| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mr. H. R. Bridge, born 1894, interviewed in Tenterden. Bridge's father owned a building/repair firm. Bridge belonged to a family of 6: 3 boys and 3 girls, and his occupation was carrying on the family business.
Track 1 [0:49:10] [Interview: 26th March 1976] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Mr H R Bridge [HRB] at his home 2 Burgess Road, High Street, Tenterden, Kent by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 26th March 1976. [0:00:31] HRB born 14th August 1894. Comments on father, builder of Tenterden, and his business. [0:03:25] Remarks on doctors, medical care. [0:05:36] Description of business suppliers, glass and putty from Chipstead, Sevenoaks, linseed oil from Bournes of Maidstone, Hall of Ashford. [0:06:52] Mention that HRB took over business in 1933. [0:07:49] Remarks on rich not paying their bills. [0:08:10] Mention of father’s employees working in Woodchurch and Rolvenden, daily bicycle money. [0:10:39] Remarks on badges and uniforms of local regiments in World War I; Cinque Ports battalion, Buffs and Queens Regiments. [0:11:53] Mention of HRB’s family, 3 sisters, 2 brothers, elder brother died South Africa as a result of World War I. [0:12:43] Comments on schooling, sisters privately educated, boys at local schools. Remark that school teachers promoted communism. [0:15:21] Mention of soup kitchen in lane near Webbs [Tenterden]. [0:17:22] Mention of Gaffer Cole caning children at school. [0:21:56] Mention that HRB attended Miss Romsey’s school. Remarks on snobbery within business classes. [0:22:56] Stories about electioneering, bill sticking by Liberals and Conservatives. Mention of Mr Judge, Sunday school teacher, running for the council. [0:26:11] Remarks on dental care, HRB’s mother’s recipe for toothache, lack of oral cleaning. [0:28:10] Mention of boot cleaning and knife sharpening chores for pocket money. [0:30:00] Remarks on help for mother, apprentice from firm for morning chores, live in maid. [0:31:30] Comments on playing, ludo indoors, spinning tops on road. [0:34:55] Comments on cooperation between builders. Mention of Bourne, builder of Woodchurch. [0:37:11] Mention of Elliots, builder, drinking in Woolpack Inn [Tenterden]. [0:37:38] Story about working for Watneys the brewers at Rolvenden, Thomas the gardener helping out but wanting cut. [0:38:37] Description of leisure activities, attending Band of Hope [temperance group] meetings and day trips to Dymchurch by horse bus, Sunday School treats locally in Tenterden fields, day trips to Hastings via Tenterden station at Rolvenden. [0:43:20] Mention that HRB’s mother from Brentford. [0:44:15] Description of content of schooling; reading writing, sums. [0:46:30] Comments on poor, polite but spending too much on beer, causing suffering to wives and children. |