Ann Walker

Ann Walker (20 May 1803 – 25 February 1854) was an Englishwoman, married in Britain's first known lesbian wedding, to diarist and fellow Yorkshire landowner Anne Lister. Their union was solemnised by taking the sacrament together on Easter Sunday in 1834 at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York, which bears a commemorative plaque acknowledging the event. Walker inherited half of her family's estate, Crow Nest, located in Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire, near Shibden Hall, Lister's family estate, in Calderdale. Both women inherited their respective estates during the early 19th century, when primogeniture, the custom of granting lands and property to the oldest surviving son, dominated European law and society. They were travelling abroad together when Lister fell ill and died. Research into their diaries and letters suggest Walker may have experienced bouts of anxiety and depression throughout portions of her life.

Early life Ann Walker was born on 20 May 1803 in Lightcliffe, West Riding of Yorkshire to John and Mary Walker (née Edwards).

Marriage Walker and Lister became neighbours when Lister moved to Shibden Hall in 1815, but met only occasionally. It wasn't until 1832 that the pair became involved in a romantic and sexual relationship. Walker gave up her family home to be with Lister and moved to Shibden Hall, Lister's ancestral home, about September 1834. The couple travelled widely together until Lister's death, age 49, in Georgia in 1840. by land and sea, back to England so that Lister could be interred in the same church as her beloved aunt and uncle in Halifax. Lister's will gave Walker a life interest in Shibden Hall and its estate.

Faith and philanthropy Walker's Anglican faith was important to her, as were her philanthropic endeavours. She worshipped regularly at St Matthew's Church in Lightcliffe throughout her life, and read prayers and scripture to her family and servants on Sundays. Walker was fond of children and created her own Sunday school. She took great care of her servants and tenants, as is evidenced by letters written back home while she was travelling abroad in 1839–1840, where she lists out the gifts that each of them should be given for Christmas in her absence.

Mental health Walker struggled with mental health issues throughout her life. She was prone to bouts of anxiety and depression, which appeared in part to be linked to her religious faith.

In 1843, three years after the death of Lister, with deteriorating mental health and a series of legal troubles, Walker left Shibden Hall and briefly stayed at Terrace House, a private House in Osbaldwick, near York. She was declared to be of 'unsound mind' shortly afterwards. She returned to Shibden Hall in 1845, after living in the London area with her sister and brother-in-law for a while. In 1848, Walker moved back to her family's estate in Lightcliffe after her aunt's death, living at Cliffe Hill until her own death in 1854.

Death

Walker died on 25 February 1854, aged 50. Her death certificate states her cause of death as "congestion of the brain, effusion". She was buried on 3 March 1854 under the reading pulpit of the Old St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe. Ann's parents John (d. 22 April 1823) and Mary (d. 3 November 1823) are buried in the Old St Matthew's Churchyard, as well as her siblings William (d. 26 April 1798) and Mary (d. 1 February 1815), her niece Mary Sutherland (d. 16 June 1845), and her aunt Ann Walker (d. 29 October 1847).

Ann's brother John (d. 19 January 1830) died in Naples on his honeymoon, her nephews John Walker Sutherland (d. 1836) and George Sackville Sutherland (d. 1843) died in Scotland, and her sister Elizabeth (d. 1844) died in London. by research group 'In Search of Ann Walker'. The journal was verified three days later by the West Yorkshire Archive Service, which holds the collection as well as Anne Lister's diaries. Much of what is known about Walker comes from the journals of Lister, who kept detailed diaries throughout her adult life.

Popular culture Gentleman Jack is a historical drama television series created by Sally Wainwright, co-produced by HBO and Lookout Point (for the BBC), and starring Suranne Jones as landowner and industrialist Anne Lister and Sophie Rundle as wealthy neighbouring heiress Ann Walker. The series begins in 1832 in Halifax, West Yorkshire and is based on the collected diaries of Lister, which contain over five million words, one-sixth of which are written in code. Series 1 premiered on 22 April 2019 in the United States, and on 19 May 2019 in the United Kingdom. It was renewed for a second series by BBC One on 23 May 2019. Penguin Books published a companion volume to the series Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister by the series' senior consultant, Anne Choma, which includes newly transcribed and decoded entries from Lister's diaries. O'Hooley & Tidow's song "Gentleman Jack" serves as the series' primary theme music.

Walker is portrayed by Christine Bottomley in the 2010 BBC Two biographical drama The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister.