may 11th 1913 Bessie to mildred wilkinson

bearsted, kent to east Farleigh, kent

5.4 miles

the message

"11/5/13

Dear Mildred

Many thanks for nice letter also pattern. It is just what I wanted. Glad you arrived home safe on Sunday. So pleased to see you but hope you will not be as long before you come again. In haste.

With love

Bessie"

the sender

There are no clues to Bessie's identity.

the recipient

Mildred Wilkinson (1894-1986) was the second youngest of eight children. Her parents were Charles Oscar Wilkinson (1860-1945), a builder and Ellen Pettett (1860-1907). When this card was sent, Mildred was working as a servant for Beatrice Margaret Maconochie nee Ellis (1861-1936) the widow of a Royal Navy Captain Robert Bair Maconochie (1850-1897) in a 28 room property, "The Priory" which does not appear to exist today..

In 1924, Mildred married Douglas Raymond Cotton (1894-1945), as storekeeper and went to live with him on the Isle Of Wight.

the places

Bearsted and East Farleigh, Kent

what the card says to us

The picture shows All Saints Church in Maidstone which is Grade I listed today and local to where the card was posted and addressed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Church,_Maidstone)

Bearsted was Mildred's birthplace. Bessie may have been a relative or a friend. Mildred must have gone back to Bearsted to visit her family and at some point a pattern, presumably a dress pattern, made its way to Bessie.

The card has the words "In haste" just before the close. Is that something people wrote to say that the message was composed in a hurry? Seems a bit redundant on a post card. Meanwhile Bessie is disappointed that Mildred doesn't visit more often.