Watling Street, opposite the Rising Sun on a hand-tinted postcard postally used in 1912. Click for a larger version.
Who was Elsie Arnold? And what of Flo? Why was Flo away from home here? Click for a larger version.
Local historian Clive Roberts – documenter of the history of the Shire Oak Inn – has recently acquired these two postcards, sent from Brownhills in 1912 and 1914. Both are from ‘Flo’ to a Miss Elsie Arnorld, of 92 Station Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham.
Clive has been good enough to scan them an mail images for use here on the blog.
Both cards show local scenes – one of Brownhills West looking down the A5 Watling Street towards the Crown and Rehoboth Chapel; the other an initially dull shot of Norton Pool – Chasewater. It’s worth noting that the stillwater in the centre of the image is above the outflow culvert as revealed when Chasewater was drained.
The first card speaks of being ‘home tomorrow’, which suggests Flo was working here, or staying with a relative for some reason. Is perhaps Flo Arnold a name anyone remembers hereabouts?
I can’t decipher most of the text on the second card, which seems to talk of a chap named Alf being ‘sent for’ – I assume that’s conscripted. War had not long started. The dour picture on the card matches the written content. Any help reading that appreciated.
Thanks to Clive for donating such a lovely pair of cards. Anything we can find out about these would be wonderful.
Norton Pool – that’s of course, Chasewater – postally used in August, 1914. Worth clicking to enlarge for what’s on the skyline. I think this was taken from the dam, just near the spillway.
I need help with this, please. Flo is again writing to Elsie, this time with a complete address. The card is dated August, 1914 – this is a missive in a country stood on the threshold of the Great War. Alf has been sent for – I assume that means conscripted, and few are talking about anything else – one supposes that means the war. I can’t read the stuff around the edges. Anyone good at reading old script? Click for a larger version.