1920s – Children’s Chores
Peter
remembers:
“My
family lived in a remote, boarded cottage by the corner of a
wood. There was no water or electricity in those days.
Paraffin lamps and candles were the main source of light. A
spring, one hundred and fifty yards away, was the source of our
water, which was fetched in two white enamel pails suspended on
a shoulder yoke. Every afternoon after school that was my duty,
while my younger brothers were sent to the farm for milk or to
chop kindling for the fires.”
LEISURE - Our motorbike and sidecar
Peter
also remembers:
“Some
summer afternoons my father took his family to Maldon, Millbeach
or Goldhanger on his motor cycle and sidecar. We were one of
the few families to have transport, and my father adapted the
machine so that we all travelled in comfort.”
Christmas Eve in Little Baddow - by Phyllis
“We
took our stockings – a pair of uncle’s socks – and crept to fix
them at the end of the bed. As we lay in bed the old house
creaked and the wind sighed round the broad chimney.
Remembering ghoulies and ghosties, we strained our ears for the
comfort of grownup voices below. As we listened, chimes from
the church clock across the fields came to remind us that
Christmas Day was nearly here, and we cuddled together, with
this delightful thought, to dream of the joyous day ahead.”
MUSIC IN THE HOME
Sydney
Marven born 1899 remembers:
“The
only musical instruments in the house in those early days were a
musical box which played delightful ‘ding dong’ tunes from
punched holes in a cylindrical sheet of parchment, and my
father’s concertina. He played this well. On Sunday evenings
he would accompany our hymn singing as we sat around the fire.
At Christmas time he would play to us some of the more
respectable Music Hall tunes of the day.