Ann’s Shibden in the News

It’s unknown exactly what it was like for Ann Walker to live in her matrimonial home after losing her wife, Anne Lister. The memories of their years together at Shibden Hall were probably ever present on her mind. Anyone who has been widowed, knows that feeling of deep emptiness and hopefully, over time, the eventual comfort of those precious memories. For Ann, the loss happened on foreign soil and it took months for her wife’s body to return to Halifax.

Author’s Note, this blog will cover some events surrounding Shibden Hall during Ann’s time there after Anne’s death that can be traced through newspaper articles. Crime was not an unusual occurrence in the area at the time. There were break-ins at the Hall, violence on the road to Shibden, deaths and accidents in the coal pits, and riots. If difficult to read, you’ll find the transcription of that newspaper article beneath the clip in blue. Diary and letter transcriptions are in pink.

To read more detailed accounts of Ann’s life you can order the ISAW “Searching for Ann Walker” book from Amazon or from your online bookseller.

Before beginning, it’s important to share how Ann reacted to unnerving circumstances per Anne Lister’s diary. An example of one was in 1837 when Ann heard someone attempting to open a door, or at least thought she did. Here’s Anne’s account from 16 March 1837.

"- I was just ready to get into bed about 12 20/.. when A- came to say she was sure she had heard someone attempt to open the gallery door into the little anteroom and would have me go downstairs & look about - I went unwillingly, with a pistol in one hand and a candle in the other - not at all believing there was anybody - but if there was they must be thieves, a thought that had not till I named it entered A-'s head - I would not go into the cellars because I had caught my last and late very bad cold that way - but looked into the north parlour & about & nor saw nor heard anything"
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/20/0035

The following day she added more details.

"John called us at 5 40/.. saying there was somebody in the house - A- jumped up, so did I, but on hearing that it was there had been a minute or 2 before somebody in the house that they had come in at the north parlour window, and nothing seemed to be gone (not even the plate) I got into bed again & lay very quietly leaving A- to inquire & tell me the news - she persists in the belief that they were in the house when she called me to look about, & had remained in all night - not a noise was heard till John heard something & got up about 5½ or before - just before which Cookson awoke hearing them trying to unscrew the lock of her room-door - she called out to know if it was John who was there & this perhaps frightened them away - my feeling was shame that people could have got in, & thus had their full swing in the house without our hearing - yet nothing seemed disturbed except my writing box moved off the table in the north parlour and 1 or 2 other things moved & the padlock of the great oak chest in the upper kitchen forced open - but none of my books there were disturbed -"
17 March 1837 West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/20/0035

The incident appeared in the Halifax Express on 1 April.

"Some thieves recently effected an entrance into Shibden Hall, the residence of Miss Lister, and proceeded up stairs, where, in attempting to unscrew a lock from the door of a room, which they probably mistook for the plate room, they awoke two of the domestics, who were sleeping in it, and one of them arose from her bed and accidentally fell against the door. Supposing the noise to be occasioned by rats, she returned to bed, without giving any alarm: but, the next morning, it was discovered that the villains had decamped, leaving the doors open, and their only booty being a silk handkerchief!"

From this instance and others in Anne Lister’s diary with respect to Ann Walker, it’s a good bet that many of these events might have unnerved, frightened and/or saddened her.

Here’s an account by year of some events found in the newspapers at or around Shibden Hall. Ann’s personal timeline is added for context.

1841

There was a break-in at Shibden Hall on 6 May 1841, one week after Anne Lister was buried in the family vault at Halifax Minster. Ann Walker wrote a letter asking Mr Booth (most likely David Booth who served as Anne Lister’s steward during the last trip)¹ to get the window repaired that was broken during the forced entry the night before. She also asks him to tell Francis where to find the Mason. Living with Ann at Shibden Hall in 1841 were servants Susan Oddy (35), Susan Woodhead (25), Jane Metcalf (20), Henrietta Pomoud (25), Joseph Buyst (25), Francis Knight (20) and John Booth (50).²

Interestingly, Francis Knight, groom and Susan Woodhead, servant would marry in 1842 at St John the Baptist in Halifax, both listed on the marriage certificate as from Shibden Hall.³

Here’s part of the letter, the full transcription is below it.

"Miss Walker begs to inform Mr Booth that the thieves have been in the house last night, & taken out the Mullion of the Scullery window - which of course must be replaced during the day, and it will be best for Mr Booth to tell Francis where he can find the Mason -

Shibden Hall Thurs .6.May 1841."
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/LL/407

The break-in was reported in the newspaper two days later.

"ROBBERY – On Thursday morning last some thieves broke into the residence of Mr. John Carr, near Stump Cross, and stole there from three cheeses and several other articles. On the same morning some thieves broke into Shibden Hall, and would no doubt have made off with several valuable articles but for the continual barking of a dog which aroused some of the servants, who, upon examining the premises, found that an entrance had been effected through one of the windows, and that the party inside was endeavoring to force open the door, for his companions outside, with an instrument he left behind him."

Another robbery occurred on 11 September 1841 when some boys scaled the wall of “Miss Lister’s” garden. The case was proven and the boys were punished.

“MONDAY - GARDEN ROBBERY.—Four boys of the name of Throp, Whittaker, Bloomer, and Sutcliffe, of Northowram, were charged with robbing the garden of Miss Lister, of Shibden Hall, having got over the wall for that purpose. The case was fully proved. Bloomer and Throp has been committed to Wakefield two months on a former occasion for garden robbing. It appeared from the statement of their mothers, that they all ought to have been at the Sunday-school. On being asked by the bench who had persuaded them to commit the robbery. The bench then committed Bloomer and Trop three months to Wakefield, and fined Whittaker and Sutcliffe 10s each.”

1842

There was a general strike in the UK during the summer of 1842, often referred to as the The Plug Plot Riots. In August, thousands of workers clashed with soldiers in Halifax. Learn more details about the riots here.

It was during this time that Ann was sending moorgame to her wife’s long-time friend Mrs Mary Jane Duffin (née Marsh). Mrs Duffin also gave some of the moorgame to Tib Norcliffe per Ann’s request.¹ In a letter from Mrs Duffin to Ann she mentioned the Halifax riots.

“…I do hope you are not suffering much Alarm from the Riots in your neighborhood, which I trust by the prompt exertions of the Military are now nearly quelled. Our Assizes are likely to last 3 Weeks & our Aug[u]st Races begin on Monday – To that this great Town will be all Bustle; but I have a quiet Back Room therefore I shall not feel any Annoyance – once more Adieu." 
20 August 1842 West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN:103/2/67

Clearly Ann continued a friendship with Mrs Duffin and Tib. Read more about Mrs Duffin’s and Ann’s correspondence here.

In 1842 there was a horrible accident at a coal pit at Shibden and a young boy was killed at a Shibden coal pit.

There was also this incident of crime near Shibden Hall, which would also be concerning.

"Yesterday evening week, about half-past five o'clock, Christopher Collins, a working man, was waylaid by five men, near Shibden Hall, while on his way to Bailiff Bridge, and robbed of 3s. 8½d. and his knife. The poor man was ill-used, being severely kicked and bruised about the head."

1843

1843 began with another death of a boy in a coal pit belonging to Ann.

In September of 1843, Ann voluntarily left Shibden Hall to receive medical care under Dr Henry Stephens Belcombe at Terrace House in Osbaldwick and later under Dr Forbes Winslow at Sussex House in Hammersmith. Learn more here. She would not return to Shibden until 1845.

1845

In April 1845 Ann, her medical attendant, Capt George Sutherland, his children (Elizabeth died in December 1844) and servants moved into Shibden. Her niece Mary Sutherland died in June of 1845 at Shibden Hall.¹

1846

In May, 1846, Capt Sutherland married Mary Elizabeth Haigh who joined him, Ann and the Sutherland children at Shibden.

"At Halifax, on the 5th instant, by the Rev. J. Boseworth, D.D., George Mackay Sutherland, Esq. of Aberarder, Inverness-shire; to Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Join Haigh, Esq. of Savile Hall, Yorkshire."

1847

Capt Sutherland died at Shibden Hall in April 1847.

After a robbery at Shibden Hall while Capt Sutherland’s body was in the house, the Leeds Intelligencer reported that the last time the cellars had been robbed was a year previously on Capt Sutherland’s wedding night with his second wife

Another account, in the Halifax Guardian, went into more detail as to what food was stolen during this robbery.

"BURGLARIES.- On Sunday night last, an out-kitchen at Shibden Hall was entered by thieves
who, however, only succeeded in carrying away a piece of beef, a shoulder of
mutton, and some minor articles of food."

Ann’s Aunt Ann Walker of Cliff Hill died in October 1847, leaving Ann’s childhood home available should she choose to relocate from Shibden Hall. While still at Shibden, Ann’s friend Lydia Fenton received an undated letter addressed to her there from Capt Sutherland’s widow. This places Lydia with Ann after Mrs Mary Sutherland and the children moved out of Shibden.

Ann was possibly still at Shibden throughout 1847 before her move to Cliff Hill when this Highway Robbery occurred.

1848

Although a letter from Lydia Fenton to Robert Parker¹ dated 1 April 1848 indicates that Ann was likely living at Cliff Hill, she would have been aware of another fatal accident at the Lister coal pit.

Thoughts

The trauma of losing her wife on foreign soil and traveling back to Halifax without her, only to wait seven months for Anne’s body to be returned, would be a challenge for any woman.

How did Ann handle the external stresses of the break-ins, robberies, coal pit accidents and riots? Was she frightened? Was she nervous? Was she overwrought? It’s unknown at this time.

What is known is that one week after burying her wife – who was her protector and the woman she loved, she was in control. Her letter was straightforward, handwriting strong – no tear drop stains. On 6 May 1841, Miss Walker, the new Mistress of Shibden Hall, took care of business.

To read more detailed accounts of Ann’s life you can order the ISAW “Searching for Ann Walker” book from Amazon or from your online bookseller.

Sources

1841

1. 23 May 1839 West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/23/0048
2. Ancestry.com Class: HO107; Piece :1303; Book: 11; Civil Parish: Halifax; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 3; Folio:17; Page: 26; Line: 16; GSU roll: 46426
3. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Leeds, Yorkshire, England; Reference Number: WDP53/1/3/35

1842

1. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN:103/2/59

1845

1. Searching for Ann Walker, Decades of Committees, Diane Halford

1848

1. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale FW 120/50-52

Other Sources

1. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk, a paid service
2. https://www.ancestry.com, a paid service

Thank you

Diane Halford – Archival Research
Caroline Maillard – Editing
Trish Rafa – Editing
Martin Walker (no relation) – Editing & Transcriptions

In Search of Ann Walker’s research into Ann’s life is ongoing, therefore new discoveries may change the way we chronicle her life in the future.

How to cite this article:
Deb Woolson (2025) “Ann Walker’s Shibden Hall”: In Search of Ann Walker [Accessed “add date”]