1920 Homes and Weather pre 1950

1920 Homes and Weather pre 1950
Year	1920
Village	Lacey Green
Author	Joan West
Copywrite
Theme
Social Period	Category:1920's

HOMES and OCCUPATIONS   research by Joan West

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.

FOOD

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.   Hens were kept, but not eaten. They were for producing eggs. In the autumn they would moult and stop laying. Eggs could be preserved in isinglass in the spring and summer when there was an abundance of eggs, 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. A great many people reared a pig. 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 these woods started to be felled from the mid-1850s and by 1900 people were reduced to “chucking” (digging up the roots).

PIPED 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.