| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Dr. Ina Beasley, born approx 1899, interviewed in Margate. Dr. Beasley's father was employed.
Track 1 [0:47:19] [Interview: 15th July 1975] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Dr Ina Beasley [IB] at her home 17 Westonville Avenue, Westbrook, Margate by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 15th July 1975 about her visits to Margate in the 1900s. IB born 1899. [0:00:37] Description of travel from IB’s home in Highbury Quadrant [London] to Margate; by train from London Bridge or by boat, Royal Sovereign, Tower Bridge to Margate Pier; visiting regularly 1900-1914 for ‘pure air’; family travelling third class or excursion. Remark that IB’s family also visited Swanage, Eastbourne and Scotland. Comments on system of sending on luggage by placing card in window to attract carrier. [0:06:17] Remarks on father’s work as sales rep for silk spinning firm in City of London, family visiting Lord Mayor’s Show. [0:07:10] Comments that holidays always second week July for a fortnight to suit father’s work, mother visiting earlier in year to arrange lodgings. [0:07:51] Comments on taking cheaper lodgings in Garlinge as further from the sea, later staying in Canterbury Road and Runcorn Road [Margate]. Mention of Old Hussar Pub [Canterbury Road, Margate]. [0:09:55] Comments on food and catering, mother buying food to be cooked by landladies, shrimps for tea, fried dabs for breakfast. Mention of mother’s dislike of chilled food. [0:12:37] Description of social divisions, Westbrook genteel for families, Margate Harbour vulgar, Cliftonville mixed but popular with Jewish people, Queen’s Highcliff Hotel popular with theatrical people. Mention of Gladys Cooper’s house at Westgate. [0:14:20] Description of amusements, activities with other London families, cricket, bathing parties, walking to Broadstairs and Westgate, picnics in Epple Bay Birchington, tram rides. Mention of Dog and Duck [Canterbury Road Margate] as ‘village’ pub. [0:17:28] Comments on whelk stalls in Margate Harbour attracting hard drinking visitors. Mention of Dr Richards’ wife and children of Canterbury Road being only locals on beach. [0:18:54] Description of entertainments; boat trips from Margate jetty; pavilion (destroyed 1940s) having band in morning, orchestra in afternoons and concert parties in evening; Punch and Judy and donkey rides on beach; playing cards at lodgings. Mention of Oliver, pavilion pianist and composer of songs sung nationwide. Remark that family never ate out at restaurants. [0:24:26] Description of lodgings, hired private house rather than boarding house, landladies artisan’s or labourer’s wives. [0:28:05] Description of bathing parties; ‘chittering bite’ food to warm up after swimming; hiring of bathing huts and tents as undressing on beach forbidden; some wheeled bathing machines still available; tans acceptable. [0:33:18] Comments on clothes and hair, dressing up for afternoons and evenings, problems with hair in wind and sea, hair cared for at home, not at hairdressers. [0:36:42] Comments that holidays customary in IB’s family, grandfather’s fondness for Brighton. [0:37:36] Mention that IB’s family Dissenters, worshipping at Methodist, Baptist or Congregational churches. [0:40:52] Description of souvenirs, Goss china vases and cups, shell boxes from Broadstairs. |