Rural Lie: In the Hayfield

A card from Edith with a picture of haymaking. Both she and John wrote cards about haymaking at their Uncle William's Hawkesbourne Farm in Horsham. She wrote this reminds me of you, "Standfast", did John hold the horse like this while the cart was loaded?

Edith also wrote on this card about John and their cousin Willie meeting up at Brighton Station and being met at Lewes. Could they have been making arrangements about going to the Lewes Bonfire Night celebrations the following week?

October 30th 1903 was a Friday.

Bark Harvest, Laughton Woods, Sussex

It would seem that John wasn't sending enough post cards to his sister in the summer that he left school!

July 27th 1904 was a Wednesday.

The Waterfalls, Birstwith

A post card from Harrogate from Mark Mitchell to Edith Hurst. The view of the waterfalls at Birstwith have many more trees obsuring them from the road today than 110 years ago. The card was postmarked in Harrogate and Brighton on the same day with around 12 hours between the two.

The Waterfalls courtesy of Google Maps

March 27th 1905 was a Monday.

The Old Curiosity Shop

Edith was going to visit John and his parents on Feb 4th with Perce.

February 3rd 1904 was a Wednesday.

The Paddock, Lewes

A busy card from Edith, I wonder who Sam was?

July 18th 1904 was a Monday. The Finance Bill was on the agenda of the House of Commons on that day and Winston Churchill spoke five times.

Osbourne Road, Southsea

In August 1907 Edith and Percy were in Southsea for a holiday. They stayed at 15 Welch Road.

August 15th 1907 was a Thursday.

Carlisle Parade, Hastings

For Sunday October 23rd 1904 Edith wanted to roast a piece of pork, but if the Goodridge Butcher's shop didn't have pork a joint of beef would do.

October 20th 1904 was a Thursday.

HMS Victory on a postcard

From Edith saying she and her husband Percy King would be visiting the following day. 24th February 1906 was a Saturday and the post mark showing that it was franked by the GPO at 11.45 am at Lewes. On the front there is a second post mark showing that the card was in Brighton at 1.45 pm on the same day and no doubt delivered that afternoon.

The picture of HMS Victory in Portsmouth harbour is a reminder that for more that a century after the Battle of Trafalgar the warship although not on active service, was still afloat. The ship was dry-docked in 1922.

February 24th 1906 was a Saturday. The Spectator published an article on the Algeciras Conference and there was a strong earthquake in Tokio Bay.

A trip to Carisbrooke Castle

Edith and her husband, Percy holidayed on the Isle of Wight in August 1907.