august 22nd 1905 marie to Lillian edith watts

Forest Gate, London to east ham, London

3 miles

the message

"Dear Lily

Just a line to tell you I shall be round tomorrow afternoon about four oclock. With best love to all

Marie"

the sender

There are no clues to Marie's identity.

the Recipient

Lillian Edith Watts (1886-1960) was the daughter of George William Watts (1850-1938) and Alice Louisa Sexton (1852-1937). George was from Norwich and moved to London between 1871 and 1875 when he married Alice. Between 1891 and 1901 to 58 Bristol Road in East Ham. George was a print compositor and was followed into the trade by his sons George F (1876-?) and Horace Walter (1877-1955).

Lillian did not marry. Neither did her sister Ethel Julia (1879-1966). In 1911, Lillian was a dress maker and her sister was working in the book binding business. In 1939 they were both still living at 58 Bristol Road. Ethel was still working in book binding but Lillian was now the housekeeper, their parents only having died within the previous two years.

the places

Forest Gate and East Ham London

St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent

what the card says to us

The picture on the card is curious and appears to have nothing to do with the message or the sender or recipient. It shows a property in St. Margaret's at Cliffe on the Kent coats near Dover. The property is named at Morley Home on the card but it has had many names over the years and have been a private house, a convalescent home and a school (http://catalogue.stmargaretshistory.org.uk/collections/show/78).

The card is marked local, as it should be if it is only going a few miles. Presumably this was to help the postmen sort the mail.

The message is effectively a text, announcing an appointment the next day. Lillian would have been 19 years old when she received the card and presumably working as a dressmaker. Was Marie a client or a friend?