Nowadays very few households enjoy the daily delivery of their milk, certainly not by a man with a horse drawn cart. Ken Ingram, a former Co-op worker, describes to Jean Rowland, the work expected of a Co-op Milkman—after he had finished his rounds Ken’s comments were “A milkman’s job was never done—and weren’t those horses well cared for?”
After the morning milk round it was back to the yard in Victoria St., crates of empties to unload and the floor boards of the cart to be thoroughly washed down. (In those days empties were turned upside down so there was usually plenty of “gunge” on the deck.)
Each afternoon the 3 milkmen all had various jobs to do. On Monday a horse would probably be booked in at the blacksmiths at the top of Gosham Road, (now St. Peters Way) for shoeing and collected later. So whilst the man would be available to hose down the all the milk carts from top to bottom. Horse harnesses would be rubbed with Dubbin- a weather protection polish- a dirty job but one that needed to be done to keep the harness in good condition. All the stables had to be cleaned out, gulleys hosed down and clean straw laid down for the horses’ bedding. There was a loft over the stables where the hay was stored alongside a cutting machine where the men made chaff to mix with bran to put in the manger. The horses could help themselves to the hay.
Each morning all 3 horses were combed and brushed well before being harnessed for the days work, their hooves would be painted with another type of Dubbin so that they looked presentable for walking the streets of Irthlingborough. In turn all the milkmen would go to the stables each night, including weekends, to feed and water the horses. Wednesday and Friday afternoons, groceries were delivered from the shop to customers all over the town—Thursday was a well deserved half day!!
Saturday was a really heavy day, after all the preparation it was out at 7.30 am until around 3 pm delivering and also collecting the cash payments for the weeks delivery, not forgetting to write out the dividend check. Better days were to come though when milk tokens were introduced and the need to collect payment each week ended for the milkman. After all this the men could then go home for their dinner but the horses were not forgotten. They each had a nosebag of chaff and bran and any customer would happily provide a bucket of water and a crust of dry bread. Each horse was a knowing creature and knew that if he knocked with his hoof on Ken’s warehouse door he would get a couple of sugar lumps.
On Poppy Day each horse would have a poppy fixed to his bridle
As I said at the beginning, those horses were really well cared for..
Memories of Irthlingborough
Several weeks ago I had a request for some of our publications from Arend Hoogervorst, who now lives in S. Africa. This resulted in further correspondence from Arend with memories of his youth in Irthlingborough.
He tells that when his parents first arrived in the town from Holland, they stayed with Mr. and Mrs Walker who kept the newsagents shop on the corner of College St and Finedon Road and he wonders if anyone knew of them. Maybe used the shop or were perhaps Paper boys for the Walkers?
Arend’s mother “charred” for Bill Walker until he went into home in Rushden where he finally died. Arend wonders if folk have any memories of his wife Daisy Walker?
Is there anyone out there who can give us any information? Also Arend would love to hear from anyone who remembers him so if you would like to make contact please get in touch and we will forward your details on to him. Thank you.
Irthlingborough Industrial and Provident Co-operative Society
The Society is in such a flourishing estate, the present premises in the High Street are inadequate to meet the increasing trade, which in order to cope with the Society has decided to build a branch store. A piece of land in the backway has been purchased for £201.00 on which it is proposed to erect a building compromising a grocery and general store, a butchery, stable and storekeepers home. The tender of Mr. Lovell of Raunds was accepted at £1315.00. Work is to begin at once.
No mention of the bank which was later opened in the High Street Many of us will fondly remember going up the stairs to deposit our pennies and sixpences, confident that our savings, were in safe hands. Oh how times have changed !
Supporting the War Effort
July 21st. 1915 W’boro’ News
By the kind invitation of Mr J.K. Perkins of Finedon Road, 20 wounded men from the Higham Ferrers V A D Hospital were entertained on Saturday. The men were fetched in Mr Perkins’ motor-car by his son. The sister of the Hospital was present. Tea, games and entertainment for the afternoon. The Soldiers expressed their pleasure. and thanks Pte Walter Neville (of Irthlingborough) who has been in the hospital for some time was also present. He had been invalided home from the Dardenelles.
(Mr Perkins arranged many events for the Hospital including a Town Ball held in the Central Hall of the Council School. (May 24th 1918) The floor had been specially prepared and excellent music was supplied for the dancing by Randall’s Band (Mr J. Randall) Mr Perkins himself bore all expenses and every penny raised was donated to the Hospital and men.)
To assist in the sale of corresponding numbers for the Higham Ferrers V A D Hospital, the Irthlingborough Ladies Drum & Fife Band (Conductor, Mr S. Robinson) paraded the town. Collectors accompanied them and a brisk trade was done, over £4 worth of tickets were sold.
Afterwards Mr J.K. Perkins of Boscombe House in Finedon Road entertained the Band and 20 of the wounded men to tea. The soldiers were accompanied by the nurses and Matron also Mrs Patenall (Mayoress of Higham Ferrers).
(Must have been a splendid sight to see the Ladies Drum & Fife Band marching round Irthlingborough streets on behalf of the wounded soldiers in the local hospital. Any further information on this Band would be much appreciated.)
WW1 Centenary
As this year is the Centenary of the beginning of the Great War the Society, in co-ordination with the Council and other groups in the town, plan to commemorate this event.
For our part we intend to display photos of the fallen in appropriate venues around the town. There will also be a collage of all of these photos on display in the Library. At the Church Summer Fete on 19th July we are holding a small exhibition of photographs and artefacts in the church.
On Sat 2nd August, Father John has agreed to open the Church as an exhibition centre where we plan to display a cardboard cut out of a soldier of the time. It has also been suggested that there should be a Memory Wall to enable visitors to add their memories of any of their relatives who lived through these sad times.
At some point, the names of the fallen will be read out along with poems written at the time by poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon.
More on this event will be announced shortly…
Compiled on behalf of Irthlingborough Historical Society.
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