Ann Walker, the youngest daughter of John Walker, was born in Lightcliffe on 20th May 1803.
She was baptised at Lightcliffe Old Church on 1st July 1803.
With her sister Elizabeth, Ann was co-heiress to the Walker family estates of Crow Nest Mansion and Cliffe Hill Mansion, when their brother, John, died without an heir in 1830. Ann's half of the estate included large houses, farms, pubs and mills in Hipperholme, Lightcliffe, Shibden, Ovenden, Halifax centre, Greetland, Stainland, Scammonden and Honley.
The pubs included:
On her death, much of the property passed to her nephew Evan Charles Sutherland-Walker.
She was a neighbour of Anne Lister.
In her journals [12th June 1821], Anne (Lister) records her thoughts of Ann (Walker), identifying her variously as
Ann joined Anne at Shibden Hall in September 1834 and became her life-long partner.
She brought Anne's body back to Britain on her death, and inherited Anne's estate and income, living at Shibden Hall, provided that she did not marry.
Ann suffered mental problems.
In January 1832, Anne Lister consulted Dr Henry Stephen Belcombe about Ann's mental state.
In January 1834, and again in April 1834, Anne committed Ann to Dr Belcombe's care at Heworth Grange for short periods.
Ann accompanied Anne Lister on her travels, and was with her when she died at Koutari in Georgia [1840]. She brought Anne's body back to Halifax for burial, a journey which took 6 or 7 months.
Back at Shibden, Ann settled in to live alone, but in her confused state, she barricaded herself into the Red Room.
In 1843, Ann's sister Elizabeth and husband, Captain George Mackay Sutherland, declared Ann of to be of unsound mind.
On 12th September 1843, Ann was removed from Shibden Hall and detained in
the licensed house for the reception of insane persons
run by Elizabeth Tose, at Osbaldwick in the North Riding of York. Ann was attended by surgeon William Short, and George Goldie MD.
In November 1843, an Enquiry into her lunacy was held at the Royal Hotel, Brighouse. The Enquiry was conducted by a committee of 17 men, known as The Inquisition.
She stayed at Osbaldwick for about 2 years before returning to Cliffe Hill under supervision.
In 1851, an Irish lady, Johanna O'Brien, is recorded as a live-in carer at Cliffe Hill.
A legal dispute between the Lister and Walker families lasted almost until Ann's death in Lightcliffe [25th February 1854].
Ann was buried beneath the pulpit of Lightcliffe Old Church [3rd March 1854].
A memorial to Ann was rescued when the Church was demolished and was stored in the Tower
Page Ref: QQ_170
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