Village Life

Village life

Sixty years ago everybody in the village had a large well kept garden, this was an absolute necessity, as wages were low and it had to keep the family in vegetables all the year round, and also grow sufficient potatoes to feed a pig. 

Every cottager fed a pig as that was relied on for the next year's bacon. As children we had to pick wild ash from the hedgerows and nettles to feed the pigs. The pigs were bought from the farmers in the spring when they were about eight weeks old and fed on through the summer by the cottagers. About the end of November the pig killing season started, the pigs were killed at night, hung up and allowed to set until the next night.  When it was cut up, pieces of the inside pork and offal were taken round to the neighbours as a treat, who returned the compliment when they killed their pig. 

The remaining portions flitches, hams, chauls , high pieces, feet, ears, and tail were all salted down for about  a month and then taken out, hung up and allowed to dry, that was the next years bacon supply. 

Hours of work were very long in those days compared with today, six till six, six days a week, the only holidays were Good Friday and Xmas Day, no annual holiday as we know today. Sunday work in those days was frowned on, Sunday was kept as a rest day, usually the men went to church in the morning and the ladies at night, the children attended Sunday school and church in the morning and Sunday school in the afternoon.

Village life in our village sixty years ago, was run more or less by five people, the Squire, the Agent, the Parson, the School Master and the village Policeman. 

The Squire

 Mr. Foster known to the villagers as Long Harry was a tall wiry man with a beard, he was a very good horseman, and was very fond of fox hunting, a devout churchman and gave the living to several churches in the district. Both he and his Lady used to drive to church every Sunday morning in a carriage drawn by a pair of high stepping black horses. He devoted his time looking after the welfare of his estate and employees; he could be seen any day riding round on horseback, visiting the various farms, cottages, and woods on his estate. 

He lived in a beautiful mansion named Apley Park, built of Grinsill stone, surrounded by a large deer park in which roamed deer, long haired scotch cattle and sheep, I never knew the name of the breed, but their wool reached down to the ground. 

To keep the mansion up to the standard he desired, he employed a large number of servants, about twelve gardeners, three coachmen, six grooms, a blacksmith to attend to the horses feet, a house carpenter, an engineer who drove two steam engines which drove the dynamos for making electric light, there was no power stations in those days. 

The indoor staff consisted of about twenty maids, plus butler, footmen, hall boy and odd men. 

In 1910 Mr. Foster built a bridge across the river Severn for easy access to Linley railway station, at a cost of £10,000  to commemorate the coming of age of his son, Major A.W. Foster.

The Estate Agent

The estate agent was Mr. Wilson, known to the villagers as old Bug, was rather a portly type of man, he ran the estate from the administrative angle, he lived with his wife and two daughters at the south lodge, Norton. His two daughters Miss Peggy and Miss Molly were about the same age as me, and were very kind and used to pass on to me books when they had finished with them, they also gave me Xmas presents which were greatly appreciated. Mr. Wilson lived in a rather lavish style and he kept three maids and a governess and a groom –gardener and a youth. He went round the estate either on horseback or in a horse and trap, he had two offices, one in Norton and one in Bridgnorth and he divided his time between the two.

The Parson

The Rev. Owen the parson in our village was loved by everyone, if any-one in the village was ill he was soon there to render what assistance he could. At Xmas he was exceptionally good, both he and his wife used to organise a Xmas party complete with a huge Xmas tree for all the children in the village, after an excellent tea, games would be played , the children would assemble round the Xmas tree and carols would be sung, when they were finished each child’s name would be called out and given a present out of the Xmas tree before they went home.

The Schoolmaster

The village schoolmaster was a Victorian type gentleman, with a beard. Although he turned out some very good scholars, he was very fond of using the cane, of which I had my share, not always deserved.

The village policeman

The village Policeman, although he did not have many cases, kept order by his very presence, a quiet word, or sometimes a cut across the pants with his cane, was usually sufficient.

Social Services

It must be remembered that there were no social services in those days, no retirement pensions, no sickness benefit, no unemployment benefit, if a man fell ill or became unemployed, he had nothing until he got better or found another job.