Home of Inverness author Josephine Tey now has Blue Plaque after campaign to win her more recognition
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A BLUE Plaque has been placed on the former home of an Inverness author following a campaign to give her more local recognition.
Josephine Tey (1896-1952) was an author and playwright, best-remembered today for her crime novels such as “The Daughter of Time”, “The Franchise Affair” and “Brat Farrar”.
Her writing success led the Inverness Royal Academy pupil to London’s West End, to Broadway, to Hollywood – and back again
Tey’s real name was Elizabeth (Beth) MacKintosh. Her father Colin ran a well-known fruiterer’s business on Castle Street in Inverness, where the MacKintosh family had a long association.
When Colin died, he left the Castle Street buildings to his daughter. Ultimately, Tey decided to sell up – probably to focus on her successful writing career, though, sadly, she was overtaken by her final illness, dying of cancer in 1952.
Local woman Jennifer Morag Henderson who has researched Tey's life for more than a decade, in order to write her biography “Josephine Tey: A Life”, and who was a leader of the blue plaque campaign said: "I’ve always believed that she deserved wider recognition for her achievements as a writer, particularly in her home town, and I’m so pleased that she is now being marked in this way.
"Thank you very much to everyone that has supported me during the application process for the blue plaque.
"I would like to particularly mention the support of the Inverness City Heritage Trust who manage the blue plaque scheme in Inverness, and HHA, the owners of the building, who have both been enthusiastic and helpful from the moment they first heard of the idea.
"I’d also like to mention the helpful and friendly site manager and builders on the site many of whom I’ve spoken to as I pass the location frequently.
"I have received support from Josephine Tey fans from Inverness, Scotland, Europe and even as far away as Australia.
"It’s clear, as I argued in my biography, that her books have had a wide and lasting impact on both readers and other writers."
Ms Henderson added: "She was also a popular dramatist under the pen-name Gordon Daviot, creating plays which starred actors such as John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, as well as writing for Hollywood through Universal Pictures – all from her home in Inverness.
"Her books have been adapted for radio, television and film, perhaps most notably by Alfred Hitchcock, and translated into many different languages.
"Her work has inspired many other writers, and the Crime Writers Association once voted her book “The Daughter of Time”, which features a unique mystery based around the true story of Richard III, as being 'the best crime novel of all time.'
"New editions of three of Tey’s crime novels have been republished only this year by Penguin. My own biography of Tey was first published in 2015, and republished in a new edition in 2021.
"The idea of a blue plaque to mark Tey’s achievements was first mentioned to me some years ago, by a gentleman who attended one of the first talks I gave about Tey’s life and work.
"He did a considerable amount of groundwork, looking first at criteria for the ‘original’ blue plaque scheme in London (all other blue plaque schemes across the country are based on this), and then speaking with me to identify possible sites both in Inverness and elsewhere.
"Due to ill-health he later gave all the information he had gathered to me. He’s asked to remain private, which is why I’m not mentioning his name, but I wanted to acknowledge his input.
"I followed up some enquiries about possible sites in Inverness, but with little success until the redevelopment of the Castle Street location, site of the MacKintosh family fruit shop.
"It is an ideal place for a plaque, as it is regularly passed by both locals and tourists. The Castle Street site, a listed building, had fallen into disrepair. It has now been sensitively restored by HHA, who worked with local contractors to create eight much-needed homes for the city, as well as a commercial unit.
"The overwhelming response was that Josephine Tey fully deserved recognition and acknowledgement in Inverness.
"Every step of the process was taken with care, and I’m very happy with the outcome.
"I’m also pleased to say that Josephine Tey’s family members, who I am in contact with, are delighted with the support for the idea, and very happy that their relative is to be commemorated in this way."
Ms Henderson said the story of Elizabeth MacKintosh’s life showed her a new version of what was possible for a Highland woman.
"Her family came from a background of crofting and domestic service, and, through hard work and a belief in education, supported their daughters and encouraged them to aim high," she said. "Elizabeth went from Inverness Royal Academy to London’s West End, to Broadway, to Hollywood – and back again, to my home, to Inverness.” “Josephine Tey: A Life” (Sandstone Press, new edition 2021).
