With Valentine’s Day almost upon us, its good to see that those enterprising folk at Salisbury’s Artisan Wine and Spirit shop will be celebrating Salisbury’s romantic and historical past with an event called ‘Love is in the Square’ on Tuesday, February 14.

No doubt their event will include a visit to Love Lane and this reminds me of an intriguing mystery which happen just around the corner in Barnard’s Cross.

In the late 1950s, a Miss Lucy Sanderson Taylor, who was the retired head of education at Salisbury College of Sarum St Michael, discovered a note while going through some records.

On the envelope was written “Said to have been found in the walls of Barnard’s Cross 1957.”

The note was a tiny love letter sent in 1760 measuring three inches by two inches and read, “My dear, This comes with my kind love to you hoping it will find you in Perfect Health and Peace of Mind, which that you may long enjoy is the sincere wish of your affectionate and Constant lover.”

It was addressed to a Mrs Ann Huse in St Ann Street.

The pink faded letter was signed WBUA PBYYWF and dated Sarum, March 31, 1760. From the signature Miss Taylor managed to decode it to read John Collis.

After further enquiries Miss Taylor was contacted by Mr J Tutt, a maintenance engineer of Park Street who said that he had found the note while doing repairs for the Army, who had the property, Barnard’s Cross, on lease from the Training College.

The note came to light when a fireplace surround was moved.

However, although Miss Taylor searched the records at Somerset House and the gravestones at St Martins’ churchyard, her mission to find out if the romantic couple ever got married or who they were unfortunately remained unsolved.