Post Cards-Isabella Brownlees Collection- page 3

This third batch of Postcards from my grandmother’s collection includes 27 from Berwick-on-Tweed and area, a group of 19 from other parts of England, a few from Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man, France and California, U.S.A. The cards bear postmarks from the period 1904 to 1930. ~ Pamela Forsyth

BERWICK-on-TWEED and Environs

**Promenade and Pier, Berwick-on-Tweed** *[Valentine Series]*

To: **Miss Brownlee,** Tweed Bank, Kelso, postmarked at **Cornhill-on-Tweed March 7, 1906**. “Hope you are keeping well and like your place. Mary is getting on all right. Janey is going to write and tell you about the hirings. M.C.”

**Berwick Lighthouse and Pier.** “An easterly Gale.” *[79-486. JV.]*

To: **Mr. Donald Cameron, Woodnorth Farm, Woodnorth, Manitoba,** Canada. **Postmarked at Creaton, Northamptonshire. “2 Nov 1930.** With the best of wishes for the 18th in hopes your crops have been satisfactory & the prices good & also that all are well. From your affectionate Father & Mother” *[Donald Cameron’s 52nd birthday was on November 18th, 1930. At that time his parents were living in Northamptonshire with his sister Violet and her husband Arthur Wood.]*

**St. John’s Church, Spittal** *[Valentine Series]*

To **Miss Allan,** Branxton Buildings, Cornhill-on-Tweed. “I’ve to go back tonight with John so don’t look for me at this time. Will be again try and have a day here and Bella could come another go we Sarah. David has been and Andrew too. I.B.” [The postmark, **August 1904**, is unclear but is probably **Alnwick** where Georgina (Allan) and her husband John Bruce lived. If so, the sender is probably the youngest Allan sister – Georgina – who went by the nickname “Ina”. David and Andrew might be her Melrose nephews.]

**The Spittal, Berwick-on-Tweed** *[Valentine Series]*

To: **Mr W. Lockie**, Branxton Buildings, Cornhill-on-Tweed, postmarked **Berwick July 27, 1904.** “186 Spa Well Terrace. Getting on fine here all well. How is grandfather and all keeping, be sure and tell him to come down here for a change. John” The recipient of the card is William Lockie (1881-1961), only child of Isabella (Allan) Lockie/Bolton. The inquiry about “grandfather”, Peter Allan (1823-1905), indicates that the sender is probably William’s cousin John Logan Allan (1881-1939). There was another grandson named John but as he was only eight years old it is unlikely that he would be living away from home in Berwick at this time.

**The ‘FORTH’ leaving BERWICK ON TWEED.** “Dear Donald, Auntie Mary and I went out on the “Forth” to Eyemouth Point. It was a lovely afternoon & when we were at Eyemouth Point I saw the boat turn . We enjoyed the trip very much. I remain with love Fred”. This card was sent to my grandfather Donald Cameron (1878-1941) by his cousin Fred Cameron (1894-1968), age 10. Fred lived in London but was visiting his Aunt Mary and Uncle John Cameron in Berwick-on-Tweed. Donald had emigrated to Canada just a few months earlier.

TO: **Mr Donald CAMERON**, C/O Arthur Burnett, Galt, Ontario, Canada. Mailed from Berwick on Tweed 10:15 am, **August 12, 1905**. Received at Galt, Ontario, August 25, 1905.

**The Mill, Horncliff, Berwick-on-Tweed**

To: **Miss Brownlee** Tweedbank, Kelso. Postmarked **Coldstream, 7 pm Aug 5, 1907.** “Dear Bella, Sorry for being so long in sending you a post card. There is no chance of getting up on Monday but trust to see you soon. Kind luv to B. & Self. The Miss B’s going Edinbro tomorrow. Jani (?)”

**“Across the sands to Holy Island”** . *Card produced by* *P Phillimore, North Berwick.* An article in “*The Scotsman*” on August 4, 2018 notes, “Although he is a little- known figure nowadays, Phillimore was regarded as one of the country’s postcard kingpins,
He produced hundreds of cards, drawing his subjects in black and white before employing Mary Pearson – a North Berwick schoolgirl – to colour in the images. As a result, no two postcards were alike. While Phillimore’s cards sold for a halfpenny apiece to a network of dealers across Britain, his fame quickly made sure their value skyrocketed. Some of his works remain extremely rare…”

A friend who was born and raised in Northumberland gave me this information about the “box on stilts” pictured here. “This was a refuge for walkers crossing the causeway to the island, when the tide came in and they were caught in deep water. Later as more cars crossed to the island, drivers and passengers would also climb to safety in the box!! The tall poles are to mark the causeway, so people wouldn’t wander off into deep water.”