Sweet Fanny Adams

Fanny Adams (30 April 1859 – 24 August 1867) was a young English girl who was murdered by solicitor's clerk Frederick Baker in Alton, Hampshire on 24 August 1867. The murder itself was extraordinarily brutal and received national outcry in the United Kingdom. Fanny was murdered after being abducted by Baker and was brought into a hop garden near her home. She was brutally severed and her body cut into several pieces, with some parts never to have been found. Further investigations suggested that two small knives were used for the murder, but it was later ruled that they would have not been capable to commit the crime and that another weapon had to have been used.

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 mid 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.

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