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
