Z1205/043

Female Brickworker b. 11.08.1929 SIDE A (00 mins)Family background in Lower Shelton, Marston Moretaine. Growing up in 1940s during the Second World War. Large family - 11 children. Father, a Brickworker. (05 mins)Grandmother made lace. Uncles. Life for children of large family, sharing. (10 mins)Methodist Chapel in Shelton - hymn singing. Father's allotment. Wild fruit. (15 mins)Wide age range of brothers & sisters - over 20 years. Wartime meals. (20 mins)Elementary schooling only -missed out on new Secondary school at Stewartby (petrol rationed, so no transport). Left school at 14. First job in shop in Bedford. Cycling to work. After 2 years, joined London Brick Company - wartime labour shortage (men in armed forces) Five sisters worked at Stewartby brickworks during war. Hours and working conditions. (25 mins)Heavy work on brick presses - 7 lb brick. Own work clothing. German prisoners of war working at brickworks. (30 mins)"Fraternisation" between young German men and young English women. Some post-war marriages. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Germans made clay sculptures as pastime - gifts to locals. High-spirited games. Lack of awareness of war. (05 mins)Physical demands of work. Pay and pocket money. Attending dances in Bedford and Marston Valley. Influx of men from armed forces, e.g. Royal Air Force at Cranfield (10 mins)Sexual innocence. Walking to the cinemas in Cranfield and Ampthill with girls friends . Cycling everywhere. (15 mins)Post-war redundancies for women - jobs saved for men who fought. Women taken on at newly-reopened Marston Valley brickwork . Better working conditions and happier workforce. (20 mins)Meeting husband to be at Marston Valley Brick Co. Smaller factory at Marston (25 mins)Left brickworks through ill-health. Virtually all family worked at brickworks. (30 mins)Take-over of Marston Valley Co. by London Brick Co. Sadness at closure of Marston Valley brickworks. End of Side B.END OF INTERVIEW Original interview 60 mins

5 September 2001

From: 1925 To: 2001

item

London Brick Company,
Marston Valley Brickworks

brickworker, lace maker, Methodist chapels, allotments, elementary schools, cycling, employment of women, brickworks, prisoners of war, Germans, clay, wages/conditions, dancing, Royal Air Force, health, Marston Moretaine Lower Shelton Road, MARSTON MORETAINE, CRANFIELD, AMPTHILL