July 21st 1907 walter joseph newitt to frances Martha mantz

Ulveston, Cumbria to Victoria docks, london

276 miles

the message

"Student Camp

Conishead Priory

Ulveston

Sat 20th

We have had a fine day to day. I don't know if it is the weather or the camp but I feel very lazy. I must excuse myself by calling it a rest.

Au revoir

Every yours

Walter"

the sender

For details of Walter Joseph Newitt go to

the recipient

For details of Frances Martha Mantz go to

the places

Conishead Priory, Ulveston, Cumbria

Victoria Docks, London

what the card says to us

The picture shows The Beach, Conishead Priory which is the location from which the card was sent. At the top of the card, Walter tells us that he is at a student camp. In 1907 Walter was 21 years old and so it is possible that he was a student of some sort of field trip, or he was a teacher supervising children. In 1907 Conishead Priory was a spa hotel although it has had a long history. It is not clear whether Walter and his party were staying at the hotel or camping in the gounds. Today it is occupied by a Buddhist community. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conishead_Priory

The actual message from Walter is quite innocuous which makes it even more puzzling that he has written it using mirror writing. This tells us that Walter, his future wife Frances and her sister Martha all use mirror writing on occasion. It does not tell us why.

For details of the whole Frances Mantz series of cards go to