Ann Trease? c 1903?

This photograph was in the possession of the late Ivan Payne. It was in a glass fronted picture frame and unfortunately this snapshot taken of the original photograph in its frame caught reflections of the evening sun though a lattice window.

The original photograph was taken outside the summerhouse in the grounds of "The Firs" in Kimberley, Notts. Seated in the centre is Eleanor Hardy, the widow of William Hardy who, with his brother Thomas Hardy, had in 1857 taken over Robinson's, a local brewery established in 1832 and developed it into a thriving business. To her right, and the viewer's left, is the person thought to be Ann Trease. To her left, and the viewer's right, is a person thought to be a friend of Ethel Adams nee Trease. In front left is Ethel's husband, John and to the right of him is Ethel. The persons behind are thought to be two of Eleanor's domestic staff, almost certainly Miss Percy to the right and the person to the left is unknown.

The identity of the person thought to be Ann Trease was suggested by Ivan Payne but he was not certain. He remembered meeting Ann when he was young but said he did not know her well and it was a good many years ago. We know that Ann was fairly close to Ethel and certainly moved with her to the Maida Vale area of London and then on to Headcorn Kent.

It seems likely that the occasion was a visit by Ethel, her husband, and Ann from London together with Ethel's friend. That would date the photo as after 1901 possibly 1903.

The two croquet sticks lying on the lawn beside a croquet hoop in the front of the photograph suggest that some of the assembled group had been playing croquet. If so, it may seem surprising to us today that people of those times should feel the need to be be so formally dressed for such an occasion. Both of the older ladies, Ann Trease and Eleanor Hardy, have headdresses.