Interview with female wartime brickworker, 23 Jan 2002

  • Women's Voices and Life Writing
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Title
Interview with female wartime brickworker, 23 Jan 2002
Interviewer
Semeraro, Carmela
Document Type
  • Oral history Recording
Date
23 Jan 2002
Interview Date
23 Jan 2002
Biography
The interviewee was born on 14 January 1928 in Houghton Conquest and spent her childhood in Marston Moretaine where she attended Shelton village school. Her father was a burner at Marston Valley Brickworks at Ridgemont. She had 5 brothers and 1 sister. She left school at the age of 14 and worked on farm, in domestic service. During the Second World War she was directed to work in brickworks at Ridgemont on the presses. During her teenage years, she would attend the local youth club, go to dances, and the cinema at Cranfield. She recalls the Airmen that were stationed there. After the war, she moved to Crysalco. Then later, had children and remained a housewife until her first husband died where she had to work then to support them. She got a job in an office, dispatching bricks, at Marston Valley Co. before she moved to Stewartby following the take-over by London Brick Co. She took voluntary redundancy at 58, due to her age and younger people needing their jobs. She recalls how Marston Valley felt more like a family firm - with close relationships between workers and close relationships with management, with London Brick being a larger, more impersonal firm. She was happy to retire and enjoyed retirement, spending time with her Husband.
Length (minutes)
59
Copyright and Source Archive
Material sourced from Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service