Some new goodies have been added to the shelves of The Emporium recently, just in time for the weekend, and we're pleased to announce the return of some old friends - Rags, Tuppence, Tatters, Bill and Binks.
Have a great Bank Holiday Weekend - hope you find some sunshine somewhere.
Do any of you remember watching the wonderful Victoria Wood TV Programme "Housewife 49"? Based on the true life story taken from the wartime diary of Nella Last? Drawn from Nella Last's wartime experiences, it not only showed personal aspects of Nella's life but many shared experiences of life at home during 1940s, Making Do and Mending, eking out rations, her experiences of Women's Voluntary Service. She had applied to the Mass Observation Service at the start of the war who had requested ordinary people's accounts of daily life during the war to be kept as a record. If you haven't seen it, it's well worth watching and so too are her books, Nella Last's War and Nella Last's Peace. Both offer a fascinating and very personal insight into the hard lives faced by those at home during the War.
One of the very popular magazines of the time was "Housewife" magazine, maybe Nella may have read some herself. Here at The Emporium we are delighted to have our many 1940s versions of "Housewife" magazines for sale. Ranging from the beginning of the war to 1949 we have been happily reading them in the Stockroom and have somewhat reluctantly started to add them to the Boudoir shelves to share with you.
These magazines offer a real insight into the lives of women at home and working in the Forces, Land Army and Voluntary Services during the 1940s.
Full of advertisements reflecting national shortages in provisions and the necessity of "making do" and being thrify.
Hints on recycling old and worn clothing into new items - turning two old blouses into one new one for the summer when the clothing coupons are running low for example. Making Juliet Caps from string, dressing gowns from dance frocks, children's clothes from adults. The most gorgeous knitting patterns too.
Recipes to eke out the rations and liven up the supper table, from breakfast to lunches to take out to work. Cakes, puddings to ring the changes. Tips on bottling fruit to use in the long winter months. Being inventive and resourceful is the key.
So slowly, very slowly, we are parting with them. Reluctantly saying 'goodbye' to a slice of social history and certainly making many a note about all the tips and hints they offer. Who knows, Nella Last may well have got a few from them herself!
It's lovely to see a couple of our items in this month's "Homes & Antiques" magazine. It's a very cheery, bright and floral edition and we're thrilled to be a part of it. Makes you feel that Spring is on its way....
In 1930 Mary Bagot Stack created the Women’sLeagueofHealth&Beauty.. She had long believed in the power of exercise and in the 1920s, when she moved to Manchester she saw that women working in mills could benefit from systematic exercise to invigorate them after a hard day. She believed completely in the power of women to improve the world. She inspired many and it wasn't long before huge public displays of physical exercise were taking place throughout the country. For many women it was the first opportunity to participate in sports and physical exercise. The first, in Hyde Park, drew 160,000 members and was caught on newsreels at the time.
WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF HEALTH AND BEAUTY
(click on image to watch video link)
Her classes were popular and affordable and everybody could join in. So much so, that you may well remember Lady Agnes in Upstairs Downstairs having a good old stretch and swing in one of the episodes.
Good news if you've overindulged on the old chocolate front this Easter, we are thrilled to have a copy of her popular 1930s book "Building The Body Beautiful" on our Library shelves at the moment and in honour of Mrs Bagot Stack we've placed it on one of the highest shelves so that we have to stretch as much as possible in our starched aprons!
Well despite donning our thermals, woolly vests and socks, we have been finding it very difficult to keep warm and carry on round here.
Having a Stockroom full of goodies waiting to be listed has helped though.
There's nothing like running up and down a rickety old ladder to reach the highest shelves to keep you warm.
Perching precariously from the rungs whilst one of us holds on for dear lives is enough to make our temperatures rise.
The results have been pleasing though and well worth the tummy turning escapades.
We have new treasure in all Departments and the Emporium is showing signs of Spring and Easter at last (well if the weather's not going to oblige, it was the least we could do).
