Postcard arrives 121 years after it was mailed – History

A handwritten postcard sent via the British Post in 1903 arrives at its destination on August 16, 2024, 121 years after it was sent. The recipient no longer exists; in fact, there isn’t even a house there anymore. This is the headquarters of the Swansea Building Society. Staff found the postcard in a pile of regular mail and keenly noted the date on the postmark.

The postcard features an evocative black and white print challengea painting by the English Romantic painter Edwin Henry Landseer in 1844, depicting a stag on a beach on a winter day with a sky full of stars. The letter was addressed to Miss Lydia Davis of 11 Cradock Street, Swansea, Wales. The letter was sent by a man named Evatt from the Welsh coastal town of Fishguard.

The note read:

Dear L. I can’t help it, it’s impossible to buy this pair. I’m sorry, but I hope you enjoy your stay at home. I have about ten/- [shillings] I have pocket money, not counting the train fare, so I am doing quite well. Give my regards to Miss Gilbert and John, and my love to all in Evatt.

According to Henry Darby, communications manager at Swansea Building Society, 11 Cradock Street once housed a private residence but was destroyed by bombs during World War II. The current office building was built on the street after the war.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said in an email: “It is likely that the postcard was placed back into our system, rather than being lost in the post for over a century. When an item comes into our system we have an obligation to deliver it to the correct address.”

Swansea Building Society were hoping to get in touch with a relative of Lydia Davies and posted their surprise email on social media. The responses on their Facebook post included a reply from a possible great-niece, as well as a host of rather interesting research from interested parties into Lydia and Evatt’s identities.