Digitized copy of interview of Richard Read regarding Great Yarmouth fishing industry
- AUD 37
- Archief
- c 1980-2010
Richard Read; 1906-?; fisherman; Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Aberdeen
Digitized copy of interview of Richard Read regarding Great Yarmouth fishing industry
Richard Read; 1906-?; fisherman; Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Aberdeen
Original recording made circa 1988 by Raymond Furlonger, grandson of interviewee, hereafter RF, who also asks majority of questions. Digitized copies made July 2010. Includes introduction by RF and features Flo Sandy and Fred Broom. Digitized using Denon DN-780R, Sonifex ADDA, Dell Precision T3400 (6XROG4J) running Wavelab v6.10. For the purposes of access and content description, the four sides of the original compact cassettes have been combined to form one long recording to reflect the actual interview. The following minor editing has been carried out on access copy, fade in and out of each side of original recording, end of actual interview and to RF's conclusion; minor denoise to remove hiss of original recorder; and normalization of RF's conclusion (from 2 hours 38 minutes 42 seconds to end).
00:00:00 (hours:minutes:seconds) - start of side 1 of 4 of original cassette
0:00:01-0:03:14 - RF sets out the purpose of the interview (i.e. to discuss Horsham St Faith (HSF) and life in the 'old days' more generally) and explains the family background of the subject. Annie Rogers (nee Dora Elsie Ann Sturman) was born in 1892 and was believed to be one of the oldest inhabitants of the village in 1988 (had lived in HSF since 1895).
0:03:15-0:25:07 - This part of this session mainly consists of the interviewer and interviewees 'settling in' with visitors popping in, cups of tea, chat about family members and friends etc.
0:25:08 - The main part of the interview commences at this point. AR is encouraged to talk about her early life and family background. Ethel Sturman was known as her 'sister' but was actually a cousin. Their unmarried mothers went back into service and the children were adopted. Went to live with foster parents in HSF at Back Street, Barrack Yard and attended the village school.
1901 census: Ethel (12) and Annie (8) plus Waltham Sturman (2) are listed as 'boarders' in the house of James and Eliza Forster.
0:30:28 - AR left school at 14 and went into service on Mile End Road in Norwich as a kitchen maid. Discusses working conditions (e.g. time off, test of servants' honesty) there and also experiences of agricultural work after leaving service (during First World War).
0:35:52 - AR talks about being employed at the horsehair factory in HSF. Describes in detail working conditions there (e.g. pay rates, hours, operation of looms, lighting, singing whilst weaving) and what horsehair was used for during this period i.e. furniture, gentlemen's clothes. When AR got married (1912) she had a loom at home provided for out-work as did many other women in the village. [An Elsie A. Sturman married Henry Rogers in the December quarter of 1912 in the St Faiths registration district.]
00:48:16 - start of side 2 of 4
0:53:20 - Discusses horsehair factory in Botolph Street, Norwich and transfer of the horsehair material from HSF to Norwich.
0:56:50 - Talks about shopping in Norwich, seeing soldiers based in Norwich during First World War and walking home to HSF.
1:02:20 - This leads onto questions about local road surfaces and contemporary transportation methods.
1: 07:35 - Discussion of harvest time practices in HSF and catching rabbits.
1:15:00 - First cars in village and soldiers in First World War (recuperating from injuries) who had to be shown jobs on the land.
1:20:00 - Discussion of local landowners in HSF and Newton Saint Faith and sale of land to tenants. Also farm work.
1:22:30 - Talks about tramps' lifestyles and villagers' attitudes to itinerants.
1:25:08 - Discussion of local workhouse system and board of guardians.
1:28:08 - Commerce in HSF (range of shops and trades etc.) and cow cabbages. Heating systems and transportation methods on farms.
1:36:05 - Village church-going practices (church and chapel). Mentions HSF Priory burning down.
01:36:21 - start of side 3 of 4
1:42:25 - Discuses impact of First World War on village life in HSF and increasing number of women who had to work on the land.
1:50:15 - Talks about local postal service.
2:03:00 - Discusses experiences of food as a child and allotments.
2:08:45 - Reminisces about doctors and midwives in HSF. Talks about her experiences of births and miscarriage and attitudes of the medical profession (1920s/1930s).
2:19:50 - Talks about trip to Southampton to visit dying mother in 1917.
02:24:49 - start of side 4 of 4
2:31:50 - Discusses trip to battlefields in France and Belgium with British Legion.
2:34:30 - RF asks about removal of horse manure on roads and water carts used to clean roads.
2:38:42 - Conclusion by RF. Describes AR's Land Army armband and certificate.
02:38:42 - concluding comment by RF
Raymond Furlonger; fl 1988; Norfolk
Recording of Great Yarmouth electoral hustings
Features Pat Hollis, Lord Shepherd and Tony Fell at Great Yarmouth market place on 9 October 1974, the eve of the General Election. Recording made by Graham Gosling. Note that Side B of the cassette is blank.
00:00 (minutes:seconds) - Start of side A
00:01 - Pat Hollis (PH, Labour candidate) talks about Labour having raised the tax threshold 'for a fairer society'. Then states that Labour want a decent family allowance, more aid to the lower paid, a full comprehensive school system and longer hospital opening hours.
01:37 - Question and response about fair rents and council housing.
02:03 - Question and response about law stopped for freezing fair rents (? - indistinct audio).
02:27 - Lord Shepherd (LS) comes on and encourages maximum Labour vote in Yarmouth.
04:40 - LS discusses grave economic situation and talks about Tony Fell's support for Enoch Powell.
07:20 - Tony Fell (TF, Conservative) discusses Labour membership and attitude of trade unionism.
12:40 - TF discusses recent TUC conference and election there of a 'Communist'.
13:35 - PH describes Keith Joseph (Conservative) as an advocate of mass unemployment. Talks about Labour's policy to tackle inflation.
17:20 - PH talks about Liberal policies e.g. statutory wage policy (compulsory wage control), as advocate of Common Market, ending of food subsidies.
20:52 - TF mentions the influence of Communism (lots of heckling from the crowd about Enoch Powell). States Edward Heath wants government of national unity. (Much of this audio is indistinct owing to heckling from the crowd).
24:56 - TF replies to question regarding a referendum on the Common Market and [Harold] Wilson's approach to this.
26:10 - TF dismisses question about Tory manifesto.
27:00 - TF responds to question about how many Tory MPs are drawing directorships of over £50, 000-£100,000 per annum. Discusses his perception of general Labour attitude to the wealthy.
28:40 - TF discusses Edward Heath's policy of wage restraint and taxation.
30:30 - TF talks about his own attitude to Enoch Powell.
31:20 - TF discusses Labour defence cuts.
32:50 - TF responds to question about government of national unity and possible coalition then
36:00 - TF talks about making the rating system fairer.
37:47 - Meeting is wrapped up by TF (and sound of crowd ceases 37:55).
Great Yarmouth Constitutional Labour Party; 1948-; political party; Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Recorded conversation between Cyril Marsters and Arthur Henry Ransome (1915-1995) of Wereham
Relates to Arthur Ransome's career as horseman and farm labourer in general. Some biographical details given in letter from donor that accompanied the recording; with accession paperwork.
00:30:42 - start of side B
00.01.00-00:03:49 Talks about his mate who worked as a horseman in the fens (used a slightly different technique) and general techniques of horsemen e.g. double lines allow more control. Discusses method of ploughing between trees in orchards.
00:03:50 Strict attitude of team foreman.
00:04:30 Discussion of smoking practices (e.g. trying grandfather's pipe).
00:06:00 Housing developments in Wereham.
00:06:47 Discussion of steam ploughs and water carts.
00:09:30 Methods of steering ploughs.
00:10:28 Talks about pictures of blacksmith's shops and horses (circa 1912). Goes onto discuss location of blacksmith in Wereham and general techniques of blacksmiths plus idiosyncratic behaviour of some horses
00:14:45 AR talks about the horses he worked with in Wereham.
00:17:50 Discussion of tractor types.
00:18:27 Mentions draymen.
00:18:46 Discussion of exercise and AR talks about his working day as a horseman (started at 5am).
00:20:30 They talk about agricultural workforce in Norfolk.
00:21:30 Discuss weather conditions past and present.
00:23:10 AR talks about wartime experiences locally and Home Guard (?)
00:26:30 AR talks about fields he has worked on at Stoke Ferry, Fincham and towards West Dereham church
00:27:40 Discussion about roads and nearby beet factory.
00:29:30 Local railway.
00:30:30 Family's educational progress and employment
00:40:50 Some further discussion about horsemen and farming, including ploughing methods.
00:46:30 Memories of local schoolmistress and corporal punishment.
00:50:45 End
N.B. AR's voice, in particular, is rather muffled at some points in the interview.
Arthur Ransome; 1915-1995; horseman; Wereham, Norfolk
Digitized copy of recorded reminiscences of Joseph Davis relating to Brancaster Staithe
Joseph Davis reminisces about life in Brancaster Staithe in the early part of the twentieth century (pre-First World War). He describes walking into the village and imagines meeting his younger self for a conversation. They then discuss various village boys who were friends of the young Joseph and their activities. He also describes the coastguard station. Young Joseph speaks in local dialect throughout the conversation. Joseph Davis, born Hunstanton, 1894, was the son of a coastguard and died in 1960.
Joseph Davis; 1894-1960; Hunstanton and Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk
Recorded memoirs of Gladys Tyrrell née Beales, of North Creake
GT recollects her experiences of being a bearer at church for a baby's funeral aged 13. GT was born 1903, eighth of the nine children of an agricultural labourer, in North Creake. Describes her first ride in a motor car in the summer of 1912. GT describes regular household chores and learning to ride a bicycle. At 14 GT went into service and she talks briefly about her experiences. GT talks about the family house in North Creake e.g. her reminiscences of wash day. GT discusses the family diet and the authentic recipe for Norfolk dumplings. GT and interviewers discuss baths in the early part of the twentieth century. GT describes her experiences of schooling e.g. examination to leave school at Burnham Market. The family would get up early to gather mushrooms in September before school. GT talks about typical games the children would play. The interviewer asks about GT and the First World War e.g. she recalls Zeppelin raids near Dereham. GT talks about her job as cook at Barwick(?) Hall. GT describes her sister's wedding in 1919 and the outfits. GT talks about the tradesmen in North Creake e.g. baker, travelling fish salesman. Describes the pig that was traditionally killed each year to provide food for the family. They discuss ice houses (e.g. at Holkham Hall) and mentions old men who used to travel between local workhouses. GT reminisces about her wedding and honeymoon. GT discusses the development of North Creake e.g. council houses. Section where GT talks in broad Norfolk dialect and then explains meaning of particular words with interviewers. GT talks about the dairy in North Creake. GT describes the day of her father's 100th birthday (25 April 1961). He was popularly known as 'Grand-dad Beales' by the residents of North Creake. GT describes the preparations for his party, birthday cakes, visits by villagers and telegrams. GT also reminiscences about the (Earl) Spencer and Chambers families' visits to the village, including Lady Roxburgh. GT concludes with a poem about a party.
Gladys Tyrrell; 1903-1992; North Creake, Norfolk
Recorded memoir of Augustus Ives (29 Dec 1894-11 Sep 1982) of Thornage, Briningham and later Norwich
Relates to Ives's career working for London and North Eastern Railway, his time in the army and gardening, including at Swanton Novers House. Includes typescript notes and reproduced images of Augustus Ives. Recording made on 26 August 1982, digitized at unknown date.
Augustus Ives; 1894-1982; soldier; Thornage, Briningham and Norwich, Norfolk
Recorded interview of Mrs Bargewell of Ingham
Relates to agricultural and rural life in Norfolk in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Mrs Bargewell; fl 20th century; Ingham, Norfolk
Additional literary archives of Mark Cocker, author and naturalist
Recorded interviews carried out as research for Mark Cocker's Loneliness and time: the story of British travel writing (Secker, 1992) and Birders: Tales of a Tribe books.
Mark Cocker; 1959-; author; Norfolk
Side A of cassette is annotated 'John Savage Norfolk Yarns'; side B is annotated 'Tales of bygone Norwich'.
John Savage; 1901-1984; gardener and chauffeur; Docking, Norfolk
Wells Field Study Centre additional records
Contains: Log book, May 1989-Nov 1995.
Papers relating to National Association of Field Studies Officers conference at Norwich (organised by Wells Field Study Centre staff), 1999, and NAFSO journals, 1987 (including article by Christine West), 1996-1998 (of which Christine West was editor) (1 file).
Sound recordings relating to salt marshes (one labelled 'Wells Salt Marshes'), [? 1980s] (1 cassette tape and 1 reel).
Recorded interview of Robert Henry King by John and Ann Lawson
John Lawson; fl 1967; Norfolk
Research interview for When Wherries Sailed By
Recordings made by Stanley Sinclair as research for book on Coltishall written by his wife, namely Olga Sinclair, When Wherries Sailed By (Poppy Land Press, 1987)
Stanley Sinclair; fl 1980 - fl 1989; Norfolk
Papers and photographs of Kenneth and Brenda Davis
Records relating to Wensum Lodge, Norwich, they were the first wardens, including the history, restoration and conversion of buildings on the site and its development and use as an adult education centre.
Kenneth Davis; fl 1965 - fl 2004; Wensum lodge warden; Norwich, Norfolk
Papers of Dr W.F. Greer of Terrington St John
Records relating to the Greers' medical practice, with personal papers, including collected documents, among them personal papers of the Gaze family of Norwich, 1919-1942
Described as follows in accompanying list:
Norfolk Education Committee Medical Inspection Committee Minutes 1908-1920
Dr Greer's Papers ref. Vaccination circa 1936-1947
Dr Greer miscellaneous Medical Documents
Dr Greer Private Documents
Plans of the Health Centre Terrington
Mr Gaze - bills, invoices, letters 1941-1942
Papers relating to Rose Cottage, Terrington St. John - late Dr Greer
2 tapes (1 blank) - talking about Terrington in the past and ghostly interactions
Dr W.F. Greer; fl 1987; doctor; Terrington St John, Norfolk