Paper Cuttings Made by 17th-Century Schoolgirls Discovered Beneath Floorboards

In a significant discovery, delicate paper cuttings made by 17th-century schoolgirls have been found beneath the floorboards of Sutton House, a former boarding school for girls in London. These artifacts, which include representations of a fox, a star, and a hen, survived for 350 years and were uncovered during renovations in the 1980s, but were only cataloged last year by volunteers. Experts were surprised by their intact condition, as such fragile items are rarely preserved. Isabella Rosner, an authority on early modern material culture, noted that only a few examples of this art form exist from 17th-century England.

Sutton House's girls' school, established in 1657, was among the first to provide formal education to girls, teaching subjects like writing, reading, and art, including paper cutting. The girls learned to create decorative designs from instructional books, which were then used to embellish various items. It is believed that Hannah Woolley, a notable author of the time, may have taught these skills at the school. The unique cuttings reflect the personal touches of the girls, with one example humorously misspelling "hen" as "hean." The paper cuttings will be displayed at Sutton House from July 19 to December, offering a glimpse into the educational practices and creative expressions of young women in the 17th century.