Transcript of a letter found under the floor boards at the Toby Jug Cafe, Market Street, Ulverston on 19 June 1996, during alterations to become The Granary. The letter was given to the Ulverston Heritage Centre, where it was transcribed by Elizabeth Ellis.
Seacombe

When you write April 7th 1884 ?1874

direct to Seacombe

I'm well

Dear Father,

I received your letter in Newport on Monday last, and thank you for the kind encouragement contained therein~tho', my feelings are not much altered since I wrote to you last.

We arrived in this place yesterday morning, the vessel of course is in the River yet and I don't know when Uncle will be able to get a dock, but I'm going over to Woodburns this afternoon to see him, and then I shall get to know. We have had a splendid voyage up, fair winds at times, but very light and the weather warm and beautiful. We left Newport on Tuesday evng. and were round the Bishops on Wednesday morning, when the wind died away, and we were becalmed for near two days off Bardsey Island. Jane Roper is a fine sailing craft, "she goes thro' the water like a thing of life" when there is a smart(?) breeze-but is rather heavy during light winds ".........(?).....all in all we'll never see her like again ".

Uncle has in 190 tons(?) at 11/-(?)which will be a nice lift for the owners.

Uncle and Aunt Tyson are quite well and desired to be remembered to you, Aunt...................has been worse but is getting..............I'm going there tomorrow morning and in the evng. I intend to hear Mrs. Gough who is going to lecture at Birkenhead. I intend going to stay in Wallasey.

Tell Joseph that................I think he'll get plenty of the sea before he gets to the Bishops, I fancy. How is Miss Radnald doing as regards to the S.S.? have the ..........gone back again? when is Mr Baker expected?I fancy if he.......early......

(the rest of this letter has disintegrated with time and mice!)

The letter was probably written in 1874, as the Jane Roper is known to have been commanded by Capt.Tyson at that time (from Shipping Report columns in Barrow newspapers).

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