800 Years of English Handwriting
15 hours ago
- #calligraphy
- #handwriting
- #history
- Exhibition explores handwriting development in England from medieval to 19th century using Derbyshire Record Office's collections.
- Medieval writing (1100-1485): Professional scribes wrote legal documents in Latin; Carolingian Miniscule was the early style.
- Abbreviations and decorative elements like long S and fancy capitals were common in medieval documents.
- Anglicana (1200s-1400s): A unique English style with thick and thin strokes, bifurcated ascenders, and loops.
- Secretary Hand (1400s-1700s): Developed for English writing, predominant in 1500s-1700s, with distinctive letter shapes.
- Italic (1500s onwards): Initially for emphasis, became dominant over Secretary Hand, leading to Round Hand.
- Round Hand/Copperplate: Basis of modern handwriting, used in business and taught in schools.
- Legal Hands: Chancery and Engrossing Hands used for legal documents, with round, even letter shapes.
- New technologies (1800s): Metal nibs, machine-made paper, and typewriters changed writing tools and accessibility.
- Handwriting evolution: From quill pens to steel nibs, handwriting styles became broader and less angular.
- Typewriters and computers reduced the need for handwriting in the 20th century.