1920 Homes and Weather pre 1950

research by Joan West

Homes and Weather. Until after 1950, as recovery from WW2 began, virtually no new houses were built in Lacey Green and Loosley Row.   Occupations were almost entirely rural, mainly agricultural and with timber, relying entirely on good weather.   The villages were self- sufficient communities.   They were never rich.   The men rarely left the area.   Girls sometimes went into service elsewhere.   There were a few wealthy incomers, and a few girls from elsewhere came with them in their service.

Houses and Cottages. Until more modern times, the old houses and cottages here, had no foundations, just earth floors, no damp course and solid walls with no cavity.   They were very cold, damp and almost always draughty.   Lighting would be by candles, later by lamps.   Candles would blow out in the draughts when it was very windy.  Windows were small, glass was expensive.   A fire was essential.   It would be kept in all the time by banking-up at night.   This went some way to countering the damp cold.   When you sat in front of the fire your back would feel frozen from the draught. It was essential to gather a good supply of wood whenever possible. In the past there had been vast Parish Woodlands, where people were allowed to gather fallen timber. The day after a windy night would see women and children off "wooding". It got more difficult as from the mid-1800s,these woods started to be felled. By 1900 the trees had all gone and people were reduced to "chucking" (digging up the roots).

Cooking would be done in a pot hung over the fire.  Bigger houses might have an oven, but not the cottages. The baker would roast a chicken for people at Christmas.

Food. Hens were kept, but not eaten. They were for producing eggs. If a clutch of eggs was hatched, any cockerels could be reared for eating. In the autumn the hens would moult and stop laying. Eggs could be preserved in isinglass in the spring and summer, when there was an abundance. Home grown vegetables were very important. Runner beans could be salted down for winter. Nuts and apples could be stored. Jams and jellies could be made. All of which depended on having salt and sugar and storage.

Pigs. A great many people reared a pig. The pig would eat any peelings and scraps. And if you could afford it, pig meal could be purchased. They also provided manure for the garden. These pigs would get very big and fat. Although part could be cured for keeping, there would be too much in a pig for one family. It was usual for families to kill theirs at different times and share them out.

Dripping, not Butter. Cows were not kept commercially here until water was laid on in 1934. There was an enormous amount of suet and dripping from a pig, so bread and dripping not butter was the order of the day. Milk was not something to drink, it was something to cook with, but If, say, you wanted to make a rice pudding, you would have to walk to Speen, where you could obtain some milk.

Piped Mains Water, did not come to the villages until 1934.   The main pipe was installed, but people had to arrange for their home to be connected to it.   Many did not, as they were satisfied with the water they collected off their roofs, and did not want the expense.

1900 to 1950. WEATHER    (The governing factor of life in rural England)

1903.   Much rain.  Crops spoiled

1912. Terrible summer.   Cold, grey and stormy.

JUNE  1912.  MASSIVE VOLCANO  IN  ALASKA AND OTHERS  IN  CENTRAL AMERICA  AND THE  CARIBBEAN, INCLUDING  `PELEE ` IN MARTINIQUE.  THIS EFFECTED THE WEATHER AS FAR AS EUROPE.

1914-1918   Wet  First World War.   Rural depression at home.

1921. Drought.   Ponds dried up.   Council delivered a small amount of water to each house.   Water carted from Saunderton for farms.

1930.   June 18^th.   Terrible Thunderstorms.

1940.   Bitterly cold winter.   (Note.WW2.)

1947.   Worst winter in living memory.