Margaret Aston

Margaret Aston
Born Margaret Evelyn Bridges
(1932-10-09)9 October 1932
Died 22 November 2014(2014-11-22) (aged 82)
Other names Margaret Evelyn Buxton
Nationality British
Fields Medieval history
Ecclesiastical history
Institutions University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
The Catholic University of America
Education Downe House School
Alma mater Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Doctoral advisor K. B. McFarlane
Notable awards Fellow of the British Academy (1994)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2013)
Spouses Trevor Aston (1954–1969; divorced)
Paul Buxton (1971–2009; his death)
Children Three

Margaret Evelyn Buxton, CBE, FSA, FRHistS, FBA (née Bridges; 9 October 1932 – 22 November 2014), know by her first married name Margaret Aston, was a British historian and academic specialising in the Late Medieval Period and ecclesiastical history. During her career, she lectured at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Early life

Aston was born on 9 October 1932 to Edward Bridges, a senior civil servant, and his wife Monica (née Farrer).[1] Her paternal grandfather was Robert Bridges, a Poet Laureate, and a great-grandfather was Alfred Waterhouse, an architect. Her maternal grandparents were Thomas Farrer, 2nd Baron Farrer and Evelyn Mary Spring Rice, the sister of Sir Cecil Spring Rice.[2][1] She spent her early years living at Goodman’s Furze near Epsom, Surrey.[2] She was educated at Downe House School, an all-girls independent boarding school in Berkshire. She became Head Girl of her school.[1]

She was awarded a scholarship to study history at the University of Oxford and matriculated into Lady Margaret Hall in 1951.[2] In her spare time, she studied the clarinet under Jack Brymer in addition to playing the piano.[1] She graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA), later promoted to Master of Arts (MA Oxon) as per tradition. She then continued her studies as a postgraduate, and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree. Her supervisor was K. B. McFarlane, a notorious woman-hater.[1]

Academic career

In 1956, Aston became a lecturer at St Anne's College, Oxford. Between 1960 and 1961, she was in Germany undertaking research as a Theodor Heuss Scholar. Upon returning to England, she became a research fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge. From 1966 to 1969, she was a lecturer at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C..[2] Her first book, a biography of Archbishop Thomas Arundel, was published in 1967.[1] Her next book, The fifteenth century: the prospect of Europe, was written during a residency at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. and published in 1968.[2]

In 1971, she married a diplomat. This meant she continued her academic career but, for the most part, without any attachment to a university.[2] In the 1980s, they lived in Holywood, County Down, while her husband served as Under-Secretary for Northern Ireland.[1] From 1984 to 1985, she was a senior research fellow at Queen's University Belfast. During that time, she researched and wrote what has been described as her seminal work, England’s Iconoclasts.[2]

Death

Aston died on 22 November 2014, aged 82.[1] Her body was found in the moat of Ongar Castle, Essex. Her family home, Castle House, was in the grounds of the ruin. Police did not treat her death as suspicious and it was concluded she had died from natural causes.[3]

Personal life

In 1954, she married Trevor Aston. He was a historian and a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.[2] They had a difficult marriage, due in part because Trevor was suffering from bipolar disorder, and separated after four years.[1] They finally divorced in 1969.[2]

She met her second husband, Paul Buxton, while undertaking research in the United States of America in the late 1960s.[1] He was a diplomat and later a civil servant.[4] They married in 1971.[2] She became step-mother to his three children from a previous marriage; Charles, Toby and Mary. Together they had two children; Sophie and Hero.[1]

Honours

In the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, Aston was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 'for services to Historical Scholarship'.[5]

On 5 March 1987, she was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).[6] In 1994, she was elected Fellow of the British Academy (FBA).[7] She was also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS).[8]

Works

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Sheppard, Martin (14 December 2014). "Margaret Aston: Historian who illuminated the study of religious life in England between the late Middle Ages and the Civil War". The Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Margaret Aston - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Davis, Barnaby (28 November 2014). "Ongar historian death is not being treated as suspicious by Essex police". East London and West Essex Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "ONGAR: Ex-diplomat Paul William Buxton dies at 83". Essex Chronicle. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60534. p. 7. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 04 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Fellows Directory - A". About Us. Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "ASTON, Dr Margaret, CBE (09/10/1932-29/11/2014)". British Academy Fellows. British Academy. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Fellow - A" (pdf). Fellows and Members. Royal Historical Society. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
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