Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Owners of Walton Hall: The Pinfolds

Fanny Maria's health declines

Fanny Maria Pinfold cannot be traced on the census in 1861 and that year Walton Hall was occupied by housekeeper Elizabeth Goodwin (ten years later she is recorded on the census at ‘Linden Lodge’, the home of Fanny Maria’s mother) and three other servants including a laundress, housemaid and groom. It appears that Fanny Maria was travelling abroad at this time, although it is not known where or for how long she was out of the country. Online records reveal that she was in receipt of a passport on 17 September 1860. 

Fanny Maria was very well thought of by the Walton estate residents and on 19 January 1861 the following article appeared in the ‘Croydon Weekly Standard’:

“Seasonable Gifts – On Thursday week the hearts of the cottagers on the Walton Hall estate were made cheerful and happy by receiving from their well-known benevolent and generous landlady, Miss Pinfold, a supply of coals at this inclement season of the year, one load to each cottage, which her tenants, Mr Hawley and Mr King, were pleased to have delivered at each recipient’s door. On the Saturday following, Mrs Goodman [sic], the housekeeper at the Hall, delivered at each of the cottages 15s. worth of flannel. These acts of kindness on the part of the lady plainly showed that, although she was living in the midst of plenty in a foreign land, she did not forget the poor peasantry on her estate at home. The gifts bestowed were received with gratitude, and many were the thanks expressed by the recipients, coupled with their prayers for her safe return to her native land, and a hearty hope that she may long enjoy good health to live among them in the enjoyment of her estates.” 

In another show of generosity, the following year Fanny Maria treated all of her tenants on the Walton estate to a trip to London to visit the International Exhibition at Kensington. An image of the exhibition building is shown on this page. The following report appeared in the ‘Croydon Weekly Standard’ on 1 November 1862:

“A Liberal Treat – On Tuesday last Miss Pinfold of Walton Hall kindly invited all her tenants, old and young, to visit the International Exhibition, the whole of the expenses of the day being defrayed by her, including a good dinner, &c., in the building. The excursionists left the village early in the morning, the whole being under the management of Mr George King, who acted as pioneer to the party. It is needless to say they thoroughly enjoyed the treat thus afforded them and returned highly delighted, fully intending to thank the good lady for her liberality and kindness.”  

Sadly, Fanny Maria did not enjoy good mental health (perhaps this was the reason she spent time abroad) and sometime in 1865 she was admitted to Hurst House Asylum in Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire. On this page there is a photograph of Hurst House as it looked in 2014. Hurst House was a private asylum for women, described as receiving 'nervous and mental invalids, for the accommodation of ten female inmates in the higher and middle classes'. It is not known exactly why Fanny Maria was admitted to Hurst House at the age of 36. Each of the censuses from 1871 to 1891 describe her as a ‘lunatic’. However in the nineteenth century this was a word used to describe all manner of mental health issues although patients described as such were generally defined as ‘sometimes of good and sound memory and understanding and sometimes not; a mentally ill person with periods of lucidity’. Fanny Maria remained at Hurst House for 27 years. On 10 December 1892, at the age of 63, she was discharged, being described as ‘improved’ in the discharge documents.

On 29 September 1864, the year before Fanny Maria entered Hurst House, an auction of farm stock and equipment was held at Walton Hall. The extensive list of sale items appeared in the newspapers and revealed that the Hall was being let once again. The principal tenants of Walton Hall are described in the following pages.