Then

Monday was washday.
Water was fetched in churns from the pump at the bottom of Egypt hill, about 20 gallons. First thing, William would light the fire under the cast iron boiler in the back kitchen. The clothes were sorted, whites were first soaked and washed (in Persil) in a galvanised bath, wrung out and put in the boiler for 20 minutes. Then removed with wooden tongs into a wash bucket and then put into a cold water bath, rinsed and mangled 3 times, then put into a blue rinse bath and mangled again. Collars, tablecloths, pillowcases and hankies were then starched.
Starch was like a dry chalk powder mixed with water to stiffen items. The final wash was usually the work trousers. William (G.Dad ) wore breeches with leather leggings and leather boots. The boots soaked up the wet and were constantly damp. He stuffed straw into them and left them by the fire over night, in an attempt to dry them. Douglas (Dad) always wore rubber wellington boots with twill or corduroy trousers.

When the washing was completed it was pegged on a line outside in the garden; hopefully it didn�t rain on Mondays. Once dry it was� picked in� into a flasket, a cane basket with no lid. The starched items were sprinkled with water, rolled up and left in a cloth, ready for ironing the following day. Non-starched items such as nappies, flannelette sheets, towels, vests, etc. were neatly folded and mangled to save ironing. Socks always needed mending, and buttons replaced. Market coats had a split wire ring, like a key ring, holding the buttons on.

Tuesday was ironing. When Douglas was about 5 yrs old, his Mum would heat a shaped piece of wrought iron in the fire until red-hot. With pliers this was put into a cast iron box. Later models, you put the whole wrought iron straight on the fire until hot, then slid it into a thin tin slipper for ironing. Clothes were aired on a wooden clotheshorse around the fire over-night then put away.

Before electricity, work depended on what natural light was available. Paraffin lanterns, oil lamps and candles were used until 1952.

Em (Emma Loveday ) born 1882 married Frank Jasper. They farmed at Jordan, and had no children, retiring to Egypt Farmhouse. Em died on the 27th April 1955 aged 73 and Frank 11th July 1972 aged 91, having moved to Manaton Mill with his nephew and family. He built many of the stone hedges at Lower Ford.