SENTINEL READERS - LOUISA IRVING of AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Last month we received an e-mail from Louisa Irving in Auckland, New Zealand seeking information which would help her organise a super celebration over there for the anniversary of her grandparents' wedding, which took place in Bradford – with the reception in Saltaire – in 1946. Roger Clarke was quick on the case and came up with the following to share with Sentinel readers:

In 1946, when average wages were about £7 a week for a skilled man and £5 for an unskilled, Saltaire houses were being sold for around £300 each. They had blackleaded ranges, with open coal fires, ovens and hot water boilers built in the living room, a small gas ring in the kitchen and a set pot or copper boiler for washing. You had to light a fire under the boiler to wash your clothes. There was a tin (zinc) bath hung at the back of the house, brought into the living room on Friday night, and filled with hot water, for all the family to bathe in. Houses had been owner occupied since being sold off by the Mill in 1933.
At Victoria Hall, Ronnie Lomas and his ten piece orchestra played at regular dances. Victoria Hall was also where you went to renew your Ration Book. Butter and margarine were still on ration and in July, for the first time, bread was rationed to 4oz a day for an adult. On a brighter note, on August 3rd the Glenroyal cinema was showing Shanghai Gesture starring Victor Mature, while the Gaumont featured The Dolly Sisters with Betty Grable; both to full houses.