Castles, Dragons, and Coastal Routes: Mapping Out Mid-Century West Wales

I'm excited to share one of the most colourful pieces in my collection: an illustrated map postcard of West Wales! This card, published by Judges Postcards Ltd., Hastings, England, is a perfect example of mid-century tourist art, designed not just to send a greeting, but to sell the romance and history of a destination.

West Wales Map

---

The Front: A Whistle-Stop Tour of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire

The map covers the counties of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, stretching from Cardigan Bay in the north to Swansea and the Gower in the south.

• Iconography: The map is packed with charming, detailed illustrations of key attractions:

  • Castles: The region’s deep history is highlighted with numerous castles: Kidwelly, Laugharne, Pembroke, Carew, Cilgerran, and Paxton's Tower. These are depicted with colourful flags flying high, ready for visitors.

  • The Welsh Dragon: The famous Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) dominates the upper right, symbolizing the nation's pride.

  • Culture: A figure in traditional Welsh dress stands prominently in the center of the map, representing local culture.

  • Coastal Focus: The importance of the sea is shown with illustrations of Milford Haven, St. Davids Cathedral, and a passenger steamer sailing toward Rosslare.

• The Roads: The main roads are marked in thick red lines, giving the map a clear, easy-to-follow layout that speaks to the rise of car travel for holidays in the post-war era.

The Context: The Rise of the Holiday Route

Although the back of the card is unused, the style strongly suggests a print date in the 1960s or 1970s. This period saw a boom in UK domestic tourism, and this map postcard served several functions:

1. Souvenir: It acts as a comprehensive memento of a driving tour or holiday in the region.

2. Marketing: It visually markets the area, quickly showing off the abundance of things to see, from the rugged coast to the historical sites.

3. Educational: It simplifies the geography, making the rich history of West Wales accessible to the average tourist.

This postcard is a bright, nostalgic reminder of how we used to explore, relying on brightly coloured maps and the promise of ancient castles around every bend in the road. It’s a small, perfect piece of Welsh tourism history!

Vines and Vistas: An Overgrown Beaumaris Castle and a Personal Plea

 Postcards often capture a fleeting moment in a landmark's history. This sepia-toned card from my collection, showing the Banquetting Hall at Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey, Wales, illustrates a time when nature had almost completely reclaimed the medieval fortress. More than the image, the handwritten message on the back offers a beautiful, heart-aching glimpse into an early 20th-century family separation.

---

Banqueting Hall, Beaumaris Castle

The Front: Beaumaris Reclaimed

The image shows a section of the castle, specifically the Banquetting Hall, in a heavily overgrown state.

• A Romantic Ruin: Dating from the Edwardian period (c. 1900–1910s), this photo reflects a popular aesthetic of the time: the "Romantic Ruin." The stone walls are almost completely covered by thick ivy and other foliage, giving the castle a wild, ancient, and picturesque appearance.

• Beaumaris Castle: Begun by Edward I in 1295, Beaumaris is famous for its nearly perfect concentric design. This image, however, shows the structure not as a military masterpiece, but as a monument subsumed by the Welsh landscape, waiting to be rediscovered and restored.

The Message: A Plea for a Speedy Return

The message, addressed to Mrs. J. Curtis in Barry, Glamorgan, is postmarked from Harborne, near Birmingham, and carries a red One Penny stamp, likely dating the card to around 1911–1918.

The writing, while difficult to decipher in parts, conveys a profound sense of missing someone:

"Harborne forgot my bag was gone... I wish I was with both of you. But I must finish what I began so talk over those things. Don't you think of moving the little ones home. No sleep much. I expect to come home soon. Being afraid to lose you... hope to find myself fit to get to Harborne as then we shall be able to look after the nine small... all are well, as I hope you. Kindest hugs and kisses..."

The Context: Separation and Anxiety

• "The little ones" and "nine small": This suggests the writer, possibly a husband or parent, is separated from his wife/family. The mention of "nine small" might refer to nine small items, nine days, or perhaps even a large number of children or family members, depending on the full context.

• "No sleep much" and "afraid to lose you": This conveys intense anxiety and loneliness, possibly due to health issues, financial stress, or even military service (though the Harborne postmark makes a holiday unlikely).

• "Finish what I began": The writer is clearly working or carrying out an important task that prevents him from being home, but the need to see his family is paramount.

This postcard is a deeply personal and touching artifact—a historical image of an overgrown castle serving as the backdrop for a message of enduring family love and the profound difficulty of being apart.