Take a look at the Highs and Lows of Work with my contribution to this month's prompt of Work and Play.
Steeplejacks working on the mill chimney at Rhymer's Mill, Earlston in the Scottish Borders. You get a sense of the height of the chimney from the picture below.
Rhymer's Mill (textiles), in its rural setting in Earlston, closed down in 1969.
John William Oldham sitting high on one of the carriages
in the family business of Carters and Coalmen in Blackpool.
The adverts on the wall include one for Mcdougall's flour and for a performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" on the North Pier.
Men bending low over the heavy machinery at Rhymer's Mill, Earlston
My husband's father, a painter and sign-writer taking a lie down
after a busy day's work.
Arthur Smith, my cousin's father emerging from a manhole
during his work as a linesman for the General Post Office.
In Case You Missed:
are marking this month's prompt of Work and Play
That last one is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThe last one is my favorite, too -- but all of them take us back to the kinds of work our ancestors did. I wish I had work photos of the many coal miners in my family background.
ReplyDeleteThose chimney sweeps at Rhymer's Mill must have had nerves of steel - as do window washers on high rises and the like. Whew! Don't believe I'd like going down in a hole underground, either, though. Gulp.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at the height of that chimney...why would it need to be that high, I wonder. Good for those guys who were able to climb it too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barbara, for your comment. My science teacher husband says chimneys need to be tall for reasons of air pressure and to ensure the best draught and air flow. Google has more scientific explanations!
DeleteGoodness, I can't even look at the steeplejacks working! Too scary.
ReplyDeleteThe steeple jacks give me the willies too. Love your headline!!
ReplyDeleteI thought I had commented here already but it appears not. The last photograph is my favourite too. I hope those men on the chimney were wearing safety harnesses, but the chances are they weren't. No occupational health and safety regulations back then!
ReplyDelete