In Corfe Village, a collection of letters, photos, paintings and diaries that tell the story of a lifelong couple has been digitised in the United Kingdom. These documents tell us of David Brynley (1902-1981) and Norman Notley (1890-1980), a gay couple that lived together for many years. 

 

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The Dorset Museum and Art Gallery has accumulated these documents to properly tie these two lives together. Brynley and Notley were both singers and composers who became well known in Britain and then the United States, performing musical duets and touring the world together as part of the New England Singers. 

Brynley and Notley lived in Corfe Castle from 1923 and were known as a couple. During their time living together, homosexuality was criminalised in England; they had to keep their relationship quiet as they were afraid of being prosecuted. The village of Corfe seemed to accept the relationship of the pair, even referring to the couple as ‘the boys’ and throwing them a party to celebrate their 50th anniversary of living in the castle. 

There was not much known about Brynley and Notley; however, the collection opened the couple up to the world. They had a close-knit friend group made up of local and non-local artists and creatives. They were both painters and avid collectors, although Brynley said he was only a ‘Sunday painter.’ Notely was more serious about his painting, which he did often, and he donated his collection to the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery.

The person who has digitised the photographs and transcribed the diaries and letters is a Bournemouth University student, Maisie Ball, who was in a work placement at the museum. Maisie said to the Dorset Echo, “When I heard about the collection, I was keen to learn more about the lives of David Brynley and Norman Notely and digitise their story.” 

There is a photo of David kissing Norman on the cheek, which is the only image of them being physically affectionate to one another. 

She said, “The photographs that have stuck with me the most are the ones with their many dogs and the rare few of Norman on his own, where you get to see a glimpse of his personality.” These photographs are a peek into the long life that these two men shared. 

The lovers were together for 40 years before homosexuality was legalised in 1967 in England, then another 20 years after. Their history shows us that same-sex love has existed for decades and that queer people have always been here.