mlteenie Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 This is great.A friend of mine recently moved to the top of Crystal Palace Road (but shockingly not yet on the EDF) removed the 1950s panelling to the rear of his front door and discovered a letter saying 'Secret - open me'. Inside he deiscovered a letter written in 1955 by a 7-year old girl called Miriam Horwood, who had lived at the same address. The letter had aaprently remained undiscovered all this time.The big question is, does anyone know anything about her? She'll be in her early 60s by now, but could still be in the area. It would be great to put them in touch. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadwolf Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I don't know about any Miriam Horwood but I usually leave a letter laminated in plastic in a place I know will be sealed for many years to come. In the new nursing quarters that have been built for the new St Thomas's hospital is a half bottle of Scotch (cheap) with a letter addressed to the next person who tears down the stud walling it says," You will find his when I'm an elderly man or even dead. My name is XXXXXXXX XXXXXX. Have a drink on me". I'm not the only person to do it but I think it's nice to leave a message that'll cross time after I'm gone. I copied this gesture from the jokers that pioneered the idea by leaving a bottle of wine or scotch in one of the Dinosaurs in Crystal Palace park with a letter addressed to the next maintenance crew.I think Miriam has/had a healthy sense of humour, whoever she is or was. Leave her be. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247607 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadwolf Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Oh and some contractors will offer a local school the chance to leave a time capsule in a deep foundation pad in a galvanised steel pod. There's one in the foundations of the new build going on outside Victoria station where the old Abford house used to be. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247608 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Mac Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 mlteenie Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> This is great.> > A friend of mine recently moved to the top of> Crystal Palace Road (but shockingly not yet on the> EDF) removed the 1950s panelling to the rear of> his front door and discovered a letter saying> 'Secret - open me'. > > Inside he deiscovered a letter written in 1955 by> a 7-year old girl called Miriam Horwood, who had> lived at the same address. The letter had> aaprently remained undiscovered all this time.> > The big question is, does anyone know anything> about her? She'll be in her early 60s by now, but> could still be in the area. It would be great to> put them in touch.Was the letter in any way interesting? Did she predict England would win the world cup in just a decade's time and that Spurs would be the first team to win the Double? Did she say what she thought of the schools? Or did it say - why have you removed this panelling, it cost my Mum and Dad a lot of money and they thought it looked really nice. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247623 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlteenie Posted September 14, 2009 Author Share Posted September 14, 2009 Ker-smirk.Sadly no predictions. The letter just said 'write to me', although the address was that very house....The panelling was of the 1950s 'cover up those unsightly Victorian mouldings and get the modern smooth hardboard look' variety. Same went for the bannisters. Impressive.I stuck a glossy property mag in the wall of my bathroom when I redid it so that someone may enjoy the styles and prices of the early 21stC. I like the boatly whisky (cheap) idea much better, tho. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247633 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeckhamRose Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Contact John Beesley who writes about ED and Peckham and maybe he knows?The Peckham Society may be a good point of call.It has over 800 members. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247668 Share on other sites More sharing options...
???? Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Mick Mac Wrote: ENGLAND! Everyone knows it was West Ham Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247737 Share on other sites More sharing options...
red devil Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 There's only one Bobby.....Charlton! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247744 Share on other sites More sharing options...
boosboss Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 It would be great to find her, I wonder if she even remembers doing it. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247772 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadwolf Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 "I wonder if she even remembers doing it."I doubt she even remembers what she had for breakfast BB, let alone a letter she 'posted' 54 years ago. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247775 Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 may be try this? http://www.househistorylondon.co.uk/ Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247784 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chez Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 wow, so amelie Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247808 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlteenie Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 Thanks, WoD, but I doubt I'll be shelling out ?500 for a report on anyone's house, even if it does come in a folder... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-247898 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeckhamRose Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 When I was a little girl and being very unhappy, I wrote a letter to the older me, and I still have it in my diaries.I sort of remember what I said, basically outlining why I was so unhappy and why I was so impatient to be out of there and to be treated fairly and so on. It would probably upset me very much to read it now, especially being as I am happy and in control and so on. Childhood can be so horrid - I do hope Miriam Horwood is happy and content. Did you get any joy from Mr Beesley? He may write about it in the next Peckham Society Newsletter or if there is an East Dulwich equivalent. He lives in East Dulwich. Someone may know her from there. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-248128 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cate Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 John Beesley lives in Everthorpe Road, SE15. It's either no. 6 or 8. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-248175 Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 sorry ml teenie did not see how much it was! maybe this could be a new career for me ( i would have to move to chelsea though to get ?500 methings Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-248194 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miriams Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Hello - I am Miriam Horwood, now aged 63 and three quarters! I lived at 138 Crystal Palace Road from 1950-1961 in which time my dad, a fanatical DIYer did a huge amount of work to the house. As someone has said, it was all about covering up all the lovely original features including the door and banisters. He also painted the banisters bright red! In addition to the two letters found I think I also left one in the boarded over fire place, I believe, in the basement back room but I cannot be sure.It is really interesting to hear that my letters were found as I have referred to them every now and again and wondered if or who might have discovered them. Alas, I am pretty sure no gold sovereigns were hidden!We moved away to Kent, to a bungalow, and both my parents are now dead but they would have been really interested to know that my letters were found and that Dad's panelling had lasted all those years.It was just a fluke that I googled my name and found this website. I note that it was in 2009 that all this interest was going on so hope I am not too late to get in touch. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544238 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosieH Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Hurrah, how lovely! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544241 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlteenie Posted May 12, 2012 Author Share Posted May 12, 2012 Fantastic!Hi Miriam - really glad you found this. I will forward the details to my friend who lives there now. Perhaps he will find the rest. I am sure he will be very interested to hear the story. Have a lovely weekend! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544245 Share on other sites More sharing options...
computedshorty Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Hi Miriam.What were your neighbours names.I remember the Morgans two down from the pub. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544249 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSJ57 Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 The power of the EDF strikes again - lovely!! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544259 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miriams Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 I remember now that it was 318 and not 138 Crystal Palace Road that I lived. Our neighbours, attached, were the Gibbs, with a boy a little older than me called Ken. Further down the road lived the Halls with my friend, Jennifer who was my age and had a brother, Michael. There was also a family called 'Snell' and twin boys, David and Edwin but cannot remember their surnames. Do any of the above ring a bell? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544267 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peckhamgatecrasher Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 What a lovely start to the day. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544293 Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneie Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Ha! I just came across this string this morning, was getting ready to say that I remember Miriam - and there you are! I'll pm you... :-) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544298 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratty Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Wow! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7973-secret-letter-in-the-panelling/#findComment-544304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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