TALKING of the Past for this issue features an old photograph of Cwm Ciddy Cottage in Porthkerry. Judging by the long line of washing hung in the garden this photograph must have been taken on laundry day.
Before all our mod cons clothes would have been washed by hand a task usually undertaken once a week. Typically, clothes would have been left to soak overnight in soap. The day after the washing was immersed in boiling water in a large copper pot. Each item would have been scrubbed by hand then put back into clean boiling water to rinse and then wrung by hand or put through a mangle before pegging out.
In 1892 Barry School Board introduced laundry classes in schools and promised any new build school was expected to have the most modern facilities to teach cooking and laundry. This was considered essential to provide “our boys with suitable wives!” Though I think “doing the laundry” is an essential skill for everyone.
The Glamorgan Star would like to thank Shirley Hodges for the photograph and information.
