Family Letter from Bude Cottage

Date: 1926-07-23
Sender: Ada
Recipient: Darling (unknown first name)
Location: Bude-Camorsell (likely Bude, Cornwall)
Original scan: 1926-07-23-ada-to-darling-family-letter.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes from Roseway Cottage in Bude about family holiday activities including outings to the beach, arrangements for visitors, and taking care of the children. She mentions plans involving Grace and the help they have, includes a detailed sketch of the sitting room and garden layout, and reflects on the practicalities of wages and clothing for Grace.

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Transcription

Roseway Cottage
Granville Tee
Bude-Camorsell
9.30 p.m. - July 23.

My own Darling One -

I went with Sylvia to a picture Anna had seen before & said was good, while I put the children to bed - we went 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. have since had supper & now the girls have gone for a dip so I have peace & quiet for a line to you -

Thank you for Monday letter - I can see how hectic life must be with Sunday vindications, visitors, chi chi - and for myself it is difficult & find time to read any letters that come let alone write -

That midnight call was good - but I hope you slept after it - You said on Monday you were goin to bed early & get a good night - but I'm afraid Jerry planned otherwise - I do hope not too much damage was done -

We did not even have siren. But Kingsbridge near groceries place had a direct hit by an aerial torpedo. Anna has written & [unclear: groceries] to enquire -

Chalfont family are still enjoying themselves - Came over on Tuesday - this

time enjoyed the Breakwater Beach - which Winnie likes best of all. At Widemouth Bay have discovered the Mr. Ean folks so have tennis - Winnie says they are fed so well - Chicken, cherry pie etc.

They plan to come over here tomorrow again as a last trip - they go on Friday 8 a.m. same train as Anna & Sylvia. They all fit in beautifully here. I've arranged my sitting room so:-

[Drawing of room layout including desk, dining table, chairs, settle, radiator etc.]

W is only used as a passage to outside also drinks (they bring their own eats) and a place a Clement & listen to the news.

The garden & Verandah are arranged - see over: next page -

[Page 3 drawing of garden layout with labels: greenhouse, lawn, table, gillian, michael, heather, anna, sylvia, chris, clement, post, pigsty, etc.]

Winnie & I dispense food which is passed on by Anna Sylvia & Heather, no one moves after sitting down.


Winnie stays bathe both morning & afternoon. Once tired and I rest till 8 p.m. then join them on the beach returning for garden tea at 5 p.m. unless they won't & go before tea as they do tomorrow in adult & pols.

Michael & Gillian are great friends as Gillian has given Michael her shrimp net - casually remarks "You might bring a few fish you have caught next time you come".

Grace's name is Eleanor Grace Headon -

There is a lot to be thought out about how which would fill a letter and I'll tell you all before fixing anything - Meanwhile she breaks up on Friday + 3 weeks from and I propose to have her here that three weeks & try her out.

I've taken a few of your suggestions -
1. release Grace will not leave school - cannot at 13 - She is to help me in the mornings and when she comes back from school (in the winter 3.30 p.m. now 4 p.m.) also Sat & Sundays. She has dinner at school (Stratten). Her work is mainly helping me with the children & getting breakfast & tea. Mrs. Tape comes 4 days for cleaning and does dinners three days.

I'm wondering about wage of Grace. Feel inclined to give only 6/- on 1/2 a week pocket money and provide her clothes which I'd mostly make over from ans & be grateful of any left offs of the family i.e. Anna, Heather, Sylvia, Chris.

I reckon that the help she gives me in the morn & evening would be worth her keep - but she must be better clad than she is - and do not feel we should give her a wage big enough & clothe her until she leaves school & gives no full time job. And if we did her father would probably drive it. By next Autumn she should leave school - and by that time she might start a wage and so gradually take on her own wardrobe. Dear those things are only in my mind rather vaguely. I must talk it over with her mother - but she is only too pleased & agrees with anything I suggest she so grateful for what I'm doing with Grace. Of course, I don't expect maids work from her yet - but the sort of help I used to give mother at Bath & that Heather has given Winnie.


When I've time to see what I've got in the way of clothes etc, I can count up the cost more - Pomphy, I fancy I've got enough clothes set her up now - but shoes, & possibly a mac etc might mount up -

The whole success of the plan will depend on whether Grace is what I judge her to be + so far she is true to type - or rather what I think her type is -

I am not doing it of charity any more than we adopted the children out of kindness - but so far I believe Grace feels she has been transplanted to a sort of dream wonderland. I'm finding it quite fascinating to see how her mind is unfolding also a flower in sunlight -

But it is 10.30 now - so I must begin to black out -

How I wish you were here now with Winnie & Mary's girls - yet the holiday atmosphere they enjoy is not quite the kind you and I like. How I will look forward to another weekend if possible before summer is quite gone - All my love

Ada


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People mentioned

- Ada
- Sylvia
- Anna
- Jerry
- Winnie
- Michael
- Gillian
- Grace
- Heather
- Mrs. Tape
- Chris
- Clement

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Topics

- family
- holiday
- children
- accommodation
- daily routine
- help
- wages
- clothes
- pets
- letters

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Camorsell
- vindications
- Mr. Ean
- groceies
- Chalfont
- Pols
- Stratten
- Pomphy

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Archivist notes

- Letter includes detailed hand-drawn maps of sitting room and garden arrangements.
- Wages and care for Grace (Eleanor Grace Headon) are a subject of discussion.
- Context suggests mid-20th century holiday family setting, with some wartime references (aerial torpedo).
- Letter signed by Ada; recipient unnamed beyond 'Darling'.
- Some place names and words are unclear or possibly misread; 'Camorsell' might be a misreading of a place name.

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