HA 63 - Note Paper with colourful design possibly intended for use on Valentine's Day posted from Winchester to Salisbury

Letter written by E. Girdlestone at Winchester College to his mother at Landford Parsonage, Downton, Salisbury. The Revd. Henry Girdlestone (1785-1871) was Rector of Landford from 1833 to 1871 and was succeeded by his son, Revd. Francis Gurney Girdlestone (1833-1884) as Rector from 1871 to 1884. He writes “I arrived here safe and sound, and sorry I am to get here, it rained very hard on the coach going to Southampton but nothing to go through that great coat which I had on, and which I sent back by box that afternoon as it was quite fine when I went on to Winchester. Tell Harry my blister is quite healed now, and I shall thank him for no more of his blisters for many years to come, as one is sufficient for me for my lifetime. I hope Maurice and Frank received and were pleased with their Valentines I sent them..we have changed Chambers and I am changed into 5th Chamber, and I am now third junior, instead of 2nd Junior which is only to be valet, and I appear quite cockey having so many juniors under me; I have no master yet as he has to undergo an examination before he is made prefect. I hope you observe what spree paper I am writing on..”