Z1205/019

Female, lived in Lidlington for 70 years b. 15.12.1924 The informant was seventy-seven years of age at the time of the interview and had lived in Lidlington since she was seven, marrying a local man and bringing up children in the village. Three generations of her male relatives had worked in the brickyards, and witnessed their development and decline. However, many of her family members were not born in the Vale and she describes the various circumstances which brought them there. She also recounts details of domestic and rural life from the end of the nineteenth century onwards, including her grandfather's work as a rat-catcher and labourer, her grandmother's lace making, agricultural work and schooling. She also describes the coming of electricity to Lidlington. The informant has clear memories of the Second World War in the village and recounts her own and her father's service. She describes the social life in the Vale at the time and the effect of evacuees and soldiers on her home life.The informant has been closely involved in village and church life since the war, and describes changes and developments in both, reflecting on the evolving nature of the community. Side A 00-5mins)Family origins and history. Move from Bedford to Lidlington. Grandfather's life and work in Militia and as a rat-catcher.10mins.)More about rat-catching. Maternal family and the location of their houses. Grandmother's work making pillow lace. Early brickyards close to Lidlington and grandfather's work there.15mins) Bedford Theatre and paternal grandfather's work as a musician there. Grandfather's childhood and musical education in Army. Family's move to Lidlington. Advent of electricity in the village. 20mins)Father's pre-war work. More about electricity. The Folly and the village windmill. Shops in the village. 25mins)Pre-war schooling. Parents' meeting in Bedford. Miss Walmsley. Mother's career and age difference with father. Father's World War Two career. 30mins)The bomb at Cranfield. Soldiers and evacuees in the village. Training as fitter in Letchworth. Social life and wartime romance. The bomb at Boughton. 30mins)End of side Dances in Marston. The food depot at Lidlington. Side B 05mins)Brickyards and kilns in the Vale at the end of the war. Father's war work in brickyard. Different clays in different areas.10mins)Attitudes to the end of the war. Post war work as a hairdresser and in a material shop in Ampthill. Munition stores on Ampthill road. Earnings. 15mins)Earnings in brick fields. Arrival of husband's family from Oldham. Husband's life. Father-in-law's accident and company's care of widow. Husband's career. 20mins)Recent changes in Church structure in village. 25mins)Village events, community spirit. Earlier incomers to village from Peterborough. Attitudes to closing of London Brick and the village Post Office. 30mins)Village life is as good now as then. More contemporary village events. Comparison of Marston Vale with other places. Support of friends and neighbours. 30mins -End of side. Good Neighbour Scheme. Original Interview 60 mins.

11 June 2001

From: 1920 To: 2001

item

brick worker, domestic subjects, labourer, ratcatcher, lacemaker, agricultural labourer, schools, World War Two, evacuees, windmills, shops, clay, hairdresser, wages/conditions, post offices, worship, LIDLINGTON, CRANFIELD, Letchworth, MARSTON MORETAINE, Peterborough, LIDLINGTON