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Archiver > ENG-YKS-BRADFORD > 2003-02 > 1045228454


From:
Subject: [ BRAD] Keighley Character 3
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 08:14:14 EST


Hi List

Hope you still want more of these..........know Gail does! Not sure though
Gail, if you will find any of your more gentile family here...........BUT who
knows!

'Old Blue Nose' (or Dick)
He hired a machine from Leo SOMMA, and sold roast spuds and chestnuts at
t'Top o' Town*
* T 'Top o' Town was the area around the top of the High Street, and the
bottom of West Lane, and the bottom of the present day Oakworth Road.

'Spud Mick' (Michael MCDONALD)
Had his hot (roasted) potatoe machine at the bottom of Cavendish Street, just
outside the coal yard. It was a fantastic shining apparatus and he sold 3
potatoes for 1d

'Sydney Pea Can' (WALKER)
walked around the streets, selling brown peas, from a cart pulled by a
donkey. It was sais he stirred his peas with his wooden leg. He lived down
Greengate.

'Peas All 'Ot'
Was another pea hawker. He carried a can with a small fire under it, to keep
the peas warm. He kept small pieces of coal in his pocket. He also lived down
Greengate.

'Johnny Born Drunk'
Was an out porter at the railway station. He used to stagger as he walked. He
had a hand cart, with which he would take stallholders' wares to the old
Market for them. He would work regularly with another man for the larger
loads. There were another two or three out-porters, but 'Born Drunk' gor all
the cream of the work from the stallholders, who would travel around the
local markets. He lived in the Kip.

'Aeroplane Jimmy'
Was a landscape gardner, laying out gardens. He walked with his arm
outstretched behind his back. He lived at Eddie's lodging house.

Lizzie CLURE
Lived in Bocking and smoked her clay pipe. She used to walk around the
foundries and building sites. She was 60 in 1945, but always seemed very old.

Joe CLURE
the brother of Lizzie, used to sing in the Catholic Cluc, stood on a buffet,
to reach the higher notes. He was a tatter and earned his living from
collecting the rags-and-bones.

'Jimmy in the Bucket'
Would carry his bucket around with him, and would stand on his hands with his
head in the bucket and sing old songs in pubs and clubs. His head would be
beetroot red at the end of his turn. He lived in the Kip.

'Frizzie Lizzie' (Elizabeth MCDONALD)
she was an old lady who lived on damside, used to go cadging broken bottles,
rags, bones around the Market and elsewhere. She was only 4' 6" - 4' 7" tall.
Woman, if they were not careful, would be told their hair was like Frizzie
Lizzies's.

'Old' Sam ROWAN
Sold bobbins of cotton, buttons and tape, house to house. He carried his
wares in a big basket with a black oilcloth cover. He lived in Ivy Place,
Damside.

'Snigger' BINNS
was a well-known lady, who lived by Quebec Bridge, he husband used to tar
roofs.

'Mother' PERRY
Had a shop at the top of Snigger Binns' (Seedy) Hill, and was a second hand
clothes dealer. She would travel around the big houses asking if they had any
clothes which she could buy from them.

'Peggy' KELLY
Was a very small woman, only 4'11" tall, she kept a second hand clothes shop
at t' Top o' Town. Her real name was MArgaret KELLY, and she would not answer
to Peggy.

'Old Bill' LAYCOCK
Had a ragshop on Mill Street. He bought old and torn clothing which was used
for Shoddy, papermaking and tab rugs.

Tom NORTON
kept another ragshop (belonging to LISTER's crockery shop) in Mill Street.
Only had one leg.

Edmund LUND
Went around the streets, selling from a box cart, pipe spills and firewood.
He had a speech impediement, and spoke in a slow drawl. His big red round
face was like a tomato.

Warmest Wishes




Jan in Bronte Country
Co-List Admin Eng-Yorks, Bradford

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