Ann and Elizabeth were daughters of Thomas Mallinder 1837-1878 paternal line. They did not marry and their occupation was dressmakers. The picture depicts two dressmakers working from their home in the 1880s and probably reflects how Ann and Elizabeth spent much of their time. Ann was registered in the 1893 Kelly's Sheffield Trade Directory at 45 Alderson Road in Sheffield.
The photo was actually provided by my father's cousin Dorothy Maureen Grant (nee Wood) in November 2014, Trish being the daughter of Maureen. Ann is on the left and Elizabeth is on the right. There were three years between them. Elizabeth would have been 55 in 1913 so the 1919 date is incorrect given Elizabeth was born in 1858 and died in 1917. I can personally recall my father talking about two spinster aunts.
The photo is of 1930s Alderson Road, in the far background, before the redevelopment of the 1970s. Ann and Elizabeth would have worked from their home as dressmakers. It was at 45 Alderson Road that their mother died; Elizabeth (nee Crossland) died in 1899 aged 71 years.
Given that Ann is the sister registered in Kelly's directory, it is probable that Ann was in charge of the dress making business. During their twenties their father Thomas (paternal line) and uncles had established "Mallinder Brothers". Their brother Joseph (Paternal Line) was also probably working within the family iron foundry business and their younger brother William Henry was also running many diverse business ventures. Their Uncle John was running his own business as a cooper, packing case maker and grocer.
My father's father (Thomas 1886-1943 my grandfather) would have had these characters and traditions around him. Ann and Elizabeth would have been the aunts of Thomas (my grandfather), William Henry was his uncle (witness at Thomas' 1886-1943 marriage).
Ann Mallinder b. 13th Feb 1855. Baptised 4th March 1855 at St. Maries Cathedral, Sheffield - sponsors Francis Mallinder and Ann Mallinder.
Elizabeth Mallinder b. 23rd March 1858. Baptised 4th April 1858 at St. Maries Cathedral, Sheffield - sponsors John Mallinder and Sarah Ashby.
The younger sister Elizabeth died first in 1917 at the age of 59 years old at76 Woodstock Road. Ann died a year later in 1918 aged 63 years old at 63 Southgrove Road. They are buried at St Michaels Cemetery in family grave 104 with their parents and some siblings. On the funeral card is written "Aunt to Anne Mallinder", where "Anne" is the sister of my grandfather Thomas (1886-1943) and grandmother to Trish.