World Post Day: Mail Art at Carmarthenshire Archives
A collection of letters and envelopes, written between Sheila Evans (an English woman living in Wales) and Sylvia Forward (a Welsh woman living in England)
This year Carmarthenshire Archives received an unusual deposit. At first glance it was a collection of letters written between two friends, but on closer inspection the real gems were the envelopes the letters were sent in. So, to celebrate World Post Day on 9 October, let’s take a closer look…
Sheila Evans (née Toogood) was born in Egypt in 1942. Her mother was an army nurse during the Second World War and her father an army engineer. Sheila moved to the Gwendraeth Valley in the mid-1980s in search of an affordable gardener’s paradise. She bought and lived at Glastonbury near Bancffosfelen for 35 years. Her letters record her experiences of living in Carmarthenshire during the 1980s and 1990s.
Her friend, Sylvia Forward (née Soper) was born in Wales in 1926. She grew up in Treforest, Pontypridd. Sylvia met her husband, Colin in 1947 when they were students at Cardiff School of Art. The couple moved to England in 1950 to find work and had six children together. Sylvia lived at Malmsbury for 45 years. Sylvia was an industrious knitter and prolific artist with a unique style which is shown in her mail art.
Sheila and Sylvia first met when they both lived in Wiltshire in 1974. Both women were enthusiastic readers of bygone diarists, which is evident from their letter writing styles. The letters start in 1981 and continue until Sylvia’s death in 1996.
Sheila’s letters include details of visits to Carmarthen, Llanelli, Llansteffan, Ferryside, Kidwelly and day trips to other local venues. Her letters also note important local events, such as the closure and demolition of Cynheidre Colliery:
“They blew up the towers of the pit at Cynheidre on Friday. I was just walking upstairs with the binoculars to see if anyone was working on them, when there was a huge bang, and on arrival at the window all I could see was a cloud of dust. Now they lie painfully on their sides on our horizon awaiting dismemberment.”
Sheila also comments on the decline of many of the towns in the area due to the building of shopping centres at Llanelli and Carmarthen: “Station Road (Llanelli) must be nearly a mile long. It is a mausoleum of little shops in various degrees of decay including total abandonment. There was still life here when we came to Wales three years ago.”
The letters also provide an insight into the politics of the decade, commenting on English settlers in Wales, the war in Iraq and a number of General Elections. Some of the letters have even been annotated by Sylvia with her latest knitting instructions.
While the content of Sheila’s letters are arguably of more interest to our researchers; Sylvia’s mail art is a visual delight!
“The envelopes are developing a new style – paintings rather than painted sketches – lovely. They’re going over the top of the doorway now. It’s almost as much of an obsession as collecting – shells, keys, envelopes. I think I must bring them one day so that you can exhibit them.”
“The postman told John that the workers at the sorting office in Carmarthen have begun to expect and look for your envelopes. Apparently finding one is an envied condition.”
“Such brilliant envelopes have been gracing Carmarthen Sorting Office lately. They must be fighting to touch them!”
Most of the letters are not in chronological order. Any semblance of order is notional because many of the letters are undated, and Sheila had separated Sylvia’s letters from the envelopes so she could display the mail art around her home. However, the collection can be viewed in its entirety in our searchroom at Carmarthenshire Archives.
Collection reference: GB 211 CDX 1191