16th august 1909 william edward collings to amelia wills collings
carlisle, cumbria to kensington, london
260 miles
the message
“Crown & Mitre Hotel, Carlisle
August 16th We are leaving here early tomorrow morning. Thought you would like this post card of parade. There was a very heavy thunder storm a few hours ago but it has cleared up again. Hope all are well
Willy”
the sender
It is assumed that the sender was William Edward Collings (1890-1980), the younger brother of the recipient.
William was born in Stoke Fleming in Devon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoke_Fleming). He was the youngest of five children of John Collings (1850-1909) and Elizabeth Ann Wills (1853-1923). In the 1901 census, John Collings was an Insurance Agent for Prundential. Prior to that he had been a Gardener.
In the 1891 and 1901 censuses, William is living with his parents in Devon. In 1911 he was living with his widowed mother in Stoke Fleming and was working as a Ship’s Carpenter.
In 1931, William married Louisa Mary Ferrall (1906-2000). He was 41 years old.
In the 1939 Register, he and Louisa were living in Exeter, Devon and he was working as a Basket Maker.
William died in Exeter in 1980.
the recipient
Amelia Wills Collings (1877-1945) was the eldest of five children born to John Collings and Elizabeth Ann Wills. Her middle name was taken from her mother’s maiden name.
Amelia was born in Wilmington, Kent. John was working as a Gardener. In the 1881 census Amelia was living in Wilmington with her parents. By 1891 they had moved back to Devon and she was still living with them. In the 1901 census Amelia was working as a cook for a Sheep Farmer in Torquay. In the 1911 census Amelia was working as a cook at the address to which the card was sent in Kensington for a widow called Emily Holley. Later in 1911 Amelia married Harry Walter Maylin (1883-1922). It has not been possible to establish Harry’s trade as he cannot be located in the 1901 or 1991 census.
In the 1939 Register Amelia was living in Wanstead, London.
She died in 1945. Her death was registered in Essex.
the tree
the places
Carlisle, Cumbria to Kensington, London
Crown and Mitre Hotel, Carlisle
12 Victoria Road, Kensington
what the card says to us
The picture is of Sunday Church Parade in Carlisle which is where the card was posted. It features Carlisle Castle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Castle). The picture is mentioned in the message.
Assuming that this is William writing to his sister, he does not have that much to say. He says that they are staying at the Crown and Mitre, that they are about to leave and that they have had a thunderstorm.
If it is William, there is no explanation as to what he was doing in Carlisle or who he was with. He would have been 19 years old and a long way from home.