, Maps and Plans, Books, Pamphlets and Articles with Internet and printing available.
Norman Road, Rochdale, Greater Manchester OL11 4HS
Phone:01706 924915
Opening Times
Wednesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Wednesday – Saturday: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
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