Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
Description | Mrs. W. Beech, born 1894, maiden name Rose, interviewed in Canterbury. Mrs. Beech's father was a farm labourer and later worker at Port's Sawmill. Beech belonged to a family of 9: 5 boys, and 4 girls. Her occupation was a daily maid. Track 1 [1:13:57] [Interview: 11th December 1974] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Mrs Winifred Beech [WB] at her home 35A North Lane Canterbury by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 11th December 1974. WB born 22nd June 1894 in Patrixbourne near Canterbury. [0:00:30] Description of father’s life; born Bishopsbourne, moving to Bridge then Harbledown c 1897 then Rough Common; work as farm labourer for Marquis of Cunningham at Bourne Park, Sidney Cooper’s farm (later Colthups), then Jimmy Mount’s Second Harbledown farm at Rough Common, then at Broadbridge and Port’s timber yard. Mention of Mr Addleport, timber merchant. [0:03:51] Comments on WB’s brothers working for Broadbridge and Port’s timber yard, Goodman cutler in Burgate, baker in Littlebourne, St Dunstan’s Hand Laundry. [0:04:11] Detailed description of WB’s working life; at St Dunstan’s Hand Laundry; for Miss Ramsey of Mandeville Road Canterbury, teacher at the Methodist School; for Mrs William Eggleston of Canterbury Road Ashford; for clergyman at Lee House St Dunstan’s; for Mr Hooker of Westlea Mounts Whitstable Road Canterbury; at Dulwich College and in Penge High Street; returning to Canterbury Christmas 1916 and working for Canon Horsely; at Harvey Grammar School Cheriton Road Folkestone 1917. Mention of WB’s marriage at Crystal Palace; birth of daughter 11/11/1916; husband billeted in St Peter’s Grove Canterbury 1916, invalided home 1917. [0:07:26] Comments on family, aunt caretaker at Harvey Grammar School, aunt’s husband Edmond in Royal Navy, eldest sister in Penge, second sister in Ashford. [0:07:48] Mention of Mr Nichols baker of Canterbury, Dr Bay Medical Officer of Health of Whitstable Road Canterbury. [0:10:38] Mention of sisters working at Queen’s Head pub Ramsgate. Mention of sister working for vicar in Penge and WB’s wedding at Christ Church Croydon Road. Mention of WB’s maiden name, Rose. [0:13:54] Description of life in service, wages, conditions, WB’s preference to work as general maid in single servant household. Mention of washerwoman in Black Griffin Lane [Canterbury]. Mention of Mrs Miles in Black Griffin pub and WB’s sister at Oddfellows in St Peter’s Place Canterbury. Mention of WB working for Rev Maundrell, Rev Pascoe, Mr Hooker of Canterbury mill owner, Mr Hobbs of Smeeth, auctioneer. [0:25:00] Remarks on dislike of borrowing and charity. [0:27:31] Comments on family finances, not contributing to friendly societies, WB’s brothers in Buffs giving mother an allowance during World War I. Mention of father’s death 1936 and mother’s death 1940 [0:29:47] Mention of St Dunstan’s establishments, Unicorn pub, butcher in Roper Road, Clarks the butcher, Woottons. [0:32:07] Comments on entertainment, singing with school at Marlowe and St Margaret’s Hall, not visiting cinema. Mention of eating at Kay’s café, circus in New Dover Road. [0:33:49] Mention of deliveries by baker and International grocers to Rough Common. [0:35:00] Mention of Canterbury cricket week dances at County Hotel. [0:36:28] Comments on family, paternal uncle running Black Robin pub at Kinston [near Barham], WB’s father originally from Yarmouth. Mention of visiting uncle in Kingston by train from Canterbury South [Elham Valley line]. [0:40:15] Mention of visits to Whitstable, WB’s sister a maid to Mrs Oxbrow of Station Road, Sunday School outings. [0:41:06] Comments on houses with servants being on outskirts of Canterbury, New and Old Dover Roads, London Road, Whitstable Road. [0:44:17] Comments that working in hop gardens and wurzel pulling expected of farm labourer’s wife. Remark on WB’s father’s dislike of tied cottages. [0:45:17] Comments on life in Rough Common, William Lefevre owning the family’s rented cottage, WB’s father drinking at Dog and Bear. [0:46:35] Comments on brother working for Wilkinson’s the shoe repairers with shops in Kirby’s Lane and Dover Street [Canterbury], Herne Bay and Week Street Maidstone. [0:48:20] Mention of concerts in tin church in Rough Common. Comments on gentry in Harbledown, Metcalfes, Peckhams of Hall Place, Miss Parker, Vicar Herbie Barton. Remark that Colthups seen as working people not gentry. Mention of the Maples owning general store. [0:57:09] Comments on Upper Harbledown, hop picking at Mounts and Colthups. Mention of Mr Pagg, Mount brothers Percy, George nursery owner, Jimmy of Harbledown, Charlie the builder. Mention of Stock Wood, Hubbles hop farm on Wingate Hill. [1:00:03] Comments on parish tickets for coal and doctor. Mention of old Kent and Canterbury hospital in Longport and St Martins mental hospital. [1:04:59] Mention of WB’s brothers playing cricket in King Star meadows, team members including Don Andrews, Bedwell a hospital worker, Holness. [1:08:39] Mention of Canterbury neighbours, Mr Sedgewick worker at Cripps Nurseries Whitstable Road, Mr Deal policeman, Mr Belmont West Kent regiment, Mr Mole worker at Hadfields bakers St Dunstan’s, Mrs Bailey, Mrs Dunce. |