Flicking back to 1910
JEFF Blanch, who took part in a local history walk run by CHAP, has generously shared a magazine from 115 years ago.
The November 1910 Downend Parish Magazine contains all sorts of interesting information, listing forthcoming religious services and meetings for groups.
They include a Bible class for women and matching Bible class for men, Sunday school and “mothers’ meeting”, as well as the Band of Hope. This was a non-denominational movement, set up in 1847, which aimed to teach children the importance and principles of sobriety and teetotalism, being the children’s wing of the Temperance Society.
The Band of Hope put on marches and demonstrations to oppose the evils of hard liquor, as well as activities like magic lantern slide shows and public speakers. Members – who reached a peak of nearly three million in 1935 – signed a pledge not to drink alcohol.
Baptisms, marriages and burials are given. We would consider the ages of many of the burials young today – 63, 65 and 77 – although one hardy man, Charles Leonard, had died aged 81.
The magazine provides comprehensive details of animals entered into various categories at the Downend Show, including livestock such as ‘Most likely bird for working purposes, selling price not to exceed 10/–’, and several examples of ‘Magpie, any colour’ and ‘Mice – black, blue or chocolate’.
There are nine categories for rabbits, from ‘Lops’ and ‘Belgians under five months’ to ‘English, selling 30/–’.
But it’s the adverts that really catch your attention.
Shortwood Coal and Coke Co. of Mangotsfield offer “factors of the very best house, steam, gas & anthracite coals”, promising: “Satisfaction assured, Quality and weight guaranteed, Our prices are reasonable, Our quality good – Try our 18/6 Quality. No rubbish!”
Wine and spirit merchant and tobacconist J Meredith of Staple Hill promotes its “British & Foreign” cigars, ales and stouts “from the wood and in bottle”, and assures readers, in capital letters, that it supplies families.
It also offers some intriguing products: Lemco, Glendenning’s Meat & Malt Wine, and Hall’s Coca Wine.
Hosiery, fancy and general drapery store Thos. Keeling, of Staple Hill High Street, markets “a Good Assortment and Good Value in Ladies’ and Children’s Hosiery, Outfitting and Underclothing, Men’s Hosiery, Half-Hose Shirts and Underwear, Dresses, Ribbons, Lace, Haberdashery, Muslins, Delaines, Prints & Shirtings, Calicoes, Linens, Sheetings, Cretonnes, Quilts, Blankets, Flannels and Flannelettes.”
I wonder how many of those items we are unfamiliar with today!
For more information about Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP), visit www.downendchap.org.