Every postcard in a collection serves as a quiet witness to a specific moment in time, but some possess a unique ability to blend literary legend with personal history. This week, I am highlighting a beautiful sepia-toned postcard from my collection that takes us to the heart of Exmoor: Lorna Doone Farm in the Doone Valley, North Devon.
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| Lorna Doone Farm, Devon |
The Scene: Literary Landscapes in Sepia
The front of the card features an evocative, high-contrast sepia photograph. In the foreground, a rugged stone packhorse bridge with two distinct arches spans a calm stretch of water. Beyond the bridge sits a cluster of traditional white-walled buildings, including the farm itself, nestled against the rolling, wooded hills of North Devon.
This isn't just any farm; it is a site deeply intertwined with R.D. Blackmore’s 1869 masterpiece, Lorna Doone. For fans of the novel, this landscape represents the wild, romantic setting of the outlaw Doone clan. The presence of a horse-drawn carriage or "charabanc" outside the buildings suggests that by the 1930s, this area had become a firmly established pilgrimage site for literary tourists seeking a tangible connection to the story.
The Message: A "Grand Time" in Devon
While the front captures the timeless beauty of Exmoor, the reverse provides a vivid snapshot of life on August 3, 1937. Sent from the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel in Ilfracombe, the card was addressed to a Miss Warfold living at "Corrie" on West Hill Avenue in Epsom, Surrey.
The sender, "May," writes with the kind of infectious enthusiasm that only a seaside holiday can inspire:
"We are having a grand time in this lovely part of the world. The weather has been very kind to us - hot & sunny."
May goes on to describe the modern luxury of her trip:
"Have had some fine motor drives to Lynmouth, Minehead, Clovelly & over Exmoor."
It is fascinating to contrast the "fine motor drives" May enjoyed with the rugged packhorse bridge on the front of the card. While the landscape retained its ancient charm, the 1930s had brought a new era of mobility. Tourists were no longer limited to the local vicinity of their hotels; they could traverse the challenging terrain of Exmoor with ease, visiting multiple villages in a single day.
Postal History: The 1937 Stamp and Postmark
The card features a crisp, circular postmark from Ilfracombe, Devon, dated 4:45 PM. Affixed to the corner is a bright red One Penny (1d) stamp featuring the profile of King George VI.
This is a significant detail for philatelists and historians alike. George VI had only ascended the throne in December 1936 following the abdication of his brother. By August 1937, his image was becoming a standard fixture on the nation's mail, symbolizing a return to stability during a decade of immense political and social change.
The card was a "British Production" by Photochrom Co. Ltd. of Royal Tunbridge Wells, part of their "All British" series. This highlights the domestic pride in manufacturing and tourism that was prevalent during the inter-war period.
Preserving the Connection
What makes this postcard so special is the layers of history it holds. It connects the fictional 17th-century world of the Doones with the real-life 19th-century bridge and the 20th-century holiday experience of May and Miss Warfold. Looking at this card today, we are the fourth layer, looking back at a "hot and sunny" Tuesday in 1937 when a simple motor drive through the valley was the height of summer adventure.
