Turn back time - OS program on BBC1 9pm tonight

GreenQueen

The thing that I was wondering (in the shower this morning!) was how they kept clean. Thery didn't really go into that, but there wasn't a bathroom in the poor house, so presumably boiling water for strip washes? With all that physical labour, I'd be wanting a couple of showers a day at least.

GQ

dandy-candy

I wish they epidose was longer as I would love to have seen a bit more of their lives in depth. I will watch it again next week!

BitterAndTwisted

GreenQueen wrote: »

The thing that I was wondering (in the shower this morning!) was how they kept clean. They didn't really go into that, but there wasn't a bathroom in the poor house, so presumably boiling water for strip washes? With all that physical labour, I'd be wanting a couple of showers a day at least.

GQ

I have a feeling that it would most likely be one stripped-wash a week plus hands-and-face daily. Heating water was (and still is) expensive so people were very unlikely to have washed in hot/warm water every day.

When we were little kids, we lived in houses which had no bathroom either so we were sat up on the kitchen drainer and washed up there once a week. The rest of the time it was hands-and-face only

Farway

kittie wrote: »

I am going to find it very interesting to see how on earth that poorest family got the aspiration to actually pull themselves up to do what they do today ie the polo yard. Maybe it was because they were at rock bottom in edwardian days, not so long ago 1910 ish.

I have not yet watched the programme [recorded it], but I think the aspirational aspect is the main thing.

We all stand on the shoulders of our parents, one of my maternal ancestors in 1791 was classified "pauper" and on "Parish relief"

Now his descendants have degrees and are classified "Professional"

Farway

GreenQueen wrote: »

The thing that I was wondering (in the shower this morning!) was how they kept clean. Thery didn't really go into that, but there wasn't a bathroom in the poor house, so presumably boiling water for strip washes? With all that physical labour, I'd be wanting a couple of showers a day at least.

GQ

washing was not considered very important, especially for the poor, lick & spit, hands & face would do

BitterAndTwisted has it right, once a week, bath night in front of the fire, dad first, baby last

Raksha

What about ladies sanitary needs? I always remember my Dad (born in 1921) telling me about his Mum's 'bits of towelling' boil washed and hung on the line to dry for next time.
I love social history programmes like this, and was not dissapointed. Obviously an idea stolen from Channel 4's XX House and BBC 2's XX Farm series, but very interesting.
Like others, I'm glad to be living in the 21st century where it's acceptable to show affection and be part of a family unit.

[Deleted User]

I started periods at 14 in 1962 followed by 4 sisters. Mum always making sanitary wear as she couldn`t afford to buy disposables. There were always buckets of salted cold water under the bath, with these `towels` soaking overnight. I expect they used rags folded and folded and maybe tied up with string as I don`t expect they had a sewing machine. Must have been very uncomfortable

I really liked the fact that they chose 3 very different families and based the series on their ancestors. I was finding the programme very moving as aspects carried on when I was young, none of it was strange but a lot harsher than I expected. I especially think the 17 year old, who had to be scullery maid, did really well to cope. They still spoke about the poorhouse when I was a child. We are so much luckier today

Northern_Lassy

I am fascinated by this programme, I have just bought a house which is almost identical to these (at the other end of Morecambe), it has solved a load of mysteries about the house, especially in the cellar (scullery), brilliant stuff!