Talking Wall:
Social History at Boxfields Carolyn Pote August 2016 Photos and memories courtesy of the Lucas family except where stated. This article is an account of social change visualised by the continuity of a garden wall in Boxfields. It tells of rural life in the decade before and after the Second World War, initially with little motorised transport and a far more hand to mouth existence, and the subsequent excitement of visits from those bringing goods and commerce. |
Social Change in One Row of Houses
In an earlier issue Sylvia Lucas detailed her family’s history in a small rank of houses at Boxfields and you can read her story at Lucas Family. You can also read about the row of houses itself at Boxfields Story. Further photographs of the extended Lucas family, show a little of how Boxfields evolved, and illustrate how life and society changed over the decades.
In an earlier issue Sylvia Lucas detailed her family’s history in a small rank of houses at Boxfields and you can read her story at Lucas Family. You can also read about the row of houses itself at Boxfields Story. Further photographs of the extended Lucas family, show a little of how Boxfields evolved, and illustrate how life and society changed over the decades.
If a Wall Could Talk!
The photos below feature the garden wall of the Boxfields, which originally ran the entire length of the row to the tumps. Most feature the wall opposite numbers 8 and 9 (as was). The photos capture six generations of the Lucas family from Joshua Lucas in 1930 to current Lucas generations. Intended to capture family memories, they have also recorded the extensive social change of the time, when outside toilet blocks, utilitarian allotments and land from the 1930s gave way to private formal gardens and flowerbeds.
Below left: Joshua Lucas and John Lucas junior pose on the wall in about 1930. Down the small path on the left of the picture can be seen the outside toilet block used by all the houses in the row. This clearer in the photo below right seen behind a young John Lucas junior and the allotment of cottage number 1.
The photos below feature the garden wall of the Boxfields, which originally ran the entire length of the row to the tumps. Most feature the wall opposite numbers 8 and 9 (as was). The photos capture six generations of the Lucas family from Joshua Lucas in 1930 to current Lucas generations. Intended to capture family memories, they have also recorded the extensive social change of the time, when outside toilet blocks, utilitarian allotments and land from the 1930s gave way to private formal gardens and flowerbeds.
Below left: Joshua Lucas and John Lucas junior pose on the wall in about 1930. Down the small path on the left of the picture can be seen the outside toilet block used by all the houses in the row. This clearer in the photo below right seen behind a young John Lucas junior and the allotment of cottage number 1.
It had become standard for houses to have internal toilet facilities by the 1960s, although those with enough money had them commonly from the 1930s. Thus the toilet block was dismantled in the 1960s once all properties had internal plumbing and sewage facilities installed. The floor of the block still remains as an historic monument of sorts !
Transport
Before the motor car was the primary mode of transport, every household, particularly those in rural locations, had bicycles. The photo above shows the properties in about 1937.
The road between the houses and gardens was a narrow, mud driveway before the War. In the picture below left you can see Bob Lavender, who lived at number 4, on his Ferguson TE20 in about 1958. Marta Milanowski can be seen to the right with Pete Lovering and Mrs Poole senior to the left.
The driveway was widened and tarmaced in the late 1960s enabling easier access for vehicles. The photograph below right from the 1960s shows Rosemary and Andrew Lucas playing with their father John Lucas in the background. Mr Neely stands by his open car door.
Before the motor car was the primary mode of transport, every household, particularly those in rural locations, had bicycles. The photo above shows the properties in about 1937.
The road between the houses and gardens was a narrow, mud driveway before the War. In the picture below left you can see Bob Lavender, who lived at number 4, on his Ferguson TE20 in about 1958. Marta Milanowski can be seen to the right with Pete Lovering and Mrs Poole senior to the left.
The driveway was widened and tarmaced in the late 1960s enabling easier access for vehicles. The photograph below right from the 1960s shows Rosemary and Andrew Lucas playing with their father John Lucas in the background. Mr Neely stands by his open car door.
With the advent of cars came the beginning of garages. The photo below, from the early 1960s, shows the car of Maurice Holder from number 3 parked in a somewhat basic garage on the land opposite, with his father’s garden shed behind.
Doorstep Traders
Before the advent of supermarkets and out-of-town retail parks, many residents had to rely on occasional door-to-door vendors. Some were disreputable hawkers and peddlers selling inferior goods but the wary householder would avoid these in favour of regular traders who they could rely upon.
Before the advent of supermarkets and out-of-town retail parks, many residents had to rely on occasional door-to-door vendors. Some were disreputable hawkers and peddlers selling inferior goods but the wary householder would avoid these in favour of regular traders who they could rely upon.
The goods offered in this way, often included items that were too heavy to be carried by foot from the centre of the village, such as the coal man and vendors of pots and pans. Other salesmen, such as the fishmonger, called, offering short-life items that needed quick disposal.
Boxfields residents of the time remember Hancock's Coal Merchants of Corsham delivering coal to Boxfields from the 1950s. Before that it was a trader from the top of The Firs, Quarry Hill. Mr Smith from Highway Cottage on Quarry Hill delivered fruit and vegetables every week in the 1950s. His Boxfields' delivery day was a Sunday. Threshers from Bathford Hill, delivered bread twice a week, and milk was also delivered in cans by Margaret (surname and Dairy escaping memory!). She delivered from the 1940s as Maurice Holder remembers her delivering when he was a child, and she was still delivering milk in the mid 1970s ! |
There were vendors of occasional domestic products like buttons, ribbons and cleaning goods, and, most looked forward to of all, were the treats for children such as fizzy drinks and ice creams.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, an ice cream seller, seen left, would cycle from Bath to Box, and sell his goods door-to-door at Boxfields in a similar way to modern ice cream vans. These ice cream sellers were known as the Stop me and Buy one men.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, an ice cream seller, seen left, would cycle from Bath to Box, and sell his goods door-to-door at Boxfields in a similar way to modern ice cream vans. These ice cream sellers were known as the Stop me and Buy one men.
Self-sufficiency
The gardens (or perhaps more accurately described as land belonging to the properties) were still used predominantly for functional or produce purposes in the 1930s, as shown in the photos below from about 1933. The shed seen just behind Dot Fletcher (nee Lucas) in the photo below left was a chicken hatchery. The photo bottom right shows John Lucas and Kit Webster.
The gardens (or perhaps more accurately described as land belonging to the properties) were still used predominantly for functional or produce purposes in the 1930s, as shown in the photos below from about 1933. The shed seen just behind Dot Fletcher (nee Lucas) in the photo below left was a chicken hatchery. The photo bottom right shows John Lucas and Kit Webster.
As well as produce grown for domestic needs, any surplus could be sold to generate a small income. The parents of John Lucas kept chickens for eggs and meat, which they bred in the hatchery in the garden of number 9 Boxfields, see photograph right. Bob Lavender still remembers the potent smell of the kerosene lamps used to keep the eggs and chicks warm. They sold the surplus eggs in Bath.
By the 1960s, following the end of rationing in 1954, and the subsequent rise in average income, there had been a rapid growth in consumerism with the advent of supermarkets and personal car transport, and a reduction in both self-sufficient domestic food cultivation and door-to-door salesmen. There was also the desire to remove unwanted memories of life during the Second World War. The gardens began to change to reflect this. An air raid shelter built during the Second World War used to be located in the garden of number 9, but was later removed. |
The Future
The world shown in the photos above of the inter-war years has now largely disappeared as can be seen in the photo below left of Sylvia Lucas with her grandchildren in 1992. Out of shot to the left, the wall at number 8 now supports an ornamental fishpond, and a formal lawn. Bedding and landscaping has replaced the functional buildings and space for produce. Over time, the wall’s continuity from number 1 through to number 9 was broken to make way for parking spaces and garages. Even the Tumps themselves have been a formal garden since the 1960s.
At this point we leave the wall and the story of Boxfields. What changes will Jack, Sylvia’s great grandson and the sixth generation of this Lucas family, see in his lifetime? His handprint (below right) records his part in the story, there for future generations and their memories of the past. Perhaps they will look back and marvel at the changes they have seen from today's old fashioned world, through to their modern day.
The world shown in the photos above of the inter-war years has now largely disappeared as can be seen in the photo below left of Sylvia Lucas with her grandchildren in 1992. Out of shot to the left, the wall at number 8 now supports an ornamental fishpond, and a formal lawn. Bedding and landscaping has replaced the functional buildings and space for produce. Over time, the wall’s continuity from number 1 through to number 9 was broken to make way for parking spaces and garages. Even the Tumps themselves have been a formal garden since the 1960s.
At this point we leave the wall and the story of Boxfields. What changes will Jack, Sylvia’s great grandson and the sixth generation of this Lucas family, see in his lifetime? His handprint (below right) records his part in the story, there for future generations and their memories of the past. Perhaps they will look back and marvel at the changes they have seen from today's old fashioned world, through to their modern day.