The Tindal Memory Writing Group

The Tindal Memory Writing Group published a wonderful book of Balsall Heath memories in 1991. Entitled "Writing It All Down Before It's All Gone" it focused on working class life in Balsall Heath between the Wars. Now out of print, some excerpts from the book are re-published here. The book was edited by Alan Maher, illustrated by Len Baron and featured memories and contributions from Len Baron, Mary Bramwell, Margaret Chatwin, Rhoda Evans, Bernard Jackson, Doreen Raper, Phyllis Shipway, Syd Walker, Harold & Phyllis Wedgbury, Joan Austin, Benny Fisher, Winifred Berkeley, Janet Blick and Jane Bubb.

Family Group in Sherbourne Road yard

The Women of the Yard
Of all the people that lived in the yard, the women were of most interest. One lady was always sending the smallest children to the shops for ink so that she could poison herself. She stood in the middle of her garden and drank the second bottle of ink, then all the neighbours were out trying to stop her from doing herself harm. I think most of the ink went down the front of her blouse and onto the floor but it helped to teach us not to go willy-nilly into things. Another thing was the women shelling peas in the pub into their pinafores before their dinner.

Washday
Washing day meant a full day's job for any woman. Her day started at about 7 O'clock in the morning filling the boiler and lighting the boiler fire and, once started, being prepared to work all day till it got dark. One could often hear the strains of well-known tunes of the day coming from the direction of the wash-house - "I'm the Sheikh of Araby", "On Mother Kelly's Doorstep" or "Shepherd Of The Hills".
When I come to think about it now, it seems a mystery how they found the energy to sing while thumping a wooden maid up and down on the clothes in their tubs. But, believe me, after they had finished that mammoth task they always found time for swilling the floor and clearing the ash-hole and leaving the place clean, something which must have been noted by the neighbour who occupied the wash-house the next day.

Shared Toilets
Another facility which was shared was the toilet, one toilet for two families. But as regards the cleaning of these places, there always seemed to be a good understanding, each family carrying out the cleaning on alternate Saturday mornings.