Fanny Dimmock was born on June 13th, 1857 at Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire, the seventh child of Mary Adams & David Dimmock, a timber carter/labourer.
Fanny was living at home in 1861, now at Adelaide St, St Albans. She had 2 older sisters & 2 older brothers & a younger brother. Her half-sister, Susanna Adams, was with the family.
In 1871 the family were living at Lattimore Rd, Tyttenhanger, St Albans. Her older brothers & sister & younger sister & brother were still at home. Fanny was now working as a silk throwster.
By 1881 Fanny was living in Herne Hill, Lambeth, Brixton where she was a house maid for Jane & Richard Blythe, a ship owner, & family.
Fanny married Ralph Harding in July-September 1883 at Lambeth. Ralph was born April-June 1858 at Little Missenden, Wycombe Heath, Bucks, the son of Rebecca & William Harding, an agricultural labourer.
In 1891 Fanny & Ralph were living at 6 Wildes Cottages, Cheam, Epsom, Surrey. Ralph was a gardener & they had 3 children at this time – Emily (5), Gertrude A (3) & Ralph E (1).
By 1901 the family had moved to 93 Clarence Rd, Sutton, Epsom & Ralph was now a florist assistant. The children at home were Gertrude, Ralph, Kate (9), Percy (7), Grace (3) & Elsie (7 months). Ralph’s brother Albert G Harding (30), a carman, was with them at the time of the census.
Fanny & Ralph were living at 179 High St, Sutton, Epsom in 1911 & Ralph was now a nurseryman & florist (shopkeeper). At home were all their 7 children – Emily, Ralph & Kate were all assisting in the family business & Percy was a grocer’s apprentice. Grace & Elsie were at school & no occupation was given for Gertrude.
In 1912 son Ralph married Winifred Ashley in Epsom. Ralph continued to work as a nurseryman & in 1939 he & Winifred were living at Gander Green Lane, Sutton & Cheam with 2 sons.
Daughter Emily married Thomas Robert Grosvenor in April-June 1915 at Epsom. Sadly Thomas was killed during WW1 on August 14th, 1917. He died in France while serving as second lieutenant with the London Regiment. His address at the time of his death was Beresford, 16 Shrubbery Villas, Bushey Rd, Sutton, Surrey. Probate was granted to widow Emily & his effects were £740. Later in 1917 Emily gave birth to a daughter, Violet E Grosvenor.
Son Percy married Albina G Sharp in 1917 in Epsom & in 1939 they were living in Sunningdale Rd, Sutton & Cheam & Percy was a commercial traveller.
Daughter Beatrice married Frank Gentle in 1919 in Epsom & in 1939 they & their daughter were living in Wimbledon Park Rd, Wandsworth, London & Frank was a builder’s clerk.
Ralph died on April 20th, 1935 at 30 North St, Ashford, Kent. Probate was granted in London on October 14th, 1935 to son Percy Albert, a commercial traveller & Frank Gentle, a builder’s clerk. His effects amounted to £1,731.11s.6d.
The 1939 register shows widowed Fanny living at 73 Upper Queens Rd, Ashford, Kent. Living with her were daughter Emily Grosvenor, widowed, & daughter Gertrude A, who was noted as incapacitated. Also there was a teacher, Percy C Barr. Daughter Grace appears not have married & in 1939 she was living at North St, Ashford where she was a florist & fruiterer.
Fanny died on November 25th, 1946, aged 89, at 73 Queens Rd, Ashford, Kent. Probate was granted to son Percy Albert Harding, commercial traveller, & her effects were £254.12s.1d..
The children of Fanny Dimmock & Ralph Harding were:
d.11.1 Emily Harding born July 8th, 1885 at Childs Hill, Middlesex; died Oct-December 1972 at Ashford, Kent
d.11.2 Gertrude Annie Harding born June 12th, 1887 at Cottenham Park, Surrey; died Oct-December 1950 at Ashford, Kent
d.11.3 Ralph Edward Harding born October 2nd, 1889 at Cottenham Park, Surrey; died Oct-December 1968 at Sutton, Epsom
d.11.4 Beatrice Kate Harding born October 24th, 1891 at Cheam, Surrey; died September 14th, 1979 at 20 Bloxham Rd, Banbury, Oxon
d.11.5 Percy Albert Harding born ebruary 11th, 1894 at Cheam, Surrey; of 36 Winkworth Rd, Banstead, Surrey died January 13th at 585 London Rd, Cheam & buried January 19th, 1956 at Banstead
d.11.6 Grace Bertha Harding born June 19th, 1897 at Sutton, Surrey; died April-June 1979 in Ashford, Kent
d.11.7 Elsie May Harding born July-September 1900 at Sutton, Surrey