19th september 1906 lilian jane pugh to caroline letitia pugh

baschurch, shropshire to longnor, shropshire

14 miles

the message

“You are all well I hope. I am. Hope you are also not so lonely. Have you seen F and as Flo had bike. Never mind don’t fret I dare say something will turn up for you. I will write letter tomorrow .

Fondest love to all. Hope Crinks face is well

Yours Lil

or rather”

the sender

Lilian Jane Pugh (1883-1943) was the oldest child of John Thomas Pugh (1855-1910) and Jane Marsh (1858-1937). John was a Dairy Farmer of Lawley Farm which is where this card was sent. After his death Jane took over the farm.

In 1911, Lilian was working as an Assistant Housekeeper at a farm in Baschurch. In 1913 she married William Rogers (1878-1947), a Dairy Farmer.

the Recipient

Caroline Leitia Pugh (1886-1972) was the younger sister of Lilian Jane. In 1901 and 1911 she was living at Lawley Farm. In 1911 she was working in the Dairy. In 1917 she married Frank Arthur John King (1885-1954). In 1911, Frank was a Cycle Repairer. In 1939 he was the landlord of the The Bridge End Hotel in Ruabon near Wrexham. He father had been a publican in west Felton near Oswestry. Curiously, Frank seems to have spent some time in the Australian army in Tasmania during WW1.

the tree

the places

Baschurch, Shropshire to Longnor, Shropshire

Baschurch, Shropshire

Longnor, Shropshire

what the card says to us

The picture is a monochrome photograph of Little Stretton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Stretton%2C_Shropshire) which is a village quite close to Baschurch and Longnor in Shropshire where the card was posted and recieved.

The card was sent by Lilian to her sister Caroline. Lilian, aged 23, is living away from the family home while Caroline, aged 20, is still on the farm. There is a reference to another sister, Florence (1884-1972). There is also a reference to “F”, who may or may not be Florence. There is also a reference to “Crinks” but it is not clear who or what this is. The handwriting is unclear in places, probably because the message is mirror written. There are some words that are not clear, for example it looks as if a bike is being referred to, but this is not certain. It is also not clear why mirror writing is used, unless it is to hide the face that Caroline is lonely and unhappy from her parents.