Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    Z1205/028
  • Title
    Male brickworker with London Brick Company b. 09.03.1909 SIDE A (00 mins)Family background in Wootton. Two younger sisters. Father a bricklayer's labourer then labourer at brickworks. Both grandfathers were roadmen, in Marstone and Wootton. (05 mins)Childhood bicycle. Village school - cruel schoolmaster. Musical Eistedfodd at Corn Exchange, Bedford. (10 mins)Church-going - 3 times on Sundays (Baptist and Church of England)Father hiring pony and trap to drive to Harold. Playing football for Wootton Blue Cross. Injured when playing football for RAF hospital. (15 mins)Horse-driven fire engine dashing through Wootton on way to put out fire at The Swan, Cranfield. Starting work at London Brick Co. / Forders. (20 mins)Brickworks pay / hours / food. Walking to work until a bicycle was bought. 4 years on brickmaking machine. Night shifts from 18 years. (25 mins)Loading kilns End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Firing bricks at Millbrook. Conveyor belt and lift trick revolution. (05 mins)Record brick production : 18,200,000 per week. Brick workers were classed as a Reserved Occupation whilst air raid shelters were in demand. Later, brickworkers were called up, according to age. (10 mins)Invalided out of RAF during war, with knee injury. Given lighter job at Stewartby, foreman. Arrival of Italian workers in 1950s. (15 mins)German prisoners of war. Polish and Yugoslav workers at brickworks. Later, Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis. (20 mins)Firm outing to Brighton. Meeting fiance in late 1930s, aged 18. didn't marry until 27 years old. Need to support mother and sisters before marriage. Fiancee in domestic service. (25 mins)Special-size rustic bricks for architect-designed old-people's houses at Stewartby End of Side B.END OF INTERVIEW Original interview 60 mins
  • Date free text
    23 July 2001
  • Production date
    From: 1900 To: 2001
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    item
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