april 8th 1904 florence matilda henstock nee frow to alice jane frow nee pellow

rome, italy to patricroft, manchester, lancashire

1380 miles

the message

"Dear M

We have been here today + to the Vatican.

8/4/04 

I was right at the top of the big dome.

Florrie"

the sender

Florence Matilda Henstock nee Frow (1879-1974) was the daughter of Alfred Frow (1852-1915) and Alice Jane Pellow (1855-1939). Alfred was a schoolmaster. 

In 1899, Florence married Jesse Thomas Herbert Henstock (1876-1965), more commonly known as just Herbert. Herbert was a university lecturer and research chemist. In the 1911 census he is described as a Retired Lecturer with private means, aged 35.

the recipient

Alice Jane Frow nee Pellow (1855-1939) was the daughter of Henry Pellow (1828-?) and Jane Lydia Carter (1827-1864). Henry was born in England but in the 1851, 61 and 71 census records is living on Jersey where he married Jane, who was from Jersey, and where Alice was born. In 1865, after Jane's death he married Ann Wyatt nee Beaugie, a widow. After 1871 Henry and Ann become difficult to trace. While on Jersey, Henry started as a coachman and finished as a livery stable and innkeeper.

In 1877 Alice married schoolmaster Alfred Frow (1852-1915) in Lancashire.

the places

Rome, Italy

Patricroft, Manchester, Lancashire

what the card says to us

The picture shows St Peter's Square in Rome. That is where the card was posted and the Square and the Vatican are referenced.

This is a classic holiday postcard. However, foreign travel was not that common in 1904. In this case, Florence and Herbert have private means and could afford the travel.

The stamp is interesting. The King of Italy at the time that this card was sent was Victor Emmanuel III. He had been King since 1900 when his father Umberto I was assassinated. This suggests some instability in the country. Was it safe to be a tourist? Did anyone even think about it?

From the postmarks, it took 3 days for the card to get to Patricroft. It cost 10 lire.