Fanny Adams

Fanny Adams (30 April 1859 – 24 August 1867) was a young English girl murdered by solicitor's clerk Frederick Baker in Alton, Hampshire. The expression "sweet Fanny Adams", or "sweet FA", refers to her and has come, through British naval slang, to mean "nothing at all".

Fanny Adams (born 30 April 1859) and her family lived in 141 Tanhouse Lane, situated in the northern side of Alton, a market town in Hampshire. The 1861 census shows that Fanny lived with her father, George Adams, along with his wife, Harriet, and their five children. At this time a George Adams lived, along with his wife Ann, next door at 140 Tanhouse Lane, but this is believed to have been Fanny's grandparents. George Adams, originally a labourer, married Harriet Mills in 1850 and soon had children: the eldest, Ellen (born 1852), followed by two sons, George (born 1853) and Walter (1856). Fanny was born on 30 April 1859 and baptised on 31 July that same year. Later followed Elizabeth (known as Lizzie) in 1862 and Lily Ada in 1866. The Adams' final child, Minnie, was born in 1871.

Fanny was described as being a "tall, comely and intelligent girl". She appeared older than her real age of eight and was known locally for her lively and cheerful disposition. Fanny's best friend, Minnie Warner, was the same age and lived at 143 Tanhouse Lane. The town of Alton was renowned for its plentiful supply of hops, which led to many breweries opening in the town and made hop picking an integral part of its economy until the late 20th century. To the northern end of Tanhouse Lane lies Flood Meadows and surrounding the River Wey, which sometimes flooded the area in times of heavy rain. A large hop garden was located next to the meadows.

The small market town of Alton had previously saw little crime during the peaceful Victorian English 19th century. The afternoon of 24 August 1867 was reported as fine, sunny and hot. It was around this time that Fanny, along with her sister Lizzie and best friend Minnie Warner, asked Harriet Adams if she could go out to the nearby Flood Meadows. Having no objections, Harriet agreed as she was pleased for the girls to leave her while she got on with housework. Fanny and the local children had often played in Flood Meadows, owing to its close proximity to Tanhouse Lane and the fact that there had been no real crime in Alton within living memory. As the girls walked towards Flood Meadows and into a hop garden they met Frederick Baker, a 29 year old solicitor's clerk. He was wearing a frock coat with light coloured trousers and a tall hat on his head. Baker had moved to work in live in Alton about two months prior, which allegedly made him unfamiliar with the town.

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