Fison Farm, Manor Farm, Fen Ditton

History of Fison Farm, Fen Ditton

1871

In 1871 Jonathan William Fison (b.1854) is living at ‘The Elms,’ Impington, where he father, Jonathan Fison, farms 290 acres.

1891

(High Street)

Jonathan Fison, farmer

Eleanor E

Frederick J,

Eleanor,

Florence M Jessop, general servant, born Chesterton

1901

(High Street)

Jonathan William Fison, farmer

Eleanor E,

Frederick J

Eleanor

Arthur Matheson

Margaret

Kathleen

Norah

Rebecca Munsey,

Margaret Smalles, servant

1911

Fison Farm (assumed to be in vicinity of Fison Road)

Jonathan William Fison, 54, born Stretham

Eleanor Elizabeth, 48, born Carlisle

Frederick Jonathan, 23, engineering student, born Fen Ditton

Eleanor, 21, art pupil teacher, born Fen Ditton

Arthur M, 19, farmer’s son working on farm, born Fen Ditton

Margaret, 18, born Fen Ditton

Kathleen, 14, born Fen Ditton

Norah, 11, born Fen Ditton

Rebecca Munsey, step sister in law, 59, assisting in the house, born Cambridge

Sarah Stebbings, 15, general servant, born Abington

Eleanor Fison was born in 1890 and lived with her family on Fison Farm in Fen Ditton. She trained as a nurse and following the death of her fiancee, Arthur Gray, a book binder in Green Street, her career took her to several places abroad including Egypt. On her return to England she married Douglas Osborne Nicoles in 1926 and moved to 34 Rock Road.

In 2017 their daughter, Pam Nicholes, described her mother’s early years and how she had met Douglas Nicholes:

 

In 1871 Jonathan William Fison (b.1854) is living at ‘The Elms,’ Impington, where he father, Jonathan Fison, farms 290 acres.

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In 2026 TA sent this note:

I thought you might be interested in seeing photographs two books that were bound by Arthur John John and given to Nellie Fison as gifts. These date to 1910-1912. I have enclosed their full descriptions below also. It was thanks to information found on Capturing Cambridge that I was able to conclude that the books were bound by Arthur Gray for Nellie, so I wanted to thank you for this terrific resource. I also learnt in further research, that when Arthur died on July 31st 1917 at St Julien, he was fighting alongside Nellie’s brother Arthur Matheson Fison. 

RACKHAM, Arthur. PETER PAN IN KENSINGTON GARDENS

London: Hodder And Stoughton, [1912].

New edition. Quarto. Beautifully bound by Arthur John Gray of J.P. Gray and Son of Cambridge, for his fiancee Eleanor (Nell) Fison.

Full contemporary red morocco, elaborately decorated in gilt with butterflies and flowers, five raised bands, lettered gilt to spine, gilt turn-ins. Housed in the binder’s original cloth-covered clamshell box. A fine copy, externally in immaculate condition. Some offsetting from the leather turn-ins to the free endpapers, but otherwise very clean internally. PROVENANCE: Eleanor Fison, inscribed for her on the title page by the bookbinder, “To Nell from Arthur, 1913”; bookplate of Pamela E. Nicholes loosely laid in.

A fine presentation binding, given by the bookbinder to his fiancee.

Eleanor (Nell) Fison and Arthur John Gray were from Cambridge and began courting around 1910, eventually becoming engaged. Arthur was a bookbinder at the family firm of J.P. Gray and Son on Green Street. This is one of two bookbindings we have that he made for Nell as gifts from their early courtship.

When the war came in 1914, Arthur joined the 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire regiment, rising to the rank of captain. On the 31st July 1917 he was killed on the first day of The Battle Of Passchendale at Ypres.

This ‘new edition’ of Peter Pan In Kensington Gardens was enlarged with a new frontispiece and seven full-page drawings that are not in the first edition of 1906.

TOOLEY, Sarah A.. THE LIFE OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

London: Cassell And Company, 1910.

Seventh edition. Octavo. Beautifully bound by Arthur John Gray of J.P. Gray and Son of Cambridge, for his fiancee Eleanor (Nell) Fison.

Full contemporary red morocco, ruled, lettered and decorated gilt. Five raised bands to spine. “Nellie Fison Her Book” is tooled to the front turn-ins, and “Ex Dono A.J.G.” is tooled to the rear. Housed in the binder’s original cloth-covered clamshell box. A fine copy. PROVENANCE: Eleanor Fison, given to her by the bookbinder Arthur John Gray, “Nellie Fison Her Book” is tooled to the front turn in, and “Ex Dono A.J.G.” is tooled to the rear turn-in.

A fine presentation binding, given by the bookbinder to his fiancee. Eleanor (Nell) Fison and Arthur John Gray were from Cambridge and began courting around 1910, eventually becoming engaged. Nell was training to be a nurse making the subject matter of this gift particularly appropriate.

Arthur was a bookbinder at the family firm of J.P. Gray and Son on Green Street. This is one of two bookbindings we have that he gave Nell as gifts from their early courtship.

When the war came in 1914, Arthur joined the 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire regiment, rising to the rank of captain. On the 31st July 1917 he was killed on the first day of The Battle Of Passchendale at Ypres.