february 9th 1906 charlotte bassindale nee bradley to william bassindale

workington, cumbria to shipley, derby, derbyshire

201 miles

the message

"Dear W

Be sure you take care of yourself when you go to H as it is so cold + write oftener as we were anxious about you

Love to all. All well here. Write soon

CB"

the sender

The clues suggest that the sender is Charlotte Bassindale nee Bradley (1863-1929), the mother of the recipient. Charlotte was the daughter of John Bradley (1831-1879) and Sarah Jackson (1827-1912). John was a Plate Layer for a railway company.

In 1883 Charlotte married Tom Bassindale (1859-1938). Tom was an engineer working on a fixed engine at a blast furnace. They had six children.

the recipient

William Bassindale (1884-1946) was the eldest child of Tom Bassindale and Charlotte Bradley. William was a mechanical engineer in the iron business. In 1912 he married Mabel Cowie (1891-1981). 

the tree

the places

Workington, Cumbria

Shipley, Derby, Derbyshire

what the card says to us

The picture shows the church of St Mary The Virgin in Norton, Stockton-On-Tees (http://www.stmarysnorton.org.uk/) and does not appear to have any connection to the family.

It is assumed that this is a mother writing to her son. There is some concern over William going to H. What is H? Is it hospital? Is it a place? The weather is cold which is not unusual for February. There is a story here, but what is it?