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

[CrazyPlaqueLady]

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?

On what planet would this be unreasonable? I do wonder the point of some posts tbh.

Tell them you'll cover the postage costs when you ask them about it.

I'd be very happy to do this for someone.

At worst they'll ignore your letter.

How far away is the house from you? Would it be realistic at all to go and collect the plaque?

I thought you were going to ask for a random roof tile or a doorknob or similar and thought it was a bit weird but definitely go for the plaque!

Good luck!

If I received this request I would think it was lovely and gladly do it for you..definitely ask ☺️

I'd happily accomodate this for someone.

Absolutely do ask! And offer to cover all costs and then some. But also expect to be ignored - especially if it makes work for someone.
I'd hope most people would try and make this happen for someone, but also... there's a lot of knobheads around, who just would decide they couldn't be arsed? You could even offer to send a courier, so they don't even need to go to a post office.
Even better, go round in person.

Similarly I was expecting you to ask for a brick or a roof tile and was thinking that’s odd but go for it! Only issue if it’s hard to get off and would it be a faff for the builders?

Please do explain why. The current owners may be wondering about the plaque.

Oh do let us know!

When my old school was demolished my son was a pupil, on the last day before they moved to the new school he asked the art teacher, who'd also taught me and I was very close to, if he could have the hand painted 'Art Room' plaque from the door. I cried when he came home and gave it to me at the happy memories of that room and I treasure that sign.

How lovely it would be to get it back, everything crossed for you.

I'd definitely send it to you, or even invite you over for a wander through the house for old times sake.
Pop a note explaining all to them with your phone number and see what happens.

Yes of course. Obviously offer to pay postage, but I am sure most people would love to help you have this plaque.

Not sure if this is a silly idea, but might it be a good idea to send a copy of a photo of you or your grandparents in the house or garden? So they know it is a genuine request + to make your request more human. May not be necessary or what you would feel comfortable doing, just a thought

If you're near enough could you knock and leave a note if they don't answer? They might enjoy having someone talk over happy memories with them.

You will always regret it if you don’t ask for this - and they would be very strange, heartless people if they didn’t do it!

Op definitely write and ask, offer to pay for a workman to take it down if the occupants are elderly.

I would willing go and get it for you dh could take it down if the seller agrees
I am in Warwickshire if that is where the house is feel free to pm me

Haven’t you a screwdriver?

What area is it in? I'd happily go and fetch it from them and post it you if you had got their permission first were it near me.

Someone once asked me for some pictures of the interior of my house for his mother who had grown up there. I had never met him but he gave me lots of information.

And no I didn't worry about doing it . There were lots of indications that this was totally genuine.

I was really happy to do it for him . It's what makes the world go round.

I did think of doing that too, it's a nice idea.

If that was a question for me and not op I am disabled and would not have the strength to hold a screwdriver
But would certainly have a go if I was able to

I'm going to write the letter, I'll let you know what happens

I’d definitely do this, and offer you one last look around ❤️

I mean, I wonder about people who bother posting stuff like this, but we're all different, I guess...

My mum managed (via a friend at the council) to get some bricks from her childhood home when it was demolished - they were made into a plant stand for the garden.

It's a perfectly reasonable request.

I think it’s so reasonable that I’d borderline go and remove it myself in the dead of night!

Write to them and give your phone number and ask if they’d mind

Please do it… if it was me living there I wouldn’t hesitate on sending it to you