| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mrs. H. Roberts, born 1895, interviewed in Wouldham. Her father was a labourer at cement works, mother was an ex-domestic assistant. Job was local and then London service.
[00:00] Introduction - An interview with Mrs P Roberts at her home in 7 Medway Place, Wouldham, Kent conducted by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent on 15th January 1975. [00:25] Discussion of PR’s father’s job at the cement factory, hours, clothing, conditions and pay and also his vegetable patch. [03:50] Discussion about street gatherings, local doctors from Snodland, Dr Freeland and Dr Bourne, further discussion about work in the cement factory. [07:00] White collar jobs in the village, scullery in the home, ownership of homes in the village, lodging house in the old vicarage in the 1920s and time off for PR’s father. [11:30] PR’s mother going to church on Sunday whilst PR’s father remained at home, PR’s father’s early life, education, marriage and his family. How PR’s mother met her father and her family. [15:30] PR explains travel, visiting her aunt at Ritton and her older sister buying PR clothes from Rochester for Sundays. [19:12] PR explains the first car she saw was owned by Mr Storey the headmaster that lived at Station Road, Aylesford. PR enjoyed being in the choir at the church run by Mr Shepherd, Sunday school. [22:20] Description of Henry Peters’(HP) journey to and from the church using a private road. HP and the Kingsalter family had special pews in the church. Further discussion about the Kingsalter family. [26:25] Description of HP’s valet and discussion of donations given by HP to villagers at Christmas. PR explains how knitting became popular during WWI, what was taught at school and PR being paid to set up knitting and sewing sessions. [30:28] PR skipped certain years, PR overtook her brother at school but wasn’t allowed to stay on at school. PR explains how bombing during WWII stopped her daughter from taking the exam in Rochester. Discussion of local families, Foley and Kemsley. How students got to school and no school dinners. [35:05] PR describes her father's bad accident at the cement works in 1919. Afterwards PR’s father spent three years and three months bed ridden until he died. [38:10] PR explains what happened when someone died and Mr Fairman the undertaker from Herne. PR describes the surroundings, oil lamps and gravel paths. PR describes the local midwife Mrs Gage and what PR learnt at home from her mother. [42:35] PR explains how her husband helped to transport her father to hospital on a wagon. [45:19] PR’s parents used herbal medicine, quinine. PR describes how typhoid fever affected her and the village. [48:12] PR describes days out from the village in Mr Norris’ waggonettes with the chapel Band of Hope and who went. PR explains that Mr Taylor held Sunday school treats for children in the summer. [51:30] PR explained Mrs Scannells was her Sunday school teacher and described Mrs Scannells’ family. PR describes her house in the Knoll, how much rent was and when water was installed indoors. [55:55] PR shares her opinion of the best houses in the village. Discussion of the Chapman family. PR describes the furniture in her house as a girl, pictures of her brothers and Queen Victoria. [59:45] Discussion of the purpose of the front room and visits from the local vicar. PR describes the types of chairs used in the kitchen. [01:04:00] PR describes the time when her mother’s old employer, Mrs Walton, visited. PR describes the type of flooring in the house, getting coal deliveries from Mr Benger and its price. PR explains how factories used the river to transfer cement. [01:08:30] Discussion of catching smelts and mussels in the river. PR describes how fresh food was bought from carts that visited and butchers. PR describes the local shops including Mr Skilton at Bookers bakery and Mr Cook from Aylesford. [01:11:40] Description of the different shops in Wouldham. Discussion of the blacksmith Mr Bridges and trains going into the cement factory. [01:16:30] PR explains the different jobs in the village including school teachers. [01:21:00] PR describes those people she considered gentry. PR considered HP as a gentleman not a businessman. Discussion of community cohesion and using trams from Borstal to Strood.
Summary created by Thomas Miles, volunteer, in October 2026. |