Coal
/ Archives / Education and Training and Work /
Record Number: 15.110
Record Type: Audio
Caption:
2006 photograph of the Girls' Yard at the back of the Royal Albert. This is where Mrs Creed, along with 2 residents, recalls shovelling coal. Facing and to the right were mainly wards for women, with the exception of some office space and the basement. This photograph was taken 10 years after the site had become Jamea Al Kauthar Islamic College. (Ref. No. July 06 UTP IMG 0309)
Summary:
In an interview on March 21st 2007 Mrs, Creed recalled how she started nursing at the Royal Albert in 1949 and that one of her first tasks was shovelling coal. She did this with 2 female residents because of the strict sexual segregation policies which were in place at the time. The men who delivered the coal apparently not being able to hang around in what was known as 'The Girls' Side'.
‘And then of course, you know, we used to have to shovel coal in when I first went.’
You mentioned that, yes.
‘Did -? Because they weren’t allowed to have the men in, just bring it. And then I used to have to go - We used to have our laundry.’
Go back to the shovelling coal. Where, where –
‘Well I used to take 2 patients with me, what we called 2 high grades that you could talk to. And we used to, coalman’d come, dump a whole wagonload of coal in the yard. I had to open the coal.
Right, which yard was this?
‘Girls’ yard. Naturally. And so I had to take 2 girls with me. And shovel that coal into the coalhouse. And lock it up. And we were as black as – hell bells. So I had to go and get a shower and go to the laundry and get a new overall to put on. And the girls had to have a bath. And don’t forget they only had one bath a week in those days. And one carbolic soap.
(Ref. No. 42.0027)
Notes:
This recording, along with that in Record No. 8.101 and Record No. 11.104 (in that order) is part of a continuous extract from the interview with Mrs. Creed on March 21st 2007.
Keywords:
Sexual Segregation Women's Work Female 1940s 1950s Residents
Staff Work Language Hierarchy Regime Bath Washing
Heating Layout Buildings Staff Duties Girls Yard Photograph