Letter finally arrives 100 years after it was posted leaving Royal Mail baffled

17 February 2023 , 15:22

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A letter posted in 1916 has finally been delivered - over 100 years too late (Image: BBC)

A letter that was lost in the post has finally been delivered - more than 100 years too late.

The envelope was posted through a London letterbox with a stamp of King George V's head on the top right corner.

It was addressed to Katie Marsh, wife of stamp dealer Oswald Marsh, and was sent by her friend Christabel Mennell in 1916, and it finally arrived in 2021.

The history of the letter was shared by historian Stephen Oxford, editor of The Norwood Review, and soon the Royal Mail commented on the story - saying they were "uncertain what happened in this instance".

Owner of the flat Finaly Glen said he was baffled when the letter arrived (BBC)

Stephen said: "It's very unusual and actually quite exciting in terms of giving us a lead into local history and people who lived in Norwood, which was a very popular place for the upper middle classes in the late 1800s.

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"Crystal Palace generated a huge influx of very wealthy people and so to find out about someone who moved to the area for possibly that very reason is absolutely fascinating."

Speaking to the BBC, Finlay Glen, the owner of the flat in Crystal Palace, said: "We were obviously pretty surprised and mystified as to how it could have been sat around for more than 100 years."

The letter ambiguously reads: "My dear Katie, will you lend me your aid – I am feeling quite ashamed of myself after saying what I did at the circle."

After news of the letter was shared online, the Royal Mail issued a statement. They said: "We appreciate that people will be intrigued by the history of this letter from 1916, but we have no further information on what might have happened."

Back in 2021, a letter arrived safely at a vicarage nearly 33 years after it was sent.

Vicar Ian Grainger, 55, opened the envelope and saw the folded note but he was stunned to read the snail mail was dated December 31, 1988.

The Vicar of Seaton in West Cumbria joked he knew the post office had been struggling with Covid but never expected a letter to take this long.

Remarkably, the letter was in 'perfect condition' as it had been sealed and unopened for more than 30 years.

The envelope was placed inside a plastic bag which said: "We're very sorry the enclosed item has reached you in this condition".

It went on to apologise for 'any inconvenience or upset' caused and even offered a refund in case the contents were damaged.

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