| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mr. A. Austen, born 1889, interviewed in Ashford. Mr. Austen's father was a small farmer and his mother helped on the land, family of 14 (8 boys and 6 girls). Austin left school at 11 and helped on the land.
Track 1 [1:26:08] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Mr Albert Austen [Mr A] of Hall Cottage, Ball Lane, Kennington, Ashford by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 19th July and 2nd August 1976. Mr A born in 1887 at Burnt House Cottage, Colonel’s Lane, Boughton under Blean [near Canterbury]. [0:01:10] Mentions of Mr A’s father as hop tallyman for Berry at Gushmore; Sidney Neame at Harefield, Selling; manager of Berry’s cherry orchards at Brenley. [0:03:49] Description of Mr A’s father’s fruit farm; run by Mr A and his mother in summer, casual female labour. [0:07:00] Mention of Boughton women pea picking at Jolly Sailor [Seasalter]. [0:08:32] Description of digging hop garden for Neame at Fairbrook. [0:09:07] Mention of casual labour on farms, use of brickies from Faversham. [0:12:14] Story about bike; boneshaker, cycling to Bromley/Erith and staying there Saturday/Sunday nights. [0:14:42] Mention of Mr A’s move to Garlinge, near Margate. [0:15:40] Mention of Mr A’s move to Kennington 1914. [0:16:00] Description of Kennington farm in World War I, fruit and veg supply to army camps in Ashford and Sandling. [0:17:41] Description of Sir Walter Berry’s use of sheep in orchards. [0:19:08] Description of Mr A’s father’s pig keeping. [0:22:25] Detailed description of pig killing and storing. [0:24:55] Mention of Mr A keeping pigeons. [0:26:10] Detailed description of pig feed and medicine. [0:27:36] Mention of human use of Andrews salts in summer, brimstone sweets in winter. [0:28:34] Mention of local doctors, Dr Scatchard in Boughton, Mr Hudson in Kennington. [0:29:27] Comments on pub clubs for sickness insurance; Foresters at Margate, Vic at Wye, Woodmans at Kennington. [0:32:35] Anecdote and comments on tithes; disliked, problems for chapel goers. [0:35:52] Mention of Mr Springett at Dunkirk Church. [0:36:42] Comments on church going, Sunday school, working on Sundays. [0:38:38] Remarks on cherry picking, ‘brutting’. [0:39:33] Detailed description of Salvation Army entertainment; popularity of female officers, outings, craft lessons. [0:46:33] Description of other entertainment; marbles, ‘Nooker’ at home, dominoes, cards, shove ha’penny in pub. [0:50:01] Remarks on discipline; police, school, home. [0:55:15] Comments on wages 1914-1918. [0:56:12] Comments on unions. [0:59:31] Description of Mr A’s market gardening work in Margate; problems of seasonal work, winter hardship. [1:04:28] Detailed description of parish relief for elderly, poverty, workhouse. Mention of relieving officer in Barton Street. [1:12:15] Comments on emigration, mention of Landells going to Australia and Attwells to Toronto. [1:14:10] Comments on poor relief from church, mention of soup from big houses. [1:16:10] Description of conditions and wages for cherry picking, soft fruit picking and hopping. [1:18:27] Description of Mr A’s father’s work; hired farm run by wife, Mr A away all week working elsewhere, selling produce in Ramsgate. [1:20:00] Remarks on selling strawberries to North West and London, sent by train from Selling station. [1:22:01] Mention of Newman, the coal man. [1:23:05] Story about selling strawberries in London. [1:24:11] Mention of Finch’s, jam makers of Canterbury. |