In those lays the wages for journeymen joiners for a week of sixty hours, amounted to the magnificent sum of eighteen shillings. It was not long before my father was promoted to the position of foreman, for which he received two shillings per week more than the other men. The standard of living for a man with a family on a wage of 22s, with flour as dear as at any period since, could not be very high. When I hear people grumble at their food I recall the time when we had meat once a week, and sometimes not even that. When bread and jam had to suffice for dinner, I never remember thinking we were badly done to; on the contrary we were grateful for what we got. I have often heard elderly people lament the departure of the good old days, but why, I never realised.
I have heard my father relate that he walked to Wath every morning to his work, and had to be there at 6.30 o’clock. When I think of the privations and sufferings he went through in his early days; of the long hours he worked in order to better himself and to save his children from similar privations, I see nothing to regret in the departure of the early Victorian era. Bad as times are, they are preferable to the fifties and sixties of the last century.
We used to have some fine fun in the hay chambers and barns. Scores of eggs laid by truant hens were to be found by those who looked for them. Unfortunately, when the soldiers were in billet here during the Election Riots of 1865 our treasure-trove was discovered. Our next door neighbour, R. M. Thompson, known amongst his familiars as Ready Money Thompson occupied the position of managing clerk to Henry Badger, solicitor, afterwards known as Badger and Rhodes, and now as Parker Rhodes and Co.
The business being for sale, Mr. R. M. Thompson suggested that my father should buy it. He proved himself a true friend by finding part of the money - an act of kindness never forgotten.
I remember a very narrow escape these premises had from disaster, when I was sent l by of the men for matches. I must, of course,test their efficiency, and having done so, threw one down in my carelessness, setting fire to the shop. I think the only parental hiding I ever had I got then, and it lasted.