Handmade WWII Magazines by Evacuee Sisters Discovered

In December, a substantial brown paper package was found on the doorstep of a cottage museum, leading Gordon and Debby Stevenson to initially believe it was an early Christmas gift. Mr. Stevenson, a volunteer and board member at the Petworth Cottage Museum in the West Sussex town, stated, “We unravelled it and it turned out to be these funny little Petworth Star hand-drawn, hand-illustrated, magazines.” The couple ascertained that these magazines, some inscribed in pencil and bound with string and red thread, had been produced by Polly Scadden and her sister Amy, who were evacuated from Portsmouth during World War Two. These delicate creations are currently housed at the West Sussex Record Office in Chichester. Ms. Stevenson informed the Secret Sussex podcast that the items were delivered by a woman from Oxford, who had located them among her recently deceased father’s belongings. Ms. Stevenson further noted, “Because he was a furniture dealer, she thinks probably they were in a piece of furniture.” Upon carefully examining the fragile papers of these “lovely little books,” Ms. Stevenson learned that the sisters had been evacuated to a farm. She clarified, “At first we assumed, being evacuees, that they were perhaps teenagers… but no, they were actually more sort of middle-aged ladies.” Archivist Victoria Evans, who oversees the magazines at the West Sussex Record Office, explained that one page details the preparations for Christmas. A passage from one of the magazines states: “It is nearing Christmas in our village and excitement is felt in every phase of our life.” “Even the stream has turned into a turbulent waterfall and adds to the stormy landscape in an ever-monotonous song.” “Everyone in our household seems to be hoarding string, paper, not a piece can be found. Parcels everywhere, they seem to be growing.” Ms. Evans commented, “I’ve done a bit of research into the family. We have Polly Scadden – she was usually referred to as Popsy Wopsy or Nellie – and we also had Amy Scadden her sister – she gets referred to as Auntie Amy in the books.” She added, “There’s even a Christmas menu… they had ham and chicken, boiled potatoes, brussel sprouts, and then they had Christmas pudding with custard afterwards.” Ms. Evans suggested that “Being in the countryside, I think they were very friendly with farmers and butchers, so they did have that access to a little bit more food and were able to plan for a really full Christmas.”