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Victorian Shibden

The Family at Shibden

 

Black and white studio portrait of John Lister wearing formal clothes, with a white shirt and black tie.
Dr John Lister

Dr John Lister lived at Shibden Hall with his wife and three children. He had two boys, John and Charles and a daughter, Anne. When they moved to Shibden in 1855, John was 8, Charles was 6 and Anne only 3. Before John inherited Shibden, the family had lived at Sandown on the Isle of Wight and they continued to visit there regularly.

 

Black and white photograph of Louisa Anne Lister.  She is standing next to a chair and wearing a dark dress.
Louisa Anne Lister

John was a doctor by training and was very interested in science. He was a member of many scientific societies and bought all the new technologies of the age, including telescopes and cameras. He also encouraged an interest in science in his children, buying them microscopes and books.

The boys were sent away to school, as many children were at the time, although Anne was educated at home. John went to Winchester School, which cost a substantial amount of money.

 

Black and white photograph of two boys, one is sitting down and has a small dog on his lap, and the other is standing beside him with his hand on his shoulder.
John and Charles Lister with Dog

After Dr John’s death in 1867, the hall passed to his son, John. He lived at Shibden with his sister, Anne, until their deaths in 1933 and 1929 respectively. However, their brother, Charles, travelled widely, recording his journey in his writings. He died in Bolivia in 1889 and is buried there.

 

Very dark photograph of Anne Lister wearing a checked dress and with a book in her hand.
Anne Lister