1800s

Most of us leave finding the love of our lives in the hands of fate... but it has long been realised that fate sometimes needs a helping hand! As long ago as the 17th century, local vicars were sometimes roped in to introduce parishioners to suitable partners – of the same social class, naturally. More formally ‘Matrimonial Plans’ began to be introduced in the late 18th century, with men and women who “desired to enter into a treaty of marriage” being asked to pay to appear on a list, describing themselves and their requirements. One gentleman claimed to be “ a little corpulent, but reasonably well-tempered, with £750 in funds”.

In 1825, an actual agency opened in London where, three days a week, those looking for love could come and register. Matrimonial advertisements also often appeared in local newspapers.

Then, at the beginning of 1939, two enterprising young women called Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver (both of whom had experience of what was known as the ‘fishing fleet’, where young Englishwomen were shipped to colonial India to find husbands among the ex-pats there) opened the Heather Jenner Bureau on Bond Street, London. Being ‘steady, employed and kind’ were among the qualities required by their clients and the matchmakers were said to have been responsible for introducing 15,000 happy couples.

Computer dating was launched in the 1960s – were computers better at ‘matching’ humans than experienced staff? In today’s world, meeting through dating apps is commonplace. Although the fact that marriage bureaux still exist shows that for some, the ‘human touch’ is still needed. And there are, of course, professional matchmakers ready to put interested parties together.