Sound Recordings, Bedfordshire

Description

Alf Odell, recorded in Gravenhurst in November 1959; describes the process of thatching a haystack/rick; his working clothes and the tools used [ Bert Kefford and Doris Kefford join in]; Mr. Kefford asks Alf Odell about the technique for rick thatching, his first job and who he worked for; talk of Alf Odell's schooling; the names for the implements used in rick thatching, and for the parts of the rick; wages; working with two other men (known as ?yarmers); talk of a local house and tunnels running to Ampthill Tower. [Tr. 1]


Beccy Hare and Bertha Cherry [? Bertha Hare], recorded in Shillington on the 31 December 1959; talk about local Gypsy Traveller communities; steaming straws in a box of brimstone to colour white, used to make plaits; BH talks about breadmaking at home, baking at a local baker's; yeast dough dumplings, lard cake (fatty cake), onion wigs (suet dumplings with onion); BC recites a plaiting rhyme; banding plaits (easier, for those learning); thoughts on past times, childhoods; talk of Shillington village (changes, road names); collector refers to the local legend of the Devil putting the church on a hill; the growth of the village (and others); children's games - jinx stones (five stones); New Year's Eve and ringing in the new year (church bells); discuss chapel (goers) in the village; discuss husbands and BH's son. [Tr. 2]


Ernest Day, recorded in Shillington; talks about the excavation, washing, sifting, processing of, and uses for, coprolite; describes its appearance; wages for the men who dug it (piece work); housing for the foreman involved in such work; [daughter, Vera Simons, joins]; talk of local footpaths, rights of way, Mr. Day's jobs, wages, setting potatoes by hand. [Tr. 3]


Win Norman, recorded in Potton in November 1960; talks about a flower show in Sandringham; cockle picking at ?Heacham in Norfolk (describes the route by car); general conversation (shopping in Bedford, local elderly people, Win Norman's neighbour). [Tr. 4]


Ralph Norman (Win Norman's son) and his wife, Jean Norman, recorded in Potton; general conversation; discussion of some of the collector's other informants [very low recording level - barely audible in places]. [Tr. 5]


Harry Larkins of Potton talks about hurdle making - names the parts, tools and wood (ash) used [his son, also Harry Larkins, and daughter, Mrs. Percy Clark, contribute]; Mr. Larkins describes a stuffed hurdle (one with straw in between); the construction technique [draws a diagram] for lamb hurdles; taught by his brothers; choosing the wood; buying/selling the wood; hurdle construction (dimensions); shepherd's (wheeled) hut; describes making cribs and ladders (latter for use in thatching haystacks); describes how to make a thrail (for threshing corn). [Tr. 6]


Tape 5. [5 of 8].

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Reproduction

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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. All recordings made on the right-hand track. Low recording levels. Adjusted on AC copy.

Related material

The collector's lists of informants and interview locations, and correspondence between Bedfordshire County Record Office and the University of Leeds relating to the sound recordings and their deposit, are held in file LAVC/SRE/ARI/058.

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...

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