As always, click on the postcards to enlarge them.
Friday 2 September 2011
Laundry Workers, Gillingham, Kent and Twickenham, Middlesex c1910
Laundry Workers, Gillingham, Kent and Twickenham, Middlesex circa 1910. The first postcard shows four laundry workers and was posted from Gillingham, Kent, in 1910. I was particularly struck by the expressions on the girls' faces when I bought this postcard. The sender of the card, possibly one of the ladies in the picture, identifies herself as 'Nell'. The second postcard is an advertising postcard for Poupart's Electric Laundry in Twickenham posted in 1916. Poupart's were very big in Twickenham, they also had a dairy business, a jam factory and property interests. I believe a Poupart was mayor of Twickenham at some point. Both of these postcards are very rare, the Gillingham postcard may be unique. Obviously there are no 'now' images from Google Street View for these postcards. For more old images visit this week's Sepia Saturday blog.
As always, click on the postcards to enlarge them.
As always, click on the postcards to enlarge them.
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I wonder what's happening on that second table, behind, for which she needs to read the instructions from a book?
ReplyDeleteProbably a list of orders and customers - eg. Mr Smith, 5 shirts, 5 collars, 3 nightgowns etc.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me realize how lucky I am! Laundry day is a simple matter now. I love the hair styles of the girls in the first postcard. You are making me a fan of postcards!
ReplyDeleteA curious subject for a postcard. Not exactly one with a 'wish you were here' sentiment! For educating the public (who bought and received such cards) about women's work at that time, it must have been priceless.
ReplyDeletegreat photos! Could you imagine during the warmer months wearing all those clothes and working with no air conditioning....!
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic postcards, especially the first one! Their clothes for working in the laundry look very smart.
ReplyDeleteFascinating postcards. I haven't seen that subject on postcards before.
ReplyDeleteThe Poupart's card is worth a place in an industrial museum with all that belt driven machinery.
ReplyDeleteWhat a job that must have been! This is when I don't wish for the good old days.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a postcard of a laundry or laundresses. They're both fascinating. It must have been tiresome work though.
ReplyDeleteLove these pictures from old domestic industries.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing as Karen S - can you imagine how hot they must have been...
ReplyDeleteGreat cards.
Fascinating photos. Earlier occupational cdv's and cabinet cards seem to be mostly of men and in a studio. A glimpse of Edwardian era women in their workplace is very rare. My favorite rooms when visiting grand houses are the working areas of the "downstairs staff". Perhaps Google will add a RoomView feature soon?
ReplyDeleteThings simply appear to be crazy and no indication of getting back to business as usual. So I was going off the deep end and pondered internally that at whatever point I go to somebody's home it resembled Better Homes and Garden, for what reason would we be able to simply finish the laundry?Diaper Cleaning Services
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