| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mrs. Ethel Barrow, born 1893, interviewed in Tenterden. Mrs. Barrow's father was a farm labourer, and her mother did laundry. Barrow was the youngest of 9 (7 girls and 2 boys). Her maiden name was Bishop, and she was a kitchen maid.
Track 1 [1:03:09] [Interview: 20th February 1976] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Mrs Ethel Barrow [EB] at her home 36 Hales Close Tenterden by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 20th February 1976. EB born 1893. [0:00:29] Detailed description and listing of [Tenterden] shops in EB’s childhood. Mention of Rye Laundry, Mr Puggles (baker), Mr Hukins (jeweller), Woolpack Inn, Mrs Cassingham, Mr Hyland (greengrocer), Mrs Waterman, Mr Winser, Mr Stanger, Mr Goldsmith (baker), Mr Crittenden (baker), Mr Horton (coal merchant), Mr Palmer, and Mrs Peel. Anecdote about seeing soldiers eating dinner in Town Hall during Boer War. [0:05:36] Description of hop picking in Small Hythe Road, mother and children all picking, bills held back for hop picking money. [0:09:02] Comments on EB’s mother, Mrs Bishop, working as washerwoman for Mr Bates at Down to Belgar House and Chacksfields the drapers. [0:10:21] Comments on family life, nine people, EB youngest, insufficiency of father’s wage. Comments on children collecting and selling acorns for pigs, picking mushrooms, blackberries for EB’s father to send to Covent Garden. Mention that EB born in Mayor’s Place, later living at the armoury in Ashford Road and Woodbury Cottage, all in Tenterden. [0:14:40] Comments on EB’s father, farm labourer, keeping pigs, suffering from TB. [0:16:11] Mention of EB’s first husband dying in World War I. [0:16:43] Description of animal husbandry and gardening, keeping pigs, chickens and rabbits, self-sufficiency in vegetables. Mention of slaughterhouse in Sandy Lane. Mention of house in Appledore Road for delinquent boys. [0:21:24] Description of family accommodation and children’s chores. [0:22:10] Detailed description of EB’s work as kitchen maid in boarding houses in Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells after leaving school at 14; duties, wages, time off. Mention of EB’s parents being taken to dinner at White Lion pub, Tenterden. Mention of Miss Martha Sticks, boarding houses owner. Anecdotes about owner’s drinking, gating maids for missing church, eating mayonnaise salmon. Mention of visits from Mr Babington, vicar of Tenterden. Anecdotes about fellow staff, Mary the housemaid and Florrie the parloumaid. Detailed description of EB’s working day. Mention that soda used for washing up. [0:40:49] Remarks on sisters, working in fields, eldest sisters Emily, Rose. [0:47:57] Description of accommodation in childhood homes, rents, lighting by paraffin bought from Mr Cliff. [0:50:27] Mention of Rose Rich/Miss Fuggle smoking a clay pipe. [0:51:35] Mention of excessive drinking, pubs open all day. [0:51:45] Anecdotes about EB’s parents, strict, religious, mother the disciplinarian, mother from near Rose and Crown in Biddenden. [0:56:20] Comments on days out, annual family visit to Hastings by horse bus, trips every Sunday on foot to see maternal grandmother in Biddenden, never going on holiday. [0:59:25] Description of Sunday School treats in Peels Park [Tenterden], games, oranges, sweets, day trips to Dymchurch by horse bus, day trip to Romney Station by train. Mention of mail depot in Bells Lane, Tenterden. |