| Description | Summary
Tape one
Side one
Speaker lived in Hollingwood Street, Ordsall, Salford. Father was a lamp lighter and mother worked in a mill on Ordsall Lane, Salford. Disagreement as to when the lamp lighter did the lamps. Mr Eccleston's father worked as a labourer in a foundry - mother worked in a mill.
Housing
Dark paint, oil lamps, peg rug, flowered paper, oil cloths, Friday night was bucket night - clean the house.
Most people had large familiesone in Mrs Eccleston's family. Was in Girls' Friendly Society - meetings held in Ordsall Hall - had country dancing class, handicrafts, plays. While her mother worked in the mill, minded by the lady next door. Most mothers did not work in her area because of small children.
School
She did not like it at school - very strict discipline - mentions School Board. People who had a shop were looked up to even by the School teachers. Quite a strong connection with the church.
Street games
Discusses street games. Police would not allow football to be played in the street - had to go on the croft. Fair came every year - very popular.
Talk of family life and youth of today
Side two
Details of police in the area. Mrs Ecclestoneborn in the Star, then moved to the Dyers Arms on Ordsall Lane. Went to Campbell Street at three. Ragged School in Regent Street - there for four years - enjoyed it immensely. All poor children there - only a small school. Went on school trips on a coal lorry - details. Streets were like a village community. Would help each other during pregnancy and death Does not remember any still born babies. People always laid out at home..
Shops
Bought sweets on Saturday and Sunday - details of what they would buy.
Very busy - would auction meat after 11pm on a Saturday.
Landladies in pubs always wore a big hat with a feather and diamonds flashing. Many women went into pubs - opened at 6am and closed at 11pm.
Parents would always eat first, then the children would stand round the table to eat. People would drink out of jam jars if they did not have any cups. Talks of food they could buy with a halfpenny.
Street traders
Crumpets and pickles man, fishmonger.
Had many cook shops - shops that sold cooked foods. Four on Ordsall Lane - catering especially for mill workers - also children whose mothers were working
Remembers Gracie Fields coming to the Regent
Health
Self help as regards medicine - used old remedies - details. Two herbalists on Regent Road and another on Oldfield Road - could get leeches from there to put on black eyes. Quite a few fights. Cannot remember any alcoholics.
At one time, fifteen pubs on Ordsall Lane. Description of Trafford Road - had a bad name for prostitutes. Details of pubs frequented by seamen and prostitutes.
Tape two
Public Assistance
Given tickets for food, coal and rent. Sent husband chopping wood and breaking stones. Details of Means Test. Had 1s a week for child.
Work
Mr Eccleston found work on the docks terrible. Backhanders given to the foreman all the time in the pub. Were 2000 dockers but only 1500 working at one time.
Pawnshops
One near Cross Street - neighbour's experiences and how she had to get married. So desparate at one time that almost committed suicide - poverty and debt almost drove her to this.
Worked for 1s an hour at the pitchworks but skin peeled off if in contact with it.
Mentions streets that were better off than others - mostly tradesmen.
Leisure
Details of activities available when they were teenagers - dance halls. Met their girlfriends and boyfriends on the monkey run in Eccles New Road. Park full of young people especially when the band was playing e.g. in Heaton Park. Mr Eccleston went dancing at the Hyde Hippodrome and in Bolton and Oldham.
Never went on holiday and did not go out often with parents. Eldest child had to fend for itself.
Details of areas they could not go to.
Lot of serious diseases - TB, Diptheria.
Tolerance of other races.
Night school and further education available. |
