A small savings society in the city of Swansea, in southern Wales, recently received a completely unexpected letter that has sparked a sea of doubts among the locals.
The letter in question is a Christmas postcard that arrived a staggering 121 years late. Dated 1903, it took over a century to reach its destination on Cradock Street.
The recipient listed on the postcard, Lydia Davies, is a mystery as no information is available about her. Today, the address on Cradock Street is home to an office of the Swansea Building Society, a housing savings institution.
An employee of the company, accustomed to receiving bills or documents related to the mortgages they handle, was the first to come across the postcard and described the moment as „exciting.“
„We thought about posting it on social media in case anyone in the city could be connected to her, several generations later,“ explained Henry Darby, head of marketing and communications at the company, in an interview with the BBC.
The stamp on the postcard is a clear indication of its antiquity, featuring King Edward VII, the monarch of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India until his death in 1910.
The Swansea Building Society has issued a call to try to „shed light on this mystery“:
Addressed to Mrs. Lydia Davies
The scant information gleaned from the postcard is that the sender was a man named Ewart and the recipient was Lydia Davies.
In the message, Ewart expressed his regret for not being able to collect „a couple“ of unspecified items. He wished her well and mentioned having „about ten shillings in cash“ – an obsolete British coin – to get by.
The letter ended with „love to all“ (Swansea Building Society).
The discovery has raised more questions than answers, at least in the initial hours. According to Sky News, a relative of Davies, believed to be her great-niece, has reportedly reached out to the company that received the postcard.
Meanwhile, the Royal Mail has stated that it is „likely that the postcard has been re-entered“ into the postal system, rather than being lost for over a century.
„It’s fantastic to see so many positive comments about our mysterious postcard,“ praised the Swansea company, hoping to unravel the mystery soon.
In conclusion, the unexpected arrival of a 121-year-old postcard has captivated the residents of Swansea, sparking curiosity and intrigue about the long-lost Lydia Davies and the sender, Ewart. As the Swansea Building Society continues to investigate this intriguing case, the story of the late delivery serves as a reminder of the enduring power of communication and connection through the written word.