September 28th 1906 ethel maud fort to mary ann ellen McCarthy nee andrews

hastings, sussex to mile end road, london

68 miles

the message

"Just to show I haven't forgotten Mother

Kind regards from

Ethel M Fort"

the sender

Ethel Maud Fort (1881-1966) was one of four children of Stephen Charles Fort (1843-1893) and Jane Diprose (1851-1904). Stephen was a club steward who hailed from Wiltshire. in 1891 they were living in Battersea, London. Ethel was a typist. In 1911 she was living in Derby and working for a car manufacturer. She was living in Surrey when she died. She did not get married.

the recipient

Mary Ann Ellen McCarthy nee Andrews (1848-1927) was the daughter of Joseph Andrews (1826-?) and Ellen Cannon (1822-?). Joseph worked in the manufacture of brass and hailed from Clerkenwell. In 1869 Mary married Cornelius McCarthy (1844-1906), an iron monger and they lived in Mile End Road. They did not have any children.

Mary appears elsewhere on this site as the sender of a card. For details go to

the places

Hastings, Sussex

Mile End Road, London

Winchelsea, Sussex

what the card says to us

The picture is of the Strand Gate in Winchelsea ( http://www.winchelsea.com/the-town-story/town-trail/the-strand-gate/) which dates to the 13th century. Winchelsea is about 10 miles from Hastings where the card was posted. There does not appear to be a connection to the message, or is there?

There is a story here but it is not clear quite what it is. Ethel refers to her mother who died in 1904. The message could be read in a number of ways and there must be an agenda here. If only we knew what it was. Because there is no apparent link between Ethel and Mary McCarthy to suggest why they are having a conversation about Ethel's mother. Or is it something to do with Hastings? Or Winchelsea?

Neither is it clear what Ethel was doing in Hastings in September 1906.