A Time-Capsule from the Doone Valley: A 1937 Visit to Lorna Doone Farm

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.

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.

Speed, Style, and the Dawn of a New Era: The Inter-City 125

Collecting postcards isn't just about preserving the distant, sepia-toned past of the Victorian or Edwardian eras. Sometimes, the most compelling pieces in a collection are those that capture a "modern" revolution—a moment when the world suddenly accelerated. Today, I’m looking at a vibrant postcard from my collection that perfectly encapsulates the optimism of the late 1970s: the Inter-City 125 High Speed Train (HST).

Inter-City 125 High Speed Train

The Visual: A Blue and Yellow Blur

The front of this postcard is a brilliant colour photograph of an Inter-City 125 unit leaning into a curve, surrounded by lush green woodland. The iconic "Rail Blue" and "Grey" livery, punctuated by the bold yellow nose of the power car, remains one of the most recognizable branding successes in British industrial history.

Looking at the image, you can almost hear the distinctive scream of the engines. This isn't just a train; it’s a design icon. The aerodynamic, wedge-shaped nose was a radical departure from the boxy locomotives that preceded it. It signalled to the British public that the railway wasn't a relic of the industrial revolution, but a high-tech contender in the age of the jet engine and the motorway.

The Technical Specs: A Revolution on Rails

The back of the card provides the "hard" facts that rail enthusiasts love. It identifies this as an "Inter-City 125" Set, noting that these units inaugurated regular 125 mph speeds on British Rail’s Western Region in October 1976.

The technical details printed on the reverse are quite specific:

• Manufacturer: Built by British Rail Engineering.

• Power: Each unit is powered by two 2,250 hp Paxman "Valenta" diesel engines.

• Publisher: This is a J. Arthur Dixon product, printed in Great Britain as part of the Dickinson Robinson Group.

The "Valenta" engines mentioned here are legendary among "bashers" (train enthusiasts) for their unique sound and power. At the time this card was printed, the HST was the fastest diesel-powered train in regular service in the world. It effectively saved British Rail, slashing journey times between London, Bristol, and South Wales, and making rail travel glamorous again.

A Pristine Specimen

Unlike some of the other treasures in my collection that feature frantic handwriting and weathered stamps, this card is in good, unposted condition. It even features the "Post Office Preferred Size" logo in the top right corner—a small detail that places it firmly in the late 70s or early 80s mailing standards.

Because it was never sent, the card serves as a pure piece of promotional ephemera. It was likely bought as a souvenir by a traveller who was impressed by their first high-speed journey. In an era before everyone carried a high-definition camera in their pocket, buying a high-quality "J. Arthur Dixon" card was the best way to remember the thrill of traveling at 125 mph for the first time.

Why This Matters Today

The Inter-City 125 is currently in the process of being retired from front-line service, replaced by modern electric and bi-mode trains. This postcard reminds us of the HST's "golden age." It represents a time of transition—a bridge between the old world of diesel-clatter and the sleek, computerized railway of the 21st century.

When I look at this card, I don't just see a train; I see the pride of British engineering and the excitement of a nation moving faster into the future. It's a colourful reminder that today's "modern" is tomorrow's "vintage," and every era is worth preserving in ink and card.

Engineering Marvels and Seaside Greetings: The Menai Suspension Bridge

The beauty of a postcard collection lies in its ability to transport us through time and space with just a flip of a card. My latest acquisition does exactly that, moving from the sun-drenched ruins of Sicily to the rugged, mist-swirled coastline of North Wales. This particular gem is a classic Valentine’s "Gravuretype" postcard featuring the majestic Menai Suspension Bridge.

Menai Suspension Bridge, Anglesey

A Masterpiece of the Industrial Age

The front of the postcard presents a striking view of Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece, the Menai Suspension Bridge, which spans the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and mainland Wales. Completed in 1826, it was the first modern suspension bridge in the world, designed to carry the heavy Irish Mail coaches safely across the treacherous waters.

In this specific "Gravuretype" print, the bridge’s massive stone arches and elegant iron chains are captured with wonderful depth and texture. A paddle steamer chugs along the water below, its smokestacks trailing dark plumes into the sky, perfectly illustrating the bustling maritime life of the Menai Strait during the early 20th century. The foreground shows a stone-walled embankment, perhaps a small pier or garden, adding a sense of human scale to the towering structure.

A Personal Connection: The Message from Colwyn Bay

While the front celebrates a triumph of engineering, the reverse side provides a charmingly human perspective. Postmarked in Colwyn Bay at 8:30 PM on August 27, 1929, the card was sent to a Miss F. Rothera at Prospect House in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire.

The handwritten message is a warm, informal dispatch that perfectly captures the spirit of a 1920s summer holiday:

"Dear June, How are you? We are having a lovely time, the sea is gorgeous. Remember me to your mother and dad. Love from Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Jeremy."

It is a lovely reminder that for many, these postcards weren't just about the landmarks; they were a way to share a moment of joy with family back home. Dorothy and Jeremy were enjoying the "gorgeous" Welsh sea and wanted to send a little piece of that experience to June in Yorkshire.

The Era of the "Gravuretype"

This card is part of the famous Valentine’s Series, a powerhouse in the postcard industry during this era. The "Gravuretype" process used here was a high-quality printing method that produced rich, detailed images resembling photographs but with the soft, artistic quality of an engraving. By 1929, the postcard boom was still in full swing, though it was evolving from the frantic "text messages" of the Edwardian era into a more leisure-focused tradition of holiday greetings.

Why This Card Matters

Holding this piece of history, I am struck by the layers of time it represents. There is the ancient geological power of the Menai Strait, the 19th-century innovation of Telford’s bridge, the 1920s leisure culture of Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Jeremy, and finally, its place in my own collection nearly a century later.

It reminds us that even as technology changes—from paddle steamers to modern cars, and from handwritten cards to instant digital photos—our desire to reach out to loved ones and say "wish you were here" remains unchanged.