To Master M. Macdonald, 17 Portland Square, Carlisle (1909)...

Dear Malcolm,

Many thanks to you and Ian for photos, they were very good. I hope you had a jolly Xmas and that you will all have a very happy New Year. tell Ian I will send him a P.C. soon I shall be very pleased to see James, Ian and yourself. Any time after next Monday. I will be away from home till then. love to all from Jeannie

Hope you are all well.

A Christmas and New Year greeting, sent from Dalston to Carlisle in December 1909. A search of the 1911 census tells me that the recipient, Malcolm Macdonald, was born in 1898, the son of Dr James Macdonald. He, and his other son, Ian, born in 1901, are also mentioned in the greetings.

Published by W R & S Ltd (Reliable Series 187/8)

Postmarked: December 1909

To Miss Lonsdale, Rose Hill, Carlisle (1903)

I saw Mr Manchester to-day He says he will come out tomorrow afternoon if you will let him know what time you could see him. The ladies room is not done yet, but will be so, before you have to pay your next visit A.L.

This is a quite fantastic, and rare, map card from 1903 showing Carlisle's eastern outlying villages extending all the way into Northumberland, with some wonderful details. I've mentioned previously (in this post) about Carlisle's claim as the largest city in the England, and in this card you can see all the way from Longtown in the north to the city's most easterly point, Gilsland, which also serves as the boundary between Cumbria and Nothumberland.

Published by John Walker & Co. Ltd.

No.192 Geographical Series

Engraved by J. Bartholomew & Co.

Postmarked 6th May 1903

To Mr & Mrs Bell, 11 Wavertree Road, South Woodford, London E18 (1966)

Everything OK. We had a pleasant, steady journey + arrived 6.30. All well here + enquiring for you. Sunshine wonderful, so we lap it up 'doon the watter!'

Love to all J.

A classic multiview here, showing English Street, Botchergate, the Citadel, the Cathedral and the Castle.

Published by Millar & Lang Ltd., Glasgow

Postmarked: Longtown, May 1966

To Mrs Wilson, Imperial Buildings, 32 Seagate, Dundee (1904)

Mrs Wilson, Yours to hand what are yours [?] for small [?][?] for wife & self. I stayed with you when I was in Dundee with [?]. Hoping you are keeping alright.

I am yours etc. Fred Skinner

This is a superb postcard from the early 20th century showing the Carlisle Fair, which I was minded to post as the resurrected fair is now taking place (renamed the Carlisle Pageant). The city was first granted a Royal Charter to hold a Great Fair in the summer of 1158, when market stallholders set up shop to sell fruit and vegetables, meat, leather, wool and cloth. In 1352 Edward III then granted the city the right to host the fair annually and the tradition has held ever since. 

Over the years the fair, or pageant has included, in addition to the market, a procession or re-enactment of historical events, and during the 1970s and 1980s I remember the fantastic procession of floats that made their way from Bitts Park into the town centre. In recent years the fair was scaled down, although an international food fair took its place, with traders selling their wares in the town centre, as they have done for centuries. This year the pageant was reinvigorated with a week long series of events, including a puppet parade and talks and exhibitions in venues across the city.

This postcard shows the Carlisle Fair around 1904 - it may not be the Great Fair itself - and it's a lively scene. This picture was taken on The Sands, and the Turf Tavern can be seen in the background. The detail is tremendous, and whilst there has been a little Edwardian 'photoshopping' going on, you can still make out faces and attractions. I especially like the chap in the bowler hat posing for the photo on the extreme left.

Published by Lochinvar (N & C Series)

Postmarked: Aberdeen 21st September 1904

To Monsieur A. Chéré, 23 rue Steffen, Arnieres, France (1912)

Mon cher Alfonse, 
M. et Mme Adam seront à Paris vendredi soir à 7h. mlle Rainaud vient d'en être avisée par une lettre du Sieur Bluté, auquel les Adam ont envoyé seulement une dépêche pour le prévenir de leur départ et le prier de vouloir bien faire retenir leur appartement à l'hôtel de la gare St Lazare.
Nous n'avons pas d'autres explications. Peut-être une lettre viendra-t-elle ce soir ? En tous cas puisqu'il vivait à Paris si près de vous, je pense qu'il y aura entente pour le reste de l'arrangement de leur séjour. A par la lettre reçue de Mme Adam ce soir, nous n'avons reçu que des dépêches en réponse à nos lettre explicatives, donc je ne sais pas la cause de leur voyage précipité. C'est vous qui en [saurez plus ?]
Bien à vous,Louis

My Dear Alfonse, Mr and Mrs Adam will be in Paris Friday evening at 7pm. Miss Rainaud has been notified of it by a letter of old Bluté to whom the Adams have sent only a telegram to notify him of their departure and to request to book their apartment at the St Lazare Station Hotel. We don't have any more explanation perhaps a letter will arrive this evening? In any case they will be in Paris near you. I think that you will see them and there will have an understanding of the rest of the arrangements of their stay. Aside from the first letter received of Mrs Adam we only have received telegrams in answer to our letters of explanation. Well, I don't know the cause of their hasty journey. It is you that will have this information. Kisses, Louis.

A generic view of the castle here, published by Valentine's, but the mystery (for me at least) lies in the message - is there anyone out there who'd care to take a stab at deciphering this handwriting and translating this message?

Thanks to everyone who sent me translation for this message, which I have now added, above.

Published by Valentine's

Postmarked: Carlise, 24th January 1912