General Chat

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‘No door was locked – Poverty was everywhere but so were the Ten Commandments’’ This sentence comes from the synopsis of a book I have just read We are often told that our ancestors rarely locked the doors to their homes, and that theft was apparently not a problem. Was it because the poor had so little that there was nothing to take? Was it the fear of God that stopped people from stealing things? Anyone any theories or comments they would like to make?

Hi Dee, Your post reminded me of a poem in a local Welsh history book I read years ago... I am not sure who wrote it...thought it was apt to your thread. The Good Old Days We met, we married, a long time ago, He worked for long hours and wages were low, No telly, no radio, no bath, times were bad, Just a cold water tap and a walk up the yard. No holidays abroad, no carpets on floors, We had coal on the fire - we never locked doors, Our children arrived - no pill in those days, And we brought them up without state aid. No valium, no drugs, no LSD, We cured our pains with a good cup of tea, If you were sick, you were treated at once, Not 'fill in a form and come back next month'. No vandals, no muggings, there was nowt to rob, In fact, you were rich with a couple of bob, People were happier in those far off days, Kinder and caring in so many ways. Milkman and paper boys would whistle and sing, And a night out at the flicks was a wonderful thing, Oh, we had our share of troubles and strife, But we had to face it, that was life. But now I'm alone and look back through the years, I don't think of the bad times, the troubles and tears, I remember the blessings, our home and our love, We shared them together and I thank God above.

Hi Cas Thanks for adding that poem, I think it just about sums up life in the 'good old days' Dee xx

Hi Dee In the early twentieth century the poor had very little if anything at all. There was no welfare state then and it was usually a case of living in squalor trying to eke out a living. Some even rented out space in their home which was usually one/two rooms with no running water/sanitation etc. So I would say for some at least if was safe to leave the door unlocked because they had nothing. Juliexx

Cas....what a lovely poem!

My hubbys family lived in Tiger Bay where it was renown for being pretty rough....however, down there they never locked up doors, they just placed a big stone by the door to keep it open....people trusted one another and the community spirit was huge....everyone looked out for one another....however, now it is all very different unfortunately.

Cas, an old neighbour who died aged 100 had that poem said at her funeral, I agree it's lovely. Dee, I was surprised a few years back , and I'm only talking about the 90's, when we were on holiday on Skye and I asked the lady we were renting the cottage from for the keys. 'Och we don't bother with such things' she told us. The door was never locked for the fortnight we were there! No-one locked their doors, not because they didn't have anything to steal, the houses all had every mod con, but I think more because in the smaller communities there is more respect. People on the Islands and many other small close knit communities are brought up all their lives living together and they see and appreciate the hard work their neighbours put in, every one knows each other and helps each other. Extended families all live near-by. People are more respectful of each other. In the larger towns and cities I think the feeling of 'community' has gone and with it respect seems to have flown out of the window too! Christine

Hi Christine I can believe that would happen on Skye As you say the sense of Community certainly seems to have gone Dee xx

We were just discussing a similar thing when I was up North for New Year. When I was a kid, Dad would come in from the pub at closing time on New Year's Eve, we'd have a spread ready on the table then everybody passed through everybodies home after midnight for a bite, a New Year's drink and sometimes have a sing song until the early hours. I used to LOVE it! Apparently you wouldn't DARE do that now!

When I was younger. what you say sums it up. We were poor; more god-fearing and police fearing. I f anyone offended, their name appeared in the paper and they were disgraced. As per the 'war'feeling, you were all poor together and so stuck with each other - where I lived you were so close together it was like an extended family. Slightly off thread, when i was training to be a policeman in 1955 we had to learn the definition of 'sacrilage'. Our instructor was most apologetic about it 'You,ve got to learn it cos it,s part of the law, but you will never have to use it cos no-one ever breaks into a church' (Which at that time were often left unlocked so people could call in at any time.) (The poem above is lovely) Happy days

no quite appropriate for this thread, but hope you dont mind, it says so much Alice Taking the Census It was the first day of census, and all through the land; The pollster was ready ... a black book in hand. He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride; His book and some quills were tucked close by his side. A long winding ride down a road barely there; Toward the smell of fresh bread wafting up through the air. The woman was tired, with lines on her face; And wisps of brown hair she tucked back into place. She gave him some water ... as they sat at the table; And she answered his questions ... the best she was able. He asked of her children ... Yes, she had quite a few; The oldest was twenty, the youngest not quite two. She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red; His sister, she whispered, was napping in bed. She noted each person who lived there with pride; And she felt the faint stirrings of the wee one inside. He noted the sex, the colour, the age .. The marks from the quill soon filled up the page. At the number of children, she nodded her head; And saw her lips quiver for the three that were dead. The places of birth she 'never forgot'; Was it Kansas? or Utah? Or Oregon ... or not? They came from Scotland, of that she was clear; But she wasn't quite sure just how long they'd been here. They spoke of employment, of schooling and such; They could read some and write some ... though really not much. When the questions were answered, his job there was done; So he mounted his horse and he rode toward the sun. We can imagine his voice loud and clear; 'May God Bless you all for another ten years.' Now picture a time warp ... it's now you and me; As we search for the people on our family tree. We squint at the census and scroll down so slow; As we search for that entry from long, long ago. Could they only imagine on that long ago day; That the entries they made would effect us this way? If they knew, would they wonder at the yearning we feel; And the searching that makes them so increasingly real. We can hear if we listen the words they impart; Through their blood in our veins and their voices in our heart.

All the poemns touched me but Alice's pulled a heart string. Every time I do a little on my tree, or make a new discovery I swing between joy and sadness, but most of all pride, that after all these years I have found and given my Iron workers, farmers, brick setters and hard worked women a place in the future. People who did little but work hard, not carrying fame or fortune with them, but they were my blood and I hope they know, I know them, and feel proud that I carry a part of them with me.

Well said Lemon Nelly!

Lemon, you can so very much picture that second verse...

It's been interesting reading peoples comments, and thank you Alice for adding the verse Dee ;-))

Thanks Veronica for adding those, I hadn't come across them before Dee ;-))

I know you are probley talking about later than this, but - I saw a programme a couple of month ago and the door lock was only invented around (1860? not sure exactly) And even then they all work by the same key - so you would still have been able to open someone elses door! So maybe thats why not many people bothered buying them. Louise.

Dee The poem that Cas put up describes our house the way we lived when I was young and the way houses were one thing most home had were a lot of love and money could not buy that thanks girls Howardxxx

Louise I hadn't thought about when locks came into general usage, I shall look into that. Maybe my tutor will know about it tomorrow Dee xx