december 24th 1912 hilda marlor williams to alice benton

ashton-under-lyne, lancashire to wythburn, cumbria

100 miles

the message

“To Alice

Wishing you a merry Xmas + a prosperous New Year

Love from Hylda”

the sender

Hilda Marlor Williams (1897-1987) was the daughter of Henry Howard Williams (1857-1945) and Betsy Marlor (1861-1940). Henry was a publican and when she was younger, Hilda assisted in the busness. In 1911 they were running The Cambridge Inn in Ashton-Under-Lyne.

In 1928 Hilda married Richard Malcolm Cooper (1900-1963), a confectioner and later an engineer.

the recipient

Alice Benton (1894-1971) was the daughter of William Benton (1850-1915) and Alice Ann Howard Williams (1859-1937). William was an inspector with the Manchester Corporation Water works. In 1939, Alice was working as a cinema manageress. She did not marry.

There are two other cards relating to the Benton family in the collection.

the places

Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire to Wythburn, Cumbria

Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire

Wythburn, Cumbria

what the card says to us

The picture is of a young girl with a yellow flower in her hair. Her dress has some raised spots on it that in 1912 were probably gold or silver, but they have lost their colour.

The message reveals that this is a Christmas card. It was sent from a fifteen year old girl to her eighteen year old cousin.

The curious thing about the card is that it is signed Hylda with a Y. Hilda would not be the first or last 15 year old that chose a more affected spelling for her name.