I used to be a Yarn Tester at the Asia mill, built in 1905. I tested the quality of cotton, from it coming in to the card room, and on through all the stages to spinning and winding. I recieved £3. 15 shillings as a yarn tester, though, on piece work in the winding room I could earn £6 in some weeks. We used to walk from Failsworth every day hail, rain, or shine, to start work at 7 30am, until 5pm, with an hour off for lunch, on your feet the whole time. I worked the winding frame (25 ends) up to being 7 months pregnant, during that time I had phlebitus in my leg, but we never thought anything of it and just carried on, though, knowing what we know now, it is a complication in pregnancy, and years on adding to the DVT, but no-one knew of those things then. Fridays when I used to go to Dad's mules for my morning brew, and sit back (on the oily floor), and have a pint pot of strong tea. Bliss! A winberry cream tart and read the Friday "Reveille", or would also eat rum truffles. The canteen trolley used to come around, in the midst of all the cotton fluff, and oil everywhere: it was no wonder there was so much bronchitis about, we were breathing the cotton fluff constantly. Mavis Revell (nee Taylor) March 2004 View the Women workers collection to find out more > |
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