Sound Recordings, Suffolk

Description

[Collector announcement]; Maggie Chilvers, recorded in Helmingham on the 26 July 1971; describes a typical working week for her mother, including brushing Sunday clothes; washing (Tuesdays); ironing (Wednesdays) - describes a charcoal iron/box iron; baking (Thursdays); cleaning (Fridays/Saturdays); three visits to church on Sundays; home grown wheat used for bread; cooking meat and buns together in a brick oven; describes wash day - water supply (ponds), soap, drying, ironing; Sunday routine - church, cold dinner, Sunday School, tea, church; Sunday School classes - prizes at Christmas, hymn singing, with harmonium accompaniment; daily routine of weekday school - lessons, no sports, boys' allotments; Helmingham Flower Show, pre-World War One; Easter holidays; Harvest holidays; local gentry family - servants, residences, philanthropy; local Roman camp; burial site of King ?Helmer in the village; local Gypsy Traveller grave; local placenames; collecting milk; origin of the village's name;
corporal punishment and discipline at school; Christmas Day - church, food, presents, tea, hymns (including Sankey), with accordion accompaniment; Christmas tree (decorations); Christmas Eve - collecting holly and mistletoe; taking a carrier's cart to Ipswich for shopping, market day; story of how informant got her name. [Tr. 2]


[Collector announcement]; William Manning [and Mrs. Manning and Mrs. Sherman], recorded in Helmingham on the 27 July 1971; talks about leaving school; working on a farm as a boy; joining the Army in 1914, serving in France until 1916; prisoner of war in Germany - doing farm work (compares with England); food in Germany; return to England in 1918; agricultural work - ploughing with horses, hedge cutting, drilling, harvesting, wages; preparing horses, including feeding (baiting); Suffolk horses; horse brasses; the role of the Head Horseman in foaling; farm work with horses; hazel; harvest; self-binders; shocking the corn, carting to the farm; threshing; waggons to Ipswich; women's involvement in the harvest; gleaning; threshing in winter, using a portable machine; ploughing in Autumn; holidays; Largesse Supper after the harvest in the local hall, for agricultural labourers; Fourses (rum and tea at four o'clock for workers); Elevenses (or Bait - bread, cheese and tea); evening supper; beer
making; Mrs. Sherman describes working in the local school canteen - food served, the cost to the children; the size of the school. [Tr. 3]


1 of 7.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

Notes on terminology and spellings

 

Please note that there may be differences in the terms used to describe the particular communities represented in this collection, many of which have changed over time and may continue to change.

 

At the time this catalogue was created there are many definitions that identify different cultural and ethnic groups with their varied histories, traditions and associations with a travelling life.

 

These can include but are not limited to  those that have been recognised in UK law as ethnic groups; English and Welsh (Romany) Gypsies, Irish and Scottish Travellers; and non-ethnic groups that consider themselves distinct even if these have not been recognised in UK law, e.g. New Travellers, Showmen and Bargees. Outside of the UK 'Gypsy' may also be considered offensive  and ‘Roma’ is often used instead as the universally preferred term although this term also represents a wide range of distinct groups, (e.g. Sinti, Manouche).

 

It is our intention to respectfully and (where possible) accurately refer to these different communities in the catalogue. For this reason we ask you to note the following with regards to the descriptions in this catalogue that have been based on these current definitions:

 

1)  As many of these definitions have only come into being since the collection was created/1st catalogued, please be aware that original descriptions may not accurately reflect the group to which it refers, (e.g. the word 'Gypsy,' may have been used to describe those now recognised as Irish Travellers/Roma).  Therefore it is worth searching under various terms, e.g. 'Romany' and 'Traveller,' to broaden the scope of search results as well as using the alternative historical spellings, 'Gipsy,' 'Gipsie,' or ‘Romani.’

2) Where no original description exists and it is not possible to properly identify a distinct group they will be described as "Gypsy Traveller" (within UK setting), "Roma" for those living/recently originating outside the UK or "Gypsy, Traveller, Roma " for origin/locations unknown. References to any non - ethnic groups will similarly be capitalised to respectfully acknowledge all groups.

Users are advised that content in this section may include accounts of discrimination and the expression of opinions and/or terminology that would now be considered unacceptable.

View the Cultural Collections sensitivity policy

This material is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can be supplied by the Library for research or private study. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.

Physical and technical conditions

9.5cm/sec.

Related subjects / tags

WARNING: many of our records have not been classified by subject. So if you search our catalogue by subject using the links below then you are unlikely to find all relevant records. But you will find some...

Related people and organisations