28th october 1907 C Way & Co to mary ann cox

torquay, devon

4 miles

the message

“Private Greeting

Christmas Cards

SAMPLE BOOKS NOW READY

AT

C. WAY & CO.’s,

20, VICTORIA PARADE,

Torquay.

Books set out for inspection at once to any address on receipt of postcard.”

the sender

The card was sent by a business operating at an address in Torquay. C Way was almost certainly Charles Way (1807-1889) a watercolourist. Charles was deceased by the time the card was sent and the business was being run by his daughter Mary Eliza Cosens Way (1844-1927). Mary’s mother was Eliza Cosens Wootton (1806-1867).

Mary did not marry. She lived all her life in Victoria Parade, Torquay (with her parents while they were alive).

the recipient

Mary Ann Cox (1842-1926) was born in St Giles, Middlesex. Her parents William Henry Cox (1808-1882) and Emily Augusta Hooper (1814-1883). William has a Printing business.

Mary lived with her parents in Brighton, Sussex in 1851. In 1861 the family was living in Winchester, Hampshire. In 1871 they were in Hove, Sussex. They were still in Hove in 1881. Following the deaths of her parents, Mary moved to a house called Lowood in Torquay, Devon which is where she lived until her death in 1926. In the 1901 census she was joined by her niece Frances Audrey Gordon Gray (1881-1955). She never married. Many of her siblings were associated with the Art World.

the trees

Way

Cox

the places

Torquay, Devon

Torquay showing Victoria Parade and Asheldon Road

what the card says to us

The picture shows “The Sonnet” by C A Weatherstone. It does not seem to link to the back of the card.

This is the equivalent of a marketing email. Miss Cox is obviously a valued customer of C Way & Co and it is almost November 1907. Christmas is coming. The service offered involves Sample Books. What did they look like?

This is a fascinating insight into commerce in 1907 Torquay. If only there was more to see.

Today 20 Victoria Parade is a fish restaurant.