Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Second and Foremost

Go back a century earlier the 1840's and industrial conurbations like Sheffield had an average life expectancy of 20. The last famine in Lancashire was the Cotton Mill famine from 1860 to 1865...............not that long ago

Does anyone remember soap shakers? Bit like two large tea strainers on a hinge which you would put the last pieces of soap into and swish around in the water to make it soapy. Pears got round that by putting a depression in the side of the soap in which you could stick the remnants of the previoous bar.

We stayed in Blackpool with family in a two up two down terraced house. Outside toilet in the yard.

Treddle sewing machine in the kitchen. Aspidestra on a table in the front window. Tin bath in front of the fire.

Fantastic chip shop on Lytham Road.

My late Father and I (mother buggered off when I was 18months never to be seen again) lived in rented place in Norwich for a couple of years and it was an outside toilet, we would leave one of those miniature 6" oil lamps on of an evening as it was down the back yard with no electricity.

The bath was a galvanised job and water was duly heated up in the gas fired "copper" boiler ordinarily used for clothes washing , it would be enough for one bath and the bathing took place in the kitchen where the gas cooker oven was put on with door open to stop you freezing. Happy days..

This was all pretty normal as was flying with him in a Tiger Moth every Sunday CFI, golden days full of treasured memories, after looping the loop with him at three years old life is never ordinary again.
It provided me with a thirst for life and the confidence to seek it out, which of course he must have known.

There is nothing quite like the real experience of that third dimension to further your horizons and realise that the only limits in life are those that you impose on yourself

In winter I was put in a tin bath in front of the coal fire. Too cold in the normal bathroom as no central heating. Hot water bottle in bed and layers of blankets. Our milkman was named Waldo and he delivered by horse and cart. I had many rides on board.
In school hols my grandfather used to take me to a workshop where he made coffins for his mate who was an undertaker. One of my “jobs” was straightening bent nails to re-use. I’m convinced he bent them deliberately as there were always plenty to straighten.
My gran always had a ginger beer plant going and baked Welshcakes regularly.
We regularly visited Laugharne where my grandfather was born and spent time with family and friends. Fishing was high on the list. Trout from the stream (me) and sea fishing in the estuary up from Dylan Thomas’ boathouse.

Ah! The galvanised tin bath was filled by an Ascot water heater (known as the geyser). No lounging in the bath in those days.

Good for your tubes!

Thank you Bob, I always wondered why it was that shape.

Oh yes, A beef dripping sandwich with lots of salt and a cup of oxo. Fine dining !

Thanks Bob, I knew the Pears soap one but whilst sorting through Heather's late Mum's bits and pieces we discovered one of those and thought it must be a tea strainer of some kind.