Sound Recordings, London, Huntingdonshire and Buckinghamshire

Description

Mr. H. J. Kent, recorded in Hackney (London); talks about bus fares in London, compared with fifty years ago; journey times compared with horse trams; thoughts on the present bus service; horse drawn buses/trams; explains the phrase busman's holiday; hackney cabs; Hackney during World War One; warning bells for Zeppelin attacks; describes a Zeppelin airship coming down; World War Two and bombing; boys' hours and wages on starting work; wages/hours for skilled labourers; education and the labour exam (could leave school at thirteen, if passed this exam); schools and discipline; describes a house and talks of the servants' bells; residents of the neighbourhood; cost of living (cigarettes, tobacco, beer). [Tr. 1]


Isaac Dickens, recorded in Kimbolton (Huntingdonshire); talks about building a haystack and thatching with straw; work and wages as a farm boy, aged twelve; leading horses; ploughing with horses; ploughs; horse harnesses; hedge laying; crops grown; twelve years as a cowman; fireplaces and bush faggots as fuel; Kimbolton Fair (Stattis); describes a farm cart/waggon; mowing with a scythe; haymaking; schooling in Pertenhall; old and new farming methods; working on an estate farm. [Tr. 2]


Harry Appleby, recorded in Coleshill (Buckinghamshire); talks about building hay/corn stacks; working on the farm from the age of eleven; pheasant rearing/feeding; ploughing with horses; ploughs; sowing corn; drag harrows; hedging and ditching; cutting corn; women tying and shocking; self binder; plough harness; corn for milling (carting to Uxbridge and beyond); local windmill; changes in the village - new population, modernisation of cottages; standard of living; describes fireplace; curing bacon; Coleshill Fair (Whit Tuesday); Amersham Cattle Fair (Whit Monday); school and education; fourth standard exam and leaving school aged eleven; first farm job, working with pheasants; sheep-shearing, dipping and marking; sheep dogs; Gypsy Traveller communities; poaching; hedge laying; haymaking; farm buildings. [Tr. 3]

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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. Oxide layer missing at the start of the Hackney recording.

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