The Questioning of Eleanor Rykener

Come along to hear the story of this fascinating document.

The Questioning of Eleanor Rykener (1395) is the oldest known document in The London Archives collection that speaks directly to LGBTQ+ history.

It records Rykener’s questioning by the Mayor and Alderman of the City of London. From this record it emerges Rykener had lived as both Eleanor and John. Eleanor was an embroideress and sex worker whose clients’ included members of the church and gentry.

Hidden in plain sight, after being misleadingly described in the standard work on these records published in the 1920s it re-surfaced in 1995. Since then it has become a focus of renewed scholarship and creative endeavours.

Please note this talk takes place in person only.

More information about The London Archives:

The London Archives is a free public archive focusing on the history of London, from 1067 to the present day. We preserve and share millions of historical manuscripts, maps, photographs, books which tell the story of the city.

You can find us in central London in Clerkenwell, close to Farringdon Station - see our Getting to The London Archives webpage.