Updated 20 Jan 2009

WIRKSWORTH Parish Records 1600-1900

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Posted 1907

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Naughty postcard 1907.

A naughty postcard, perhaps with an Edwardian double-entendre, the meaning of which I hope to take advice about. The message on the other side makes me wonder if the postcard was not very welcome.
Nivard Ovington points out:
"A Dictionary of Catch Phrases" by Eric Partidge, Paul Beale.
"My word, if you're not off!" is a catch phrase of either dismissal or deterrence, and was current c1890-1914.

"Wikipedia" says:
A helter skelter is a funfair or amusement park ride with a slide built in a spiral around a high tower. Users climb up inside the tower and slide down the outside; usually on a mat. Typically the ride will be of wooden construction, and in the case of fairground versions designed to be disassembled to facilitate transportation between sites. The term is primarily (but not exclusively) found in British English.

It was sent to Louisa Annie, wife of Benjamin Greatorex SPENCER (a quarryman), while they were living at 8, Greenhill, a rather poor part of Wirksworth. Benjamin came from a family of 9, and Louisa 8 children. Louisa was 34 when she received the card. 

             1851              1852                              1851              1852
             James     1869    Alice                             John      1871    Frances
             SPENCER=====v=====GREATOREX                         PEARSON=====v=====OLDFIELD
                         |                                                   |
                         |                                                   |     
 |-----|-----|--------|--|--|--------|----|--------|       |--------|------|-|--|-----|----|-----|------|
 |     |     |        |     |        |    |        |       |        |      |    |     |    |     |      |
1872  1875  1876     1877  1881     1882 1887     1890    1872     1873   1876 1880  1884 1887  1890   1892
Frank Sarah Benjamin James Gertrude Mary Florence Alice   Frederic Louisa Mary Clara John Edith Edward Frances
      Ann    |                                                      |
             |                                                      |
            Benjamin                                               Louisa
            Greatorex              1897                            Annie
            SPENCER==================v=============================PEARSON
                                     |
                                     |
                                |----|---|
                                |        |
                               1898     1901
                               John     Doris
                               James    A

Notes
Links to Census:
SPENCER: 1901, 1891, 1881, 1871
PEARSON: 1901, 1891, 1881, 1871

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