Wylam - Sound

Transcription of an interview with Mr & Mrs Walker recorded on the 13^th March 1972.

Mr Walker was born in Cumberland in 1889 where his father had worked as a miner. Mrs Walker, nee Robertson, was born in West Wylam where her father was a deputy at the colliery.

In the full interview the pair talk at length about early life with their parents. They also talk about general life in the village as well as entertainment available to them.

In this recording Mr & Mrs Walker talk about washing day in West Wylam

[Transcription]

So what clothes did you clean with a poss stick?

What clothes?

Which ones ? - yes.

Oh well all your clothes, it was a crime if you sent anything to the laundry those days you know.

We used to do all your sheets even your blankets and everything.

I can remember when I was a girl. The people in West Wylam, old West Wylam you know them days, they used to ring blankets two of them on the street one at each end and ring them you know tight, hang them on the line to dry

Twist them.

Twist them, yes.

Did you have a big mangle?

Oh yes we had a great big mangle, yes, wood rollers, yes its marvelous

 

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This tape recording comes from the large collection of oral history recordings held by the Northumberland Archive Service. Interviews were conducted by Record Office staff from the early 1970's right through until the mid 1980's. The purpose of the recordings was to capture the essence of life in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Many different subjects were covered, including coalmining, farming, fishing, domestic life, World Wars and entertainment. Over 350 recordings have been collected comprising approximately 700 hours of recollections.

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