A View from 1908: Postcard from Aysgarth Village

One of the great joys of collecting postcards is the way they connect different eras. This latest addition to my collection is a fantastic example, featuring a photograph taken over a century ago, paired with a personal message written in the modern age.

Aysgarth Village 1908, Francis Firth Collection

The Image: Aysgarth Village, 1908

The front of the postcard displays a sepia-toned image of a quiet, unpaved street titled "Aysgarth Village, 1908."

Aysgarth is a charming village in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, famous for the beautiful Aysgarth Falls. The image, part of The Francis Frith Collection, shows a row of traditional stone and brick buildings.

• The street is deserted, giving the scene a serene, timeless quality.

• The architecture—especially the bay windows and decorative trim on the large building in the foreground—offers a glimpse into the village life of the early 20th century.

• The card itself notes that the view is from The Francis Frith Collection archive, which contains over 300,000 views of 4,000 towns and villages in Britain between 1860 and 1970.

The Message: Yorkshire’s Beauty and a Forgotten Nail Varnish

The handwritten message on the back is full of warmth, written by Dawn and Francis to Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Tead in Hull. It reads:

“Dear Mum + Dad + grand Thanks for a brilliant day on Saturday. We’re having a great time—don’t know what day or what time it is most of the time! Francis can’t believe how amazing + beautiful Yorkshire is. Now he can understand why God lives here. I’ve left my pink nail varnish which I painted over the fire on Saturday. Don’t want to take it off. see you soon. Love Dawn + Francis.”

A Few Fun Observations:

• The "God Lives Here" Endorsement: Francis's declaration is a wonderful, light hearted testament to the breath taking beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.

• Lost in Time: "Don't know what day or what time it is" perfectly captures the blissful, relaxing feeling of a true holiday getaway.

• The Mystery of the Pink Nail Varnish: The casual mention of leaving the nail varnish, painted "over the fire," adds a hilariously specific, human touch to the message. It's the kind of detail that turns a generic card into a personal memory.

🏷️ Postcard Details

• View Date: 1908

• View Credit: The Francis Frith Collection

• Postmark: Appears to be DUMFRIES, SCOTLAND, dated 6 PM on an unknown day, potentially linking the sender's current location to Scotland, even though the postcard depicts Yorkshire.

• Recipient: Mr and Mrs P.W. Tead, Tranby Ride, Tranby Lane, Anlaby, Hull, HU10 7EG.

This postcard is a wonderful merger of British history, captured by Frith, and a moment of pure family connection.