Victorian Grandmothers

Rural Occupations


Lace Makers



                             

If you have ancestors from Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire then some of them would probably have been lace makers.These children and women look romantic in their country setting but the interiors of the cottages were damp, dark and overcrowded , many of them died young from tuberculosis.The light was better outside .
They were paid a pittance for the very hard work needed to produce pillow lace but it was the difference between the family having a living wage and extreme poverty, their husbands and fathers were mainly agricultural labourers.At least you were excused chores such as potato picking as your hands had to be kept soft to handle the lace.

Family History Sites

I have spent hours trying to get into findmypast .co.uk to be told constantly that they are busy. I have paid the top subscription to this site .When my subscription runs out I will not join again. Ancestry is so much better..

Bought some old books at a book sale on Saturday ,some interesting illustrations


Did your ancestors emigrate ?

And for those of us still in the UK this is the interior of a Northamptonshire cottage, the condtions that people wanted to leave

More will follow

Ancestors and Lace Makers

For my next family history article I am looking at my husband's lace making ancestors from Olney.In the 1850s there were hundreds of women making pillow lace at home.Most of them were the wives and daughters of agricultural labourers and the money they brought in kept impoverished families going.
At the age of four little girls were sent to a school to learn lace making and their catechism. If their attention wandered they had their noses rubbed raw in the sharp pins holding the lace.

I have a small collection of bobbins from the 1850s with the names of their owners inscribed like the one named Betsy.

                                                                  







It is getting hard to find original old photos of these ladies that do not have copyright.


                                             

Carpal Tunnel Problem

Have just had an injection into my wrist for carpal tunnel syndrome which I have had for months.Ouch!
Hope it cures it.

Just as the snow was beginning to thaw it has started snowing again.

King's College, The Senate House, and Clare Street look pretty with a bit of snow.

                            

Spring flowers for a gardener.

A much loved member of  the congregation of St Botolph's Church has died. At his family's request the ladies in the congregation have worked hard to fill the church with the spring flowers that John Barber loved for the funeral service today. He managed the church garden for many years.

Cambridge ,a new term begins

I always like this time of the year and the sense of a new beginning.The Christmas tat has been cleared away and the house looks tidy.

There is a sense of anticipation as Rowan Williams , the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has been seen around  Cambridge where he taking up his new role as Master of Magdalene College.

Here is Tony by his college office door, the rooms are very nice in this building and have reasonably modern facilities inspite of the Elizabethan exterior.

                                              

Crystallized Fruits for Christmas

I usually buy some crystallized fruits at this time of the year. They are a delicious alternative to chocolates packed in a pretty box, on top of cakes or with a glass of port.Prices in London last week were ridiculous but I have found a brilliant source of these fruits on Cambridge Market at Emerald Foods.They even have real  French angelica, this is very hard to find but so pretty on top of cup cakes or ice cream.

You will find the  Emerald Foods stall if you turn right at the second row on the market which has loads of other lovely offerings at this time of the year plus some good buskers and carol singers around the edges.

GINGER MARMALADE

I am making marmalade and cakes for a fund raising event  in Cambridge.I have been trying recipes using Mamade and have a good way to make Ginger Marmalade using Australian  ginger from Lakeland with Mamade.
I also want a neat professional finish to the jars,Ryman's labels combined with templates downloaded from Avery give a professional finish.


         Ginger Marmalade


1 can   Orange Mamade--
I packet Australian uncrystalized ginger-- chopped into small pieces
4lb sugar
3/4 pint water


Method

1. Wash and sterilise 6, 1lb jars by putting them in the oven 100C
2. Follow the instructions on the Mamade can adding the ginger during the boiling process
3. When a set has been reached continue to follow the instructions on the can
4. Cover with sterilised lids, label with contents and date made

5. Store in a cool place until needed.

                                                        

We Will Remember Them 11th November 2012

                                                  

Zippos Circus

A good evening may be had at Zippos Circus. No nasty  cruel animal tricks just some well trained horses. The rest is acrobats and two of the funniest clowns I have ever seen doing a slow motion mime of a wild west shoot out.

Wear warm sweaters.