Fanny Maria Craven

Fanny Craven is perhaps best known in Gainsborough for the Hall named after her. A photo of it is below.

She lived at 19 Morton Terrace and was the daughter of Joseph Craven and his wife, Ann.

Her father was a Clerk at Iveson and Sons, Solicitors. He was also the Clerk to several School Boards – Stockwith, Scotton, Stow, Willingham and Morton and a vestry clerk. He died on March 15th 1903.

Fanny followed in his civic footsteps. During the First World War, she worked with soldiers billeted in Gainsborough, where she gained her certificate in 1915.

She was one of the first members of the Chamber of Trade Bowling Club and was involved with the Old People’s Gathering and the Old People’s Treat for around 50 years.

Fanny was also Secretary to the Wesley Chapel and Clerk to the Governors of the High School.

When she died on July 2nd 1937, at age 70, she left numerous bequests in her will to local organisations.

These included:

The John Coupland Hospital,
The Methodist Local Preacher’s Mutual Aid Association
The Gainsborough Nursing Association
Local St. John’s Ambulance Brigade to help fund a new building.

Fanny’s headstone was restored in 2024 for us by Retford Memorials.

Her husband, Joseph, is buried next to her.