september 8th 1908 unknown to dora Emily halfacre

deal, kent to slough, bERKSHIRE

114 miles

the message

"Rose and Crown Hotel

Beach Street

Deal

Dear Dora

I think my ??? ??? ??? have returned us back ??? ??? ??? like this place very much. It's lovely & ??? ??? hope ??? ??? & places ???

We had a lovely trip by rail to Ramsgate yesterday. ??? & having his holiday. ??? well

love to all"

the sender

The card is not signed. The handwriting is terrible or at least is not in a style that is easily readable to the uninitiated. There are no clues to the identity of the person who wrote it.

the recipient

Dora Emily Halfacre (1891-1975) was the daughter of Alfred Thomas Halfacre (1863-1939)  and Agnes Bassett (1865-1939). Alfred was a Book Dealer although in one record it says Boot Maker.

In 1921, Dora married Sydney Joseph Pemberton (1892-1975). In 1911, Sydney is recorded as being a farm pupil. In 1939 he is living by his own means, supporting Dora and her father in Exmouth, Devon. Had he been successful as a farmer? He and Dora both died in Kent in 1975. They had one son.

the places

Deal, Kent

Slough, Berkshire

Ramsgate, Kent

what the card says to us

The picture shows the waterfall in Ramsgate, Kent which makes sense given the reference in the message to Ramsgate.

The address in Deal from which the card was sent is the Rose And Crown. This is now the Admiral Penn.

The style of writing makes the card very difficult to read and many words cannot be deciphered. The message appears to be innocuous holiday talk.

It is interesting that Dora's father is a book dealer. What did that entail?