Essex Girl
Although I was born and brought up in Scotland, from about age 1 to age 6 I lived in Wales, Sculthorpe (Norfolk) and Great Dunmow. Dunmow is where I have my second-oldest memories. When we visited about 4 years ago, it became clear that the complex was an old insitution of some sort - what we didn't realise is that it was in fact a workhouse . When we lived there it was no des res, let me tell you - it did have the luxury of an indoor toilet, but a bath meant sharing the tin one with my brother. Once a week, I imagine, probably at the weekend. As I wondered around the buildings the memories came flooding back. Overwhelming, really.
Next was a wander around Waldgrooms, where we went up in the world upon leaving the workhouse. Had a great knatter with a neighbour who lived there when I was a wee lass. It was great to have my memories confirmed. I also had one or two little surprises, but I'm keeping those to myself.... :0)
posted by Twelfthknit at 6:03 pm
3 Comments:
It is very strange to go back to places you knew well as a child (did a bit of that myself this summer) but it's good too to bring back memories and see them with adult eyes :0)
Tin baths - I remember them well, I played in it after bathtime pretending it was a boat.
Mind you, not many (modern)people can claim to have lived in a workhouse!
Hope you are keeping well - M
We went to a workhouse too this year, no so much as a trip down memory lane but to learn more about the history of them. My grandfather was born in one - in 1896, and lived his early years there. We couldn't visit that actual one as it no longer exists, but visited another. I found it facinating and very moving. I did not realize until this past summer that many of them were still in use well in to the 1970's.
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