Beverley worked in an old people’s home, a coffee shop and a bakery. Later, she worked as a cleaner and a chambermaid which she enjoyed as the people were good to her. When I left school at 16, I started a job in an old people’s home in Colchester. I used to make their cup […]
Domestic Service
A Caring Life (1950s-2000)
Rosemary worked as a children’s nanny in Norwich and then at the Jenny Lind Hospital, and in the care sector – from home help to care worker. She tells of the bonds she developed with those she cared for and the way things changed. I was born in Gresham. My father died when I was […]
A life of service to others (1936-2005)
Thora tells us about her life working as a tweeny maid, being a home help, and the charity work which led her to receiving an MBE from Prince Charles. I started school in 1921 when I was five and left when I was 15. In those days when you were 11 you went to the […]
Bombs, ghosts and garlic (1945-1997)
Marjorie shares memories of her wonderfully varied working life as a machinist, doctors’ maid, schools cook, solicitor’s filing clerk and Norwich Castle museum attendant, and more besides. Early life during World War Two I was born in Norwich in 1931. I went to St. Augustine’s School which was bombed in the April, during the blitz […]
Cowslips, primroses and bundles of roses (1925-2010)
Dorothy tells of growing up in the countryside, working in service and living in Mile Cross. I was born in Wramplingham, just outside of Norwich, on the Barford Road. My father was a farm worker all his life, he did milking and all the rest of it, hedge trimming all sorts of things. I only […]
Crossing the ocean to Norfolk (1950s/60s)
Gwen came to the UK from St Helena in 1955 at 20 years old to work at Kimberley Hall, Norfolk, along with her sister. Since then she lived in Norwich. From St Helena to Norfolk In St Helena, they had a Government scheme where they recruited young women to come over for domestic work. My […]
From St Helena to Kimberley Hall (1950s/60s)
Heather came to the UK from St. Helena and worked as a maid at Kimberley Hall in Wymondham. She married and stayed in Norfolk where she still lives. Arriving at Kimberley Hall I come from St. Helena, we had a wonderful upbringing and we all used to help on the farm. We came from a […]
Onions in the flower border: memories of a wartime undergardener (1942-1960s)
Connie started working at Houghton Hall during the war, when onions were grown in the flower borders. She worked in the gardens with her uncle, the head gardener, until leaving to get married. Later, when the Hall was opened to the public, she and her husband and daughter looked after the rooms and showed visitors […]
The Kitchen Maid (1920s to 1930s)
Alice’s family moved to Thetford when she was two years old in 1917. She worked as a kitchen maid, and had a happy young life going out dancing and swimming with friends. My Dad worked at Burrell’s Works. My Mum stopped at home, looked after us children. I had two sisters and one brother. Annie […]
The London Kitchen Maid (1934-1940s)
Lila’s family moved to London after Silkworth colliery where her father worked closed and at 14 went to work as a kitchen maid in Eccleston Square, Victoria. Apart from a short time working in a restaurant with her sister, she worked there until she was married at the beginning of the second world war. She […]