People of notE
Marianne Brocklehurst
1832-1898
Marianne was an explorer and philanthropist in an age where it was uncommon for women to lead such independent lives. She was the daughter of an important silk manufacturer, John Brocklehurst, Macclesfield’s first MP. Her family’s wealth and social standing allowed Marianne to travel extensively.
In 1873-74 Marianne, along with her life-partner Mary Booth, her nephew Alfred and servant George, made an epic voyage up the Nile. Throughout this trip Marianne kept a personal diary illustrated with lively watercolours that captured life on the Nile.
This diary covers everything, from visits to ancient sites to how not to shoot a crocodile, all told with Marianne’s dry sense of humour.
Marianne Brocklehurst and Mary Booth were lifetime companions and were generally referred to as The MBs. They were unconventional women for their time – uncompromising and determined in their life and work.
Marianne funded many excavations in Egypt and travelled there with Mary Booth several times from the 1870s through to the 1890s. Through her connections she acquired many artefacts including the mummy case of a female temple worker, a scarab commemorating the marriage of a non-royal woman to the king, and the scarab of a king’s daughter.
Marianne’s collection is displayed in the Silk Museum where you can find out more about this remarkable woman.