Lost letters found in shoebox reveal 100-year-old love affair

By Ed Chatterton

A collection of lost love letters revealing the secrets of a forbidden 100-year-old affair have been unearthed after being discovered in a shoe box.

The amorous correspondence between married society heiress Dora Smith and wealthy RAF officer Noel Murray "Fred" Pearson dates back to the 1920s.

At the time, Dora was living at Witley Court, a now-ruined stately home in Worcestershire, and the 108 letters cover a period while she was still married to her husband.

The documents detail their affair and the relationship which blossomed during their courtship - including affectionate pet nicknames for each other such as “Snuffy Scruffy” and “Little Baby Gazelle”.

Their forbidden love story eventually saw them united and the couple wed in 1929 after Dora’s turbulent divorce.

The letters were first discovered in the 1960s in a shoebox held by a local accountancy firm, where they were preserved by employee Elizabeth Jones.

The "remarkable collection" has now come to light in time for Valentine's Day after being shared with help from English Heritage.

Matty Cambridge, assistant curator at English Heritage, said: “Coming across these letters has been such a joy.

"They’re so warm and funny, but what is really touching is timespan of these letters.

"They run over a number of years – including a period when Dora was living at Witley Court and then married to her first husband.

"what is really evident is how much they genuinely care for each other. It's not just soppy - they are concerned about each other.

"He really does want to drive her away from her worries.

"We do know that Dora and Noel eventually tied the knot in 1929, but not much else.

"If anyone knows more about what their story looked like, we’d love to hear from you.”

Dora was the daughter of Sir Herbert Smith, the last private owner of Witley Court, while Noel is believed to have been in the RAF and a landowner.

One letter from Noel to Dora reads: "My wonderful little baby gazelle,

"Baby darling, if only I could have my precious little baby sweetheart nestled up in the car with me, I'd want to drive right away from all your worries and find you a little nest where troubles didn't exist and everything was one long wonderful dream."

Another from Dora to Noel says: "Dear my love, never did I think that you would be the very cornerstone of my life and all that I hold precious to my heart.

"Indeed, I did not believe that anyone, man or woman, could claim such wholehearted affection."

English Heritage said the long running correspondence reveals a "warm, playful and intimate portrait" of a young couple but also tells the story of their forbidden love.

Their curatorial team is currently reviewing the material to determine its historical significance, and conservation needs.

Witley Court, once among England’s grandest country houses, has a history spanning centuries.

Originally an early 17th-century mansion, it was remodelled several times—first by the Foley family in the 18th century—and again around 1805 to 1810.

A third transformation took place under the Ward family in the 1850s.

Both the Foleys and Wards amassed their fortunes through the iron and coal industries of the West Midlands. By the Victorian era, Witley was famed for its luxury and lavish gatherings.

The estate fell into ruin following a catastrophic fire in 1937.