| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mrs. L. Head, born 1889, interviewed in Faversham. Her father was a painter / decorator and eighth of ten children eight girls and two boys. Her job was a telephonist and married in 1917.
Summary: Track 1: [48:58:00] [Session one: 28th January 1976] Linda Head, born Whitstable, 1889. Description of first job at the telephone exchange. Comments on the pay. Comments on age at first job, mentions desire to be a teacher. Brief description of the different jobs taken and reasons for marriage. [04:15] Comments on time off allowed per week while working in service and at Christmas time. [05:08] Describes Preston House and what accommodation was like working there in service. Comments on food allowance at Preston House and Miss Holmes’ and the pay in service. [07:10] Story about working in service for one day at Chart Court and the lady who wouldn’t let them leave. Comments on cats at Chart Court and on what the Lady and Gentleman of Chart Court did for a living. [13:22] Describes a friend worked with for eight and a half years. Story about going to get photos taken in Chatham and rushing home before the master of the house came back. Comments of cooking a meal for two secret boyfriends. Story about throwing brushes at the lady of Preston House after being told how to scrub floors. [18:40] Story about the Gardener at Preston House stealing the violets. Story about the Gardener blowing up the outside scullery. [21:27] Comments on ‘at homes’ where guests were entertained at Preston House. Describes the lady of Preston house and having lots of work with only two maids. Explains they had to provide their own uniforms in service. [24:26] Story about accidentally serving Miss Holmes potatoes with soap in them. Comments on not having enough food at Miss Holmes’. Describes Miss Holmes’ distrust of servants stealing. Describes Miss Holmes giving her son a penny. [29:05] Comments on why she had to work in service. Describes her family. Describes what her father did for a living and how the family managed their money. Comments on their house and rent. Explains what her two younger siblings did for a living. [35:23] Explains how she felt about working in service. Story about buying an expensive hat in Faversham. Describes going shopping in Chatham. Comments on attitudes toward holidays. [39:48] Story about the gentleman reading prayers while his wife hid a novel in her Bible. [42:38] Comments on Mr Wood always being out, their food and uniform. Comments on what constitutes a ‘Lady’ and describes not liking the ladies visiting Mrs Wood. Explains no one called unless they had been invited. [45:49] Her employers were methodists but the Lady never went to church. Explains the employers never bathed. Describes always going to church on Sunday. Described sometimes going up to London. [48:58:00]
Summary created by Emma Jeffree, volunteer, in 2025. |