Interview with Mr. & Mrs. Taylor

              Came to Leicester on Dec. 23rd. 1915 after her mother died.  Winifreds home had been at Melton Mowbray. Her home in Leicester was at 29 Upperton Rd. until she was married in 1931. Schooling was at Narborough Road Infants. Then at Robert Hall Chapel where there were two classes, then back to senior school. Short of food during world war one, bread almost black.meat rationed. Made potato dripping wore luminous buttons in the black-out. Great celebrations at end of war, ladies in Edwardian dress selling flags in the market place. Father married again. Winifred started work at The Magic Polish Co, in an office in 1923. Many unemployed and also. The Spanish 'Flu which killed a lot of people including two of Winifreds Aunts. Joined Catholic Girl Guide Co. and was horrified at the poverty of some of the girls who were such nice people and lived in the area of streets around the Leicester Infirmary sometimes four houses sharing one toilet. The same conditions also existed in nearby Buckingham st. Children could play safely in Upperton Rd. although Narborough Rd. was busy with horse drawn vehicles. Details of a game called "sly fox". Walked to the beautiful little village of Braunstone during her holidays. Little thatched cottages and lovely church, very isolated. Presently living in New Found Pool which was originally built as a "Hydro" by Harrison because of its health giving qualities of the water which turned out to be false. All the streets first letter make up the name Harrison after their builder. Went to st. Peters Church at corner of Leamington st. (now no longer there). 
Details of the Magic Polish Co on Western Road where she worked. Founded by a Mr."Dick" Potter who she thought also was responsible for the building of Equity Rd. as he was previously manager of Equity Shoe Co. The Magic Polish Co taken over by Goddarcs and finally by Bostik Ltd. The premises are still at the bottom of Paton St. There wasn’t the violence and the mugging that there is now, used to walk down street with £200 (the firms wages) without any fear despite the fact that there existed extreme poverty among the population. Pawn brokers shops mentioned. The little shops gave a very good service and were patient with children. Narborough Rd. was a good shopping area including the Co-op. and Chinese· Laundry. (Which was very hot inside premises.)Post Office run by some old ladies. Three-hapence tram fare into town, and trams arrived at the passenger stops every five minutes. Children loved to sit on the top of the open topped trams getting all the fresh air. Trams only went up to Haddenham Rd. which was the end of the built of area in those days. 
The countryside went right up to Braunstone village. 
Houses on Hinckley Rd. went as far as Gimson Rd and the odd house up to Western Park. 
Lengthy description of his job in the building trade by Mr. Taylor (plasterer).Description of "shuttering" using concrete. This system generally scoffed at in the early days. 
Discussion on the housebuilding and roadbuilding including concrete houses. etc. Saffron Lane area. Clinker (her) used under paving slabs as drainage. Roads were "pitched" with tar. During General strike there was a housing shortage so builders continued to work on them, and a levy of 8/-per week was imposed on each working builder to support the strikers by their union. Some firms were blacked and no union members could work for them. 
Any union member who broke the rules was not allowed to work with union members who hadn’t. Wages in Leicester were "top rate", something over: 2Z- per hour. Wages fluctuated with the cost of living index, eventually dropping to 1/5d per hour. Second World War approached and wages began to creep up a little. After the war wages really started to climb.