In the Edwardian period, prior to the Liberal Party reforms
to welfare, the Board of Guardians managed the relief of the poor, either
through grants of money and food, known as out-relief, or by sending those
unable to support themselves to a Workhouse, where men and women - and thus
husbands and wives - were housed separately. Here, a unidentified woman, with an
incapacitated husband, who takes in washing to earn money, calls upon the additional
charity of a local vicar’s wife, which the postcards show is clearly
reciprocated. The first card, which has been trimmed slightly and is therefore missing
a few words, reads:
“my dear mrs blyth
just a line to let you know that I went to witney last thursday to board [of Guardians]
and they have put the pay on for a month two shillings and one loaf and then I
shall go before the board again well that is not going to keep me and pay the
rent as well I cant seem to get any more washing to do at home I am sure I dont
know what I shall do I cant think the rent will be stop this day weak they
badley wanted me to go in the [Work]house they said that I…”
The second card, where two little boys seem unimpressed by a
fiddle player, reads:
“my dear mrs blyth I
write these few lines to thank you so much for what you send to me I was so
thankful for it I dont know how to thank you enough for them my husband still
keeps about the same no better and the weather has been dreadful bad this last
day or two so that he could not get out and it makes him worst I close from H.
This card is for vicent from Harry xxxx xxxx. This is the morris dancers it was
taken up at the denrey”
