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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To request that the current owners send me a bit of my grandparents' old house?

89 replies

CrazyPlaqueLady · 23/06/2022 15:58

The house that my grandfather designed and built after the war, and in which I spent a huge proportion of my own childhood and have very very happy memories of, is going to be demolished, to make way for a new development of houses. I'm a bit sad about this, obviously, but there we go, life moves on, people need houses etc etc.

However, I know that there is a small metal plaque at the front of the house which my grandfather had engraved with his and my grandmother's initials and the date they moved in. I remember it very clearly from my childhood and I know it's still there.

All that side of my family are dead, including my mum, there is no-one left and soon the house we all spent so many happy times in will be gone too. I have photos obviously but it would really be meaningful to have something 'solid' and unique.

WIBU to write to the current owners and ask them if they would be willing to remove the plaque and send it to me, when they move out? I wouldn't chase them for it, just write once and if there's no response or it's a 'no' I would absolutely respect that. Or would this be a ridiculous request in the first place?

OP posts:
legalseagull · 23/06/2022 15:58

That's not unreasonable at all! I'd gladly do this for someone

Bodgejobvendors · 23/06/2022 15:59

Do it! I’d happily accommodate this.

Bonjovispjs · 23/06/2022 15:59

No harm in asking.

newbiename · 23/06/2022 15:59

I'd send it to you. It's sentimental to you , not to them. Offer postage.

Ahgoonyegirlye · 23/06/2022 15:59

No harm in asking!

PAFMO · 23/06/2022 15:59

Not at all.
I'm sure they'd be happy to let you have it.

HollowTalk · 23/06/2022 15:59

How would they get it to you?

swimmingincustard · 23/06/2022 16:00

I don't think that's an unreasonable request at all, I'd certainly do it if I lived there Smile

Especially if you offer to cover postage YANBU.

UniBallEye · 23/06/2022 16:01

I would absolutely request this, especially if they're demolishing the house. I'd ask for anything else they were going to destroy!
I hope you get it OP, what a lovely memory to have. I have lots of my grandparents things in my house and I really love that sense of connection and continuity

iwishiwasafish · 23/06/2022 16:01

Of course you should ask them! I would be delighted to do this for someone. And what do you have to lose by asking?

SleepSleepRaveAsleep · 23/06/2022 16:01

No harm in asking, if someone wrote to me and asked I'd say yes. I assume it isn't solid gold so they have no use for it.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 23/06/2022 16:01

Offer to pay them the postage - perhaps send a prepaid, addressed Jiffy bag?
I cannot see any harm in approaching them.

Personally I would be really happy to have been able to help if I was the person receiving such a request, and would do it immediately.

you have nothing to lose and a lot of mementoes to gain and cherish.

BMW6 · 23/06/2022 16:01

That's a lovely idea, only utter numptys would refuse such a request (though I think you should offer to collect it or pay postage)

Maxifly · 23/06/2022 16:01

No, not ridiculous to ask. That sounds like a lovely memento to have if the current owners pass it on. I'm sure they will, good luck.

5foot5 · 23/06/2022 16:01

Not unreasonable at all. If I was the current owner I would probably invite you round for a last look around, chance to take photos etc. as well as giving you the plaque

QueenBodicea · 23/06/2022 16:02

Not unreasonable at all. It's the sort of thing that I would value were it my grandparents. Definitely worth asking them. I suppose the sending it to you might be a bit of a hassle. Maybe you could offer to collect it if more convenient depending how far away you are of course.

Hellocatshome · 23/06/2022 16:02

As long as it doesn't cost them time and money to get it to you in not sure why they would refuse. I would golfer in the letter to collect it from them at a suitable time and date for them. They are more likely to say yes if they dont really have to do anything.

Yodaisawally · 23/06/2022 16:02

I would be very pleased it was going to someone who cherished it!

MsFannySqueers · 23/06/2022 16:02

Definitely not unreasonable. I would happily let you have the plaque if I was the owner of the property. It’s of no relevance or value to anyone but you and it would be a shame for it to be lost.

Hellocatshome · 23/06/2022 16:02

Offer not golfer 🙈

purplecorkheart · 23/06/2022 16:03

I certainly would contact them and ask. I would probably included packaging and postage when I write to them to make it as easy as possible for them

oakleaffy · 23/06/2022 16:03

Go and get it now!
I took a cart - horse shoe that had been at grandparents’s house affixed to the wall for 100 yrs plus before house had new owners.
I used to love it as a child.
Hope you get it.

CrazyPlaqueLady · 23/06/2022 16:04

Sorry meant to say I would definitely send postage, prepaid jiffy bag etc. I was just a bit worried because I think it is an elderly person who lives there and I wouldn't want to stress them out at all.

OP posts:
Candleabra · 23/06/2022 16:04

Yes perfectly reasonable. I would do this for someone.

QuillBill · 23/06/2022 16:05

It's not even vaguely ridiculous.

Where is this house? 🪛