| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mr. A. Longley, born 1898, Miss longley, born 1893 interviewed in Tenterden. Their father was a manager of a drapery buisiness , and their mother was from farming stock, had been a governess. Miss Longley no jobs and he was an engineer in W.W.1.
Track 1: [1:21:22] [Session one: 4th March 1976] Mr Alan Longley born 1898 and Miss Charlotte Longley born 1893. Describes where they lived and mentions a family business. Describes what their father did for a living [3:00]. Describes being able to go on holidays as children and explains that some friends of theirs had a house in Sheerness. Describes their position in the family and ages. Describes what they did on holiday, mentioning their boat [6:27]. Story about watching Aeroplanes along the cliffs of Eastchurch, and about seeing a hot air balloon while at school. Explains it was unusual to have seen an aeroplane [9:03]. Story about a friend who flew in an aeroplane plotting air dromes [10:02]. Explains the type of people who went on holidays in those days. Describes the number of times they went to London [11:50]. Explains what they did on Sundays [12:41]. Describes the types of books they read as children. Comments on reading newspapers [15:38]. Describes what they wore on Sundays [17:11]. Describes the clothing worn at parties and the parties they used to attend as children. Comments on it being a slower lifestyle than today. Mentions having parties at home as well. Story about always being invited to entertain a friend at their family gatherings. Mentions always having people round the house for afternoon tea [21:30]. Mentions the types of entertainment they had and comments on not being allowed to use them on Sundays. Describes going to Catechism on Sundays, and enjoying their parents attention [24:30]. Comments on discipline and how there was more confidence and respect for parents than in modern times. Mentions they always did as they were told. Comments on parents perhaps influencing who they played with subtly. Story about the punishments they received for being naughty [30:33]. Describes what chores they had around the house. Describes their maid Mrs Fox, the chores she did and what she was paid for it. Story about Mrs Fox giving her children a treat [34:08]. Explains what happened to their family during World War One [35:39]. Story about Allan’s career choice during the war and how he ended up at technical school. Describes the career advice they received at school [37:50]. Describes what a private school was like. Comments on etiquette in school [40:02]. Comments on career options for women. Mentions the Suffragettes and the Townswomen’s Guilds who worked during the war. Story about a female doctor at the Royal Free [43:15]. Describes the difference between private and council education and the reason Allan went into technical school. Comments on scholarships for the technical school. Mentions having longer holidays at a private school. Comments on discipline in private schools and punishments used. Comments on physical education provided at school [50:10]. Mentions annual visits to the hop gardens. Explains who went hop picking and where they came from [52:20]. Explains what happened to the hops after picking and how a large procession took them to the local brewery. Comments on the bells on the horses. Describes stockinette caps worn by transporters in Kent. Mentions Kent being unique for its hops [56:40]. Describes getting their food delivered directly to their house, and explains how shopping was split into smaller specialised shops. Mentions not everyone went to the shops for food every day [50:31]. Describes this method being used for coal as well and tells a story of the coal bell. Describes buying in bulk for the winter [1:01:27]. Explains how suits were bought and made to fit in the shops, and how they had their dresses made. Story about a dressmaker in Rainham. Comments on the ready-made trade. Describes making their own underwear. Explains how clothes were bought according to the season and how they were given away instead of thrown away [1:09:27]. Describes their mother’s clothing throughout the day and their father’s for going to work. Describes their clothing worn on Sundays [1:11:23]. Story about tuckers being sewn into their school uniform [1:12:39]. Describes what they used to lighting in the home. Explains what a fishtail burner is. Explains they did not have electricity [1:14:48]. Story about a friend using fishtail burners to heat milk in the night [1:16:20]. Comments on public entertainment available including concerts, the theatre and the pictures. Explains what pictures were like in those days. Mentions the music hall being a bit rough [1:18:52]. Story about the theatres at Chatham and the service men who frequently visited them. Mentions the pictures really developing after the war [1:21:22].
Summary created by Emma Jeffrees, volunteer, June 2025. |