English Heritage has warned that the humble postcard, a communication staple for over 150 years, is at risk of disappearing. Research commissioned by the charity found that only 8% of adults send a postcard once a year, while 52% never send them at all.
Historical context of postcard usage
The postcard was introduced to Britain in 1870, offering a quick, cheap, and easy way to correspond with little formality. In 1871, around 75 million postcards were sent in Britain, and volumes surged to over 800 million a year by the end of King Edward VII's reign in 1910. For a population of nearly 45 million at the time, that equated to just under 18 postcards per person, or roughly one every three weeks. Many postcards told tales of trips to seaside towns like Whitley Bay and South Shields, or visits to historic houses in the countryside.
Decline in modern times
Despite 86% of adults growing up in households where postcards were sent, and 62% saying they would love their children to continue the tradition, more than half of adults never send a postcard. Only 16% send a few a year, and 18% send less than one annually. The research attributes this decline to the ease of digital communication, rising postage costs, and the time-consuming nature of handwriting.
Matt Thompson of English Heritage said: "The postcard was once as much a part of the British holiday as a bucket and spade or the drip of ice cream; a handwritten note dashed off from the pier or a historic landmark, stamped and posted to friends and family back home. But our research reveals a habit fading fast and, if this decline continues, there's a chance it could become a distant nostalgic memory, and there’s something genuinely sad about the idea of this tradition disappearing. At English Heritage we believe the postcard deserves more than a place in the nostalgia tin – it's a living tradition worth preserving and we need your help to give it a new lease of life."
Efforts to revive the tradition
To counter the trend, English Heritage has launched limited edition postcards designed by illustrators Nick Sharratt and Sir Quentin Blake, available at 18 of its properties across the UK, including Belsay Hall, Castles and Gardens in Northumberland. The initiative aims to inspire both children and adults to take up sending postcards again.
Sir Quentin Blake commented: "There's no better way to put a smile on someone’s face than with a postcard. In the days of knights in armour they didn’t have postcards, so I do hope children enjoy mine and send them on to someone special."
