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After a mind-boggling 121-year odyssey, a postcard has finally reached its intended destination, bringing with it a piece of history. The card, which was sent in 1903, was meant for Miss Lydia Davies, who called the address home over a century ago.
Its arrival is a fascinating reminder of the power of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on a delivery.After traveling through time for 121 years, the Christmas card finally arrived at its intended destination – the Swansea Building Society’s Cradock Street branch – last week.
Staff are now on the hunt for relatives of Miss Lydia Davies, the original recipient, to reunite them with this extraordinary piece of mail and bring a touch of festive magic to their lives.
According to the Royal Mail, it’s probable that the postcard was reinserted into their system at some point, rather than being lost in transit for an astonishing 121 years.
The card itself reveals a poignant message from a man named Ewart, who apologizes to his beloved “L” for being unable to procure a pair of unspecified items, leaving us to wonder about the story behind his regret.
“I am so sorry, but I hope you are enjoying yourself at home,” he adds.
As Ewart continues to write, he reveals a sense of financial stability, mentioning that he has about 10 shillings in pocket money, excluding his train fare, and is “doing alright.” This candid remark provides a unique window into the daily life and economic realities of someone from the past.
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He ends the note by urging Lydia to “remember to meet Gilbert and John”, signing it off with “love to all”.
During his routine task of sorting through the post, Henry Darby, Swansea Building Society’s marketing and communications officer, chanced upon the remarkable postcard. Unfortunately, his online search for information about Miss Lydia Davies, the intended recipient, yielded limited results, leaving much to the imagination.
“So we thought we’d pop it on our social media and thought maybe someone locally may be connected to her, a few generations down,” he said.
Andrew Dully, an archivist at West Glamorgan Archives, has successfully traced the history of the address on the postcard. His research shows that John F Davies was the household’s patriarch, living with his wife, Maria, and their six children, providing a fascinating glimpse into the family’s history and relationships.
“The oldest of them was Lydia. She would have been 16 when this postcard was sent,” he said.
According to a Royal Mail spokesperson, it’s probable that the postcard was reinserted into their system at some point, rather than being misplaced for an astonishing 121 years. This explanation offers a logical reason for the postcard’s delayed delivery.
