I can recall that sometime in the early 60's, Iwas asking my dad why there was a small notch cut into the scullery (kitchenette) window and a similar notch cut into the frame.
Dad explained that the notches were made by his father in order to make a gap through which to run an electrical cable to provide power for lighting to the Anderson Shelter that was in the garden during WWII.
Granddad had an electrical business in Talford Road, Peckham. Apparently he was one of a team of men who provided electric lights to Buckingham Palace, so I have royal connections.
The lawn in the garden, where the shelter had been partially buried, had been replaced, but it sagged like a hammock, so I had the unenvious task of helping dad lift the turf, level the soil and replace the lawn.
As we had no bath, we had to trudge the mile or so to Dulwich Baths at Goose Green, to clean up and get some relief for the back ache, with a long hot soak.
Some memories never leave you!
If you wanted an extra long soak, you just called out "more hot in number nn" (where nn=whatever bath cubical you happened to be in), and the attendant would deliver a load of boiling water via an enormous tap.
One small problem. Some unscrupulous bathers would call out for hot water in a different cubicle, so that the occupants looked like lobsters when then came out.
Okay, on occasion, that was m
One small problem. Some unscrupulous bathers would call out for hot water in a different cubicle, so that the occupants looked like lobsters when then came out.
Okay, on occasion, that was me!
Pictures, An old and badly rusted Anderson shelter, that has in it's time been coneverted for use as a garden shed, on display in the courtyard of Bedford Museum, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, January 2007, Simon Speed, in the public domain
Granddad had an electrical business in Talford Road, Peckham. Apparently he was one of a team of men who provided electric lights to Buckingham Palace, so I have royal connections.
The lawn in the garden, where the shelter had been partially buried, had been replaced, but it sagged like a hammock, so I had the unenvious task of helping dad lift the turf, level the soil and replace the lawn.
As we had no bath, we had to trudge the mile or so to Dulwich Baths at Goose Green, to clean up and get some relief for the back ache, with a long hot soak.
Some memories never leave you!
If you wanted an extra long soak, you just called out "more hot in number nn" (where nn=whatever bath cubical you happened to be in), and the attendant would deliver a load of boiling water via an enormous tap.
One small problem. Some unscrupulous bathers would call out for hot water in a different cubicle, so that the occupants looked like lobsters when then came out.
Okay, on occasion, that was m
One small problem. Some unscrupulous bathers would call out for hot water in a different cubicle, so that the occupants looked like lobsters when then came out.
Okay, on occasion, that was me!
Pictures, An old and badly rusted Anderson shelter, that has in it's time been coneverted for use as a garden shed, on display in the courtyard of Bedford Museum, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, January 2007, Simon Speed, in the public domain
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