PC: English Heritage
What do the letters reveal about Dora and Noel’s relationship
A collection of love letters found in a shoebox during the 1960s offers a glimpse into a relationship that ended in marriage in 1929. Their story continued through a turbulent divorce before their wedding in 1929. Dora and Noel eventually married in 1929, after Dora’s turbulent divorce.
Because of their warmth and humour, as well as the length of time they cover, matty Cambridge, Assistant Curator at English Heritage, said the letters had been a joy to discover. The letters were exchanged between Dora Smith, daughter of Witley Court’s last private owner, Sir Herbert Smith, and Noel Murray ‘Fred’ Pearson. They were discovered in the archives of a local accountancy firm and preserved by an employee, Elizabeth Jones. The correspondence tells the story of a relationship that began when the couple met while Dora was married to her first husband. Despite the circumstances, Dora and Noel eventually married after her turbulent divorce. The letters were found in a shoebox among the archives of a local accountancy firm during the 1960s. The collection had been exchanged by Dora Smith and Noel Murray ‘Fred’ Pearson, whose relationship was connected to Witley Court. Dora was the daughter of Sir Herbert Smith, the court’s last private owner. Elizabeth Jones, an employee of the accountancy firm, kept the letters safe. The letters cover a relationship that unfolded over several years and provide a record of the couple’s communication, including the period when Dora was living at Witley Court and later married to her first husband. The correspondence describes a relationship that began while Dora was married to her first husband. The letters span a number of years and include a period when Dora was living at Witley Court. They also cover the time when she was married to her first husband. The correspondence records the connection between Dora and Noel before they eventually married. The letters’ language provides a personal picture of their closeness and courtship across several years. The collection also captures a period of Dora’s life at Witley Court and her marriage to her first husband. Their contents offer a personal record of a relationship that developed over several years. Her correspondence with Noel provides a personal glimpse into the couple’s courtship in the early 20th century.