The Post Office at Blubberhouses: A Glimpse into Rural Yorkshire History

 In an age when we communicate instantly via email and text, there's a certain romantic charm in looking back at the humble, foundational infrastructure of communication: the rural Post Office. This lovely sepia postcard from my collection features the former Post Office at Blubberhouses in the Yorkshire Dales.

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The Post Office, Blubberhouses

The Scene: Blubberhouses, Yorkshire

The photo captures a substantial stone cottage, typical of the Yorkshire vernacular architecture, which once served as the village post office.

• Architectural Clues: The building has thick stone walls, a slate roof, and two prominent chimney stacks. The windows are small, and the overall impression is one of solid, centuries-old utility.

• The Post Office Sign: Clearly visible on the right-hand side is a projecting sign that reads, "POST OFFICE." Below this, another sign advertises "STATIONERY & SWEETS"—a classic combination for a small village shop that served as a vital community hub.

• A Place to Rest: In the foreground, a simple wooden bench rests against a dry-stone wall, shaded by a large tree. This wasn't just a place to send a letter, but a social spot where people gathered and rested.

• The Name: The village name itself—Blubberhouses—is a point of interest. Located near the Washburn Valley and Fewston Reservoir, the name is likely derived from the Old Norse word for bubbling or gushing water, referring to a spring or peat bog, not, as sometimes joked, to blubbering.

A History of Connectivity

While the postcard itself is undated, the sepia tone and the style suggest it was produced in the early 20th century, likely between 1900 and 1920. This was the golden age of postcards, where the Post Office was the vital link connecting remote communities like Blubberhouses to the rest of the world.

A rural post office like this was the village nerve centre:

• It was where letters and parcels arrived.

• It was the place to draw a pension or collect a telegram.

• It offered small essentials like stationery and, crucially, sweets for the children.

This postcard is more than a scenic view; it's a quiet tribute to the rural life and the dependable, community-focused service provided by the Post Office before the motorcar and telephone completely reshaped the Dales. Although the Blubberhouses Post Office may have changed use since this photo was taken, the enduring charm of the building and the landscape remains.

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.

Yorkshire's "Glorious Weather": Waterfalls and Wonders

 The Yorkshire Dales are famous for their rolling hills, dry stone walls, and, perhaps most spectacularly, their many waterfalls. This vintage postcard, titled "Dales Waterfalls," beautifully captures the essence of this "holiday paradise" and includes a lovely message from a 1975 trip.

Yorkshire Dales Waterfalls

The Image: Dales Waterfalls

The front of the postcard is a bright, multi-view collage featuring three different cascades, typical of the limestone landscape found in the Dales:

• Views: We see powerful waterfalls spilling over wide, tiered rock ledges into clear pools. The surrounding banks are lined with lush, dark-green woodland, contrasting with the pale, cracked riverbeds below.

• Mood: The views perfectly convey the rugged, wild beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

• Publisher: The card was published by Bamforth & Co. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth, a well-known name in British postcard history. The card itself is printed in Spain.

The Message: "Glorious weather" in '75

The message, written on the back of the card which declares "YORKSHIRE'S holiday paradise," is from Dorothy and John to Mr. A. Green in Hyde, Cheshire.

• Date: The postmark, clearly visible on the two Queen Elizabeth II Machin stamps, is dated 25 JUN 1975, placing the holiday squarely in the summer of the mid-seventies.

• The Experience: The message is simple and cheerful:

  "Having a few days with Tom & Mary. Glorious weather come when we are back home. Dorothy & John"

• The Context: "Glorious weather" in England is a treasure, and the sender is clearly basking in the sunshine. The fact that the card is sent during the holiday but the sender invites the recipient to visit after they return home suggests they were having such a nice time that they were already thinking about their next visit!

The Bamforth Connection

Bamforth & Co. is a fascinating part of British postcard history, though they are most famous for their saucy seaside postcards. This scenic view is a wonderful reminder that they published high-quality landscape photography as well, promoting the beauty of regions like the Yorkshire Dales as a perfect summer destination.