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T15 Mrs Edith Duckworth
Memories from 1923 onwards
Born 20/04/1923
Recorded 26/08/1997
Length 00:18:31
- Birth: April 20, 1923, at Nowsmont Lane.
- Family: Grew up with parents and older sister, Anna.
- Living Conditions: Lived in a one up and down cottage with shared sanitation and basic amenities.
- Education: Attended St Paul's Day School; experienced strict teachers.
- Work: Started working at Shepherds, then Pollets, and later in munitions during WWII.
- War Impact: Experienced air raid warnings and community gatherings; faced rationing and limited resources.
- Health: Hospitalized for scarlet fever at age seven.
The document T15a.docx is a transcript of an oral history interview with Edith Duckworth (née Waller), born 20 April 1923 in Ramsbottom, Lancashire. It records her memories of early life, work, family, and experiences during the Second World War. Below is a detailed summary:
🧒 Early Life and Family
- Edith was born at 39 Nowsmont Lane, Ramsbottom, and lived with her parents and older sister, Anna.
- They lived in a one-up, one-down cottage with poor sanitation — shared outdoor toilets, dirt roads, and “middens” (waste pits).
- Her mother worked taking in washing and cleaning for others; her father did odd jobs and was a caretaker at the Wesleyan Methodist School.
- The family attended church regularly and participated in Sunday school and local processions.
🏠 Home Life and Living Conditions
- Early homes were simple: no carpets, only coconut matting; gas mantles for lighting; tin baths used on Fridays for weekly baths.
- Heating was by coal fires, and her father bought coal from a local coalman.
- Her mother scrubbed floors with donkey stones and cleaned “flags” (stone pavements) with bleach or brick dust from a local “destructor” (refuse incinerator).
- Meals were basic, but Christmas was special — she remembered a selection box and camera, though her father kept the camera.
- Entertainment included walks to Nuttall Park and family concerts on New Year’s Day.
🎒 Schooling
- Attended St. Paul’s Day School. Teachers included Miss Hassell, Miss Shaw, Miss Whittaker (headmistress), Mrs Metcalfe, Mrs Cook (“Ratty Cook”), Miss Power, Miss West, and Mr. Lindley.
- Described strict discipline — being hit with rulers or having sleeves rolled up for smacks.
- She left school at 14 years old, after summer holidays.
💼 Early Work
- First job at Shepherd’s, a towel and cloth factory, folding towels in the warehouse.
- Soon moved to Pollet’s, working in felting — piecing felts used for industrial rollers (e.g., in paper mills). She was skilled and enjoyed it.
- Her working life coincided with the outbreak of World War II (1939), when she was 16.
⚙️ Wartime Experiences
- During the war, she continued working in felting until landmines hit Stubbins, blowing out windows and damaging mills, forcing them to stop work.
- Later worked at Carr Street, possibly for a Manchester firm producing materials for aircraft (using varnish and tapes).
- Pay was about 30 shillings a week, but when reduced to 25 shillings, her father told her to quit.
- Eventually worked at Downshore (or Hampshore) Parrots, where she became more skilled at felting.
- She described commuting by train from Ramsbottom to Hampshore, sometimes walking across golf links to reach work.
🪖 War at Home
- Her house served as a meeting place during air raid warnings.
- She recalled blackouts, gas masks, and phosphorescent badges to make people visible at night.
- Although nearby Stubbins was hit by bombs, Ramsbottom escaped major damage.
- She remembered strong community spirit — people helping each other.
🍞 Rationing and Daily Life
- Food was rationed: limited sugar, butter, margarine, and milk. They mixed margarine with milk to make it go further.
- She recalled ration books, co-op shops where families could buy everything from groceries to furniture, and dividends (“divi”) from purchases.
- Described creative cooking during shortages — using dried onions and powdered milk.
🧶 Later Wartime Work
- Later worked in munitions, making paper reels at Stubbins Paper Mill.
- She described adjusting machines carefully to prevent paper from breaking or “running over.”
- Worked long shifts (6 a.m. to 2 p.m., then 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.) until the war ended.
🏥 Illness and Family Loss
- At age 7, she contracted scarlet fever, was hospitalized at the Florence Nightingale Hospital, and spent five weeks there.
- During this time, her home and family were “stoved” — disinfected to prevent infection spread.
- Later, her mother died young at 50, from a stroke. Edith was deeply affected but continued working at Pollet’s.
❤️ Reflections and Personality
- Edith comes across as resilient, affectionate, and proud of her upbringing despite hardships.
- She valued family, work ethic, faith, and community.
- Music was important — she took piano lessons, enjoyed singing, and performed at local concerts (though she once froze on stage).
🗺️ Summary of Life Journey
- Born 1923 – Ramsbottom, Lancashire.
- Childhood (1920s–30s) – Modest home life, strong Methodist faith, early education.
- Left school at 14 – Worked in local textile industries.
- WWII (1939–45) – Continued working in factories and munitions, lived through bomb scares and rationing.
- Postwar years – Continued industrial work; experienced personal loss and social change.
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