15th august 1911 robert owen davies to miss gorringe

wrexham, North wales to bayswater, london

159 miles

the message

“Enjoying myself fine. Lovely weather. Don’t want to come back.

RDO”

the sender

Robert Owen Davies (1847-1921) was the son of William Davies (1816-1898) and Catherine Owen (1816-1899). William was a farmer.

Robert was a Draper. In 1911 there was a draper’s shop at the address in Porchester Road and it was called R O Davies.

In 1876 Robert married Elizabeth Owen (1854-1955). Elizabeth was the daughter of Owen Owen (1816-1872) who founded a department store chain bearing his name in North West England.

the recipient

There are no clues to the identity of Miss Gorringe. Presumably she worked at the store in Porchester Street.

the tree

the places

Wrexham, North Wales to Bayswater, London

Wrexham, North Wales

Bayswater, London

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion

what the card says to us

The picture shows “General View of Aberystwyth”. Aberystwyth is on the mid-Wales coast about 60 miles from Wrexham as the crow flies. There is no direct connection to the family or the message. Unless Robert Owen Davies was visiting Aberystwyth, but the card was posted in Wrexham and Robert’s family lived at Rhosgyll Fawr near Pwllheli on the North Wales coast. In fact Robert was visiting his brother Owen Davies (1845-1929), a farmer, when the 1911 census was taken.

Robert was from North Wales and probably liked to return to visit his family. This would appear to be a postcard sent from such a trip. Presumably he has left the Drapers Store in Bayswater in the hands of Miss Gorringe. Who Miss Gorringe was remains a mystery.