Postcard from Panshanger House
A housemaid's message to her sister?
By Susi Smith
This postcard of Panshanger House in its heyday was recently donated to the Local Studies collection at Welwyn Garden City Library. What is more facinating is the message on the back.
Post marked November 9th 1908 and addressed to Miss Porter, The Laundry, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon
Dear Jessie, Just a few lines to ask you if you had a little more wool left after you had done the stockings as I would like to finish the gloves. Have you heard that Aunt Classie is dead. I remain your loving sister, with love Lydia xxxxxx It is very cold here excuse writing I am in a hurry, write soon.
A message from Lydia to her sister Jessie, who was a laundry maid at Blenheim Palace.
So many questions to ponder. Was Lydia a maid at Pansanger? Was she in a hurry to catch the post or to rush down to the kitchen at Pansanger to start her duties? Did the gloves ever get finished, and were they for her to help keep the cold at bay?
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