Sepia Saturday - Women's Worktime Fashions

This  week's photo prompt shows women busy ironing in a laundry.  

Nothing remotely  related features in my family collection - no indoor shots, no women at work, no ironing boards, no overalls.  no hairnets.

So instead I turned to the collection of my local heritage group - Auld Earlston for the theme of Women's Worktime Fashions 

Second World War  Munitions Workers

 

 

Around 950,000 British women worked in munitions factories during the Second World War, making weapons like shells and bullets. Munitions work was often well-paid, but involved long hours, sometimes up to seven days a week. Workers were also at serious risk from accidents with dangerous machinery or when working with high explosive material. 

Some munitions workers handled toxic chemicals every day. Those who handled sulphur were nicknamed ‘Canary Girls’, because their skin and hair turned yellow from contact with the chemical.

Source:  My Learning.Org 

Housewives at the Traveling Co-op Van - 

I remember my mother wearing this kind of pinny.  She made them too for many a sale of work, with a handy front pocket for dusters etc.  

The Workwear at the Egg Packaging Station in Earlston  

 

At Rhymers Mill,  Earlston

 Down on the Farm - Haymaking 

 

Bondagers 

Bondagers were female farm workers in south east Scotland and Northumberland.   As part of their husband's contract (or bond) with the farmer, he would undertake to  provide another worker (usually his wife) to help as and when  required. The women  wore a distinctive dress with bonnet, described as the "last remaining peasant costume" in Britain. 

With thanks to Auld Earlston for giving me permission to feature these photographs.  

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With thank you to everyone who last week gave me their stories and tips regarding hassles with blogger -  problems continue!