Gentleman Jack

by Katy Derbyshire

  Shortly afterwards, Anne found out that the railway was now to be extended to Halifax; the route raised the value of previously insignificant plots of land belonging to Ann Walker in the valley and the station was to be built at Northgate, in the direct vicinity of Anne’s hotel. Things could not have gone better. The influence of the railroad is already felt. What will it be by and by, when even such old fashioned going people as I begin to follow in the train? 30 It began to dawn on Anne Lister that she had been wrong about the future of the transport sector. In public, she advocated further expansion of the canal system, while making discreet but not very successful attempts to sell her and Ann’s canal shares while they were still worth something.

  Ann Walker took little interest in daily business matters and would have liked to hand control of her financial matters to a trustworthy person. But the trustee of her father’s will, William Priestley, the husband of Anne Lister’s former friend Mrs Priestley, was not really a man of business – things went on better without him.31 Since visiting Germany, his soul seemed wrapped up in German chorales and the great works, vocal and instrumental, of German masters.32 He played the oboe and clarinet, founded the Halifax Choral Society and organised concerts that drew respect around the country. But Anne Lister, too, proved to be neither a loyal administrator nor a good business-woman. She was constantly asking Ann for money for the Walker Pit, for the Northgate Hotel, for buying properties and for another, even larger coalmine, Listerwick Colliery. A– low at my having so many concerns – oh dear!33 For Ann, all these investments were un-transparent, doubtful and unnecessary, as she had lived well on her diversely invested assets until her marriage. She is afraid she shall not have enough for herself.34 The alterations Anne was planning to Shibden Hall also caused her consternation. Why spend so much money? She will always long to be doing Cliff-hill – tho’ she herself doubts whether that or Crow Nest will be the place eventually.35

  Their joint budget at home also caused tension. Anne Lister asked for £500 a year from Ann Walker for running the household, because she had spent that amount at Lidgate. There, though, Ann had lived more comfortably and independently on that sum and so now felt cheated. They argued on numerous occasions over the use of the carriages. She said she should have gone over to Leeds today if she had had carriage & servant of her own – I quietly said she had two of each – I was very sorry I had prevented her… I said no more but came upstairs – keeping my temper beautifully, as I must say for myself, I have always done to her… I see there will be a struggle for the upper hand – I shall not give way, come what may.36

  In August of 1835, Anne and Ann went down to London for a shopping trip. On the evening before they left, Anne explained affectionately and calmly that she’d be visiting Lady Stuart alone, even though the dowager had given Ann a warm welcome on their return journey from France. She cried and recalled similar occasions when Anne had denied her to her aristocratic friends. She thought the sooner we parted the better. I said my greatest and first wish was her happiness – if I could not make her happy, I only hoped someone else might succeed better etc.’ Anne judged her own behaviour very kind and affectionate. Ann’s response was: ‘Oh no,’ but she had expected very different. [...] But if left to do my own way, I did not despair. She by-and-by came round, kissed me etc. I took all well, but thinking to myself, ‘There is danger in the first mention, the first thought, that it is possible for us to part – time will shew – I shall try to be prepared for whatever may happen.’ 37

  Anne visited her high-society friends in London without Ann. At the home of the dowager Lady Stuart she met Lady Vere Cameron, who said I must have a hoard somewhere, or coal or something must yield a great deal – how could I build Inns & talk of a house in London etc – hoped I should not ruin myself. ‘I hope not,’ said I, ‘but if I do, my little friend Miss W– must help me out.’ ‘Come to me,’ said Vere, ‘I will keep you.’ I said A– had a very good fortune – but I should take care – had no thought of a house in London perhaps for these 10 years to come.38

  Ann Walker’s stay in London did not go well. She had opened a Sunday school in Lightcliffe, where she after church, had 30 small school boys, whom Miss W– exercised in catechism39 – presumably a tough task for a woman with allegedly bad nerves; or perhaps evidence that she was more resilient than Anne Lister claimed. Hoping to put the school on a professional standing, she went to the British and Foreign Central School in London to look for two teachers, a man and a woman. This attempt was in vain, as we fancied the system was a sort of gradual undermining of the Church and Tory politics.40 With her back complaints still persisting, Ann consulted the orthopaedist Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, an eminent authority in his field who also treated the king. After the examination, though, the doctor merely made the terse comment that she was just the sort of person for nervous pains but there was nothing to fear.41 Ann Walker’s only option was household remedies; rubbed A–’s spine with brandy for 20 minutes.42

  The two stayed a good week and then set off on a roundabout return journey. They viewed Warwick Castle and Birmingham and spent three days taking the waters at Buxton, where Anne had cuckolded the newlywed Charles Lawton in 1816, also cheating on the bride by sleeping with her sister on the same visit. In 1825, she and Mariana had not been able to get enough of each other there; with Ann, all she got was a kiss last night rather better than that the night before – but she moaned after it till she fell asleep in about half hour or less – but I took no notice.43 The lack of trust between them made their love life complicated; they rarely managed more than a tolerable kiss. [...] She a little exhausted and said ‘It is killing work,’ of which I took no notice but seemed to sleep. Earlier on in their marriage, Ann had already asked Anne why she did not feel moisture from me as before.44 That problem was resolved, but mutual disappointment set in; pretty good one last night, but she said I had half killed her and she would have no more, and she awoke me two or three times in the night to tell me she could not sleep.45 Anne ended up writing more and more often: ‘No kiss.’ When they did make love, it tended to be on Ann’s rare initiative. A goodish kiss last night – all her own bringing on – I never spoke but took it.46

  In Buxton the next morning, Ann was sickish and reading the Psalms while I washed. She is queer and little-minded and I fear for her intellect.47 As was previously the case with Eliza Raine and Isabella Norcliffe, it did not occur to Anne Lister that she might be one of the reasons for Ann’s tension. Back at Shibden Hall, she resolved I feel now at last resigned to my fate and take it very quietly – she has no mind for me – I shall not meet with one that has, in this world. Let me be thankful for all the mercies and the blessings I have, rather than sigh for more.48 I have been strongly impressed within these few days, even from little things in her own manner, that we shall not stick together for ever – she will want to be off. Well, be it so – I will try to manage my affairs as well as I can & let her go.49 For the time being, her attempt to gain unrestricted access to Ann’s assets had failed. Her whole manner too about money matters nowadays speaks plain enough that things are not to be as I at first expected. Anne felt Ann Walker would be glad to be at liberty again.50 In fact, it was Anne Lister whose mind turns to the thought of being at liberty again.51 Ann, however, had been fearing I should leave her & be tired of her etc.52 She could not overlook the contradiction between Anne’s words and deeds.

  Anne Lister spent more time on her business and private correspondence than with her wife, and especially on her journals. Her minute detailing of her life grew into an obsession during the 1830s. She lost all sense of what was worth mentioning and what not. Nothing prevented her from writing down for the hundredth time how fast she had walked from Shibden Hall to church. She made detailed notes of what she ate and what food she enjoyed, her digestion processes and their results, shape, size and consistency. When she had to put up with an hour’s stopover on a night journey: Opened the coach door & sat down, or squatted, in the bottom & made
water, so that it ran out.53 She described her allergies in as much detail as her dental care regime. For about an hour, scaling my teeth with a penknife. I have really got them pretty clear of tartar.54 Most of the entries ended with the sum of the lines she had just written. About half of the entire volume of Anne Lister’s journals was written in the 1830s; she wrote an average of 750 words a day,55 the equivalent of about two pages of this book. Both Mariana and Aunt Anne had complained about Anne’s obsession with herself, in earlier times. Ann Walker now took drastic action; Anne complained she had taken away the key of my study56 or has locked up my journal. The implicit invitation was water off a duck’s back for Anne Lister, who was beside myself at the disappointment.57

  In the winter of 1835–36, Ann Walker gave up explaining herself to Anne. A– queerish and poorly or middling, as she calls it – I think temper goes for much of it. She cried last night, on my gently saying I thought she ought to tell me things fairly – she would not mew as she used to do – had reasons but would not tell.58 When their relationship entered its third year on 10 February 1836 and Anne wished her many happy returns of the day on the 1st thing on wakening this morning, Ann was out of sorts at the day, at its being the anniversary of our being together – she can hardly perhaps own to herself that she repents, but she has a queer temper and perhaps fancies herself under restraint. My maxim is: neither to confide in nor consult her.59 That maxim may well have made matters worse.

  But Anne could simply not afford to lose Ann Walker. In February of 1836 she borrowed £300 from Ann, followed by £100 each in March and April, then £50 here and £20 there. She made another attempt to cure Ann’s depression, walking with her and taking more care of her. A– would not take luncheon till I got her persuaded – at last told me she had been unhappy the last two weeks – had not pleasure in anything, never felt as if doing right. Would not take wine – was getting too fond of it – afraid she should drink – was getting as she was before – afraid people would find it out – & began to look disconsolate.60 To stop Ann from feeling guilty again, Anne also took care of matters of the soul. No kiss. Lay talking to A– more than an hour & did her good. Would not let her say prayers, but read to her. [...] She thanked me & seemed eased. Still, though, Anne thought she is getting all wrong again in her spirits. I really fear for her intellect.61 She said the opposite to Ann’s face. No kiss. A– very low, till I accidentally told her I had no fear, nor had Dr Belcombe, of her going really wrong (in her mind) – she then cheered up & seemed better.62

  It was not only Anne Lister who was testing Ann Walker’s nerves; she was also troubled by a conflict with the residents of a poor area by the name of Caddy Fields. They had always taken their drinking water from a stream that had its source on Ann Walker’s property. When the water supply was suddenly interrupted and an angry crowd demanded their water, Robert Parker, Anne Lister’s Halifax lawyer, recommended placing a barrel of tar in the source to make it undrinkable for at least a year and show these upstarts who the water belonged to. The people of Caddy Fields were beside themselves with rage, and burnt A– & me in effigy.

  The water poisoning went to court but neither Robert Parker nor Ann Walker were charged with the crime; instead, the four workers who had sunk the barrel on their instructions were sent up before the judge. The court established that the water did not belong to Ann Walker but was public property, as an established right. The case made waves and the Halifax Guardian placed the blame on Ann Walker. A– very low all today. She looked wretchedly & will hardly take wine fearing to take too much.63 Three days later, there was a stink-bomb attack on Anne Lister’s new coalmine, using asafoetida; Anne’s workers had to evacuate the pit.

  In the midst of these conflicts, Jeremy Lister died. By now eighty-four years old, he had been bedridden for several days. Anne had sat with him for long hours, as had Ann and Marian. Death could not come more gently, more easily – though at the bedside, I scarce knew that the last breath had passed away. Marian was more composed than might perhaps have been expected – I took her downstairs into the Kitchen – got her a little brandy and water to rinse her mouth with and a little drink and a biscuit. It was on the day of Anne’s forty-fifth birthday, 3 April 1836, at 4:40 in the morning. My aunt wished me my health and many happy returns of my birthday – a melancholy birthday today! A– so low and in tears and her breath so bad, for she would take no luncheon – fancies she takes too much – that sleeping with her is not very good for me. Really, I know not how it will end. At this rate I must give up.64

  As the mistress of Shibden Hall, Anne arranged the funeral, which took place a week later with all due pomp and circumstance and was widely attended by the local community. At Halifax Parish Church, the neatly bricked family crypt proved deep enough for 2 coffins above my father’s. Anne was casting a glance at her own grave, where she was to be buried only five years later. In leaving the church (between the doors and gates) a woman among the crowd said ‘There is not many tears.’ ‘No!’ thought I, ‘I have not shed one – nor did I shed one when my father was with me over my mother’s grave, or over my uncle’s – there may be grief without tears.’ Thankful when all was over. Came immediately to A– & sat quietly with her. [...] A– rather better on the whole, but her mind or spirits are subject to sad lowness – tho’ she has rather more lengthened gleams of cheerfulness today.65

  Jeremy’s death brought Anne into possession of her father’s third of the income from Shibden Hall. Nonetheless, she went on trying to persuade Ann that she had better give me a power to manage everything & give me a life estate etc. Ann Walker may have hoped to have Anne Lister to herself at last, and had no objection 66 any more. In the spring of 1836 they sought advice together from Jonathan Gray in York on several occasions. Anne assured the lawyer, who had heard rumours about Ann Walker, that A– had simply been low and nervous but never insane.67 She could only legally wheedle her partner’s fortune out of her if Ann was of sound mind. In the end, they made each other beneficiaries of their full assets for life. Should Anne Lister die first, Ann Walker was to receive the income from Shibden Hall; after her death the estate would go to John Lister from the Welsh branch of the family, as Anne had assured her Uncle James. A ship’s doctor with the East India Company, John Lister had made a good impression on Anne when she met him in Paris in 1831. Ann Walker formulated her will correspondingly. Both Anne Lister and Ann Walker also added a special clause: should one of them marry – marry a man, that is – the right to benefit from the other’s assets would expire.

  These new wills brought back Ann Walker’s scruples. No kiss. A– very low – had been crying for over an hour before nine, then lay talking – she thought she could not make me happy. Anne talked her out of that idea, though she knew Ann was right, and Ann returned to it a few days later. Lay slumbering on the sofa – tea at 9 ½ – long talk – A– thought it her duty to leave me – explanation – said I could not stand this – she must make up her mind and stick to it. She should have no difficulty in leaving me, but I thought her very foolish. The fact is, as I told her, she did not like signing her will. I told her she had best do it now and alter it afterwards. We should both look so foolish if she did not – it would make the break between us immediate – she had better take time. At last she saw, or seemed to see, her folly and said with more than usual energy she really would try to do better.68 Under all this pressure, Ann Walker signed her will in York along with Anne Lister on 9 May 1836. That did not mean the wills were valid, as they still had to be certified by two witnesses, but Anne Lister now granted her wife a little more peace.

  By the time they returned from York, Marian was no longer at Shibden Hall. She did not want to live there without her father, whom she had taken care of since Rebecca’s death and nursed at the end. She moved to Skelfler House in Market Weighton, which she had inherited from her parents. The two sisters did not say goodbye to each other.

  Liberated from her sister and father, Anne immediately began to make signi
ficant changes in and around Shibden Hall. The ceiling in the large sitting room was to be torn down, extending the main body of the house, or ‘housebody’ upwards, so the staircase also had to be moved; a ‘Norman Tower’ was to be built onto the house on the west side, to accommodate Anne’s library on its second floor and below that, on the level of the bedrooms in the old house, a water-closet, to put an end to cold walks across the courtyard. For the eastern side of the building, Anne planned new rooms for the servants. On seeing her architect’s plans, which included even more buildings, Anne was very well satisfied – only afraid of making the house too large-looking and important.69