Invisible Histories project interview: Richard Haworth and Company - Peter Downing
TitleInvisible Histories project interview: Richard Haworth and Company - Peter Downing
ReferenceSUBJ/INVHIST/1/IH016
Date
28 Feb 2013
CreatorFrance, Mike
Production date 2013-02-28 - 2013-02-28
Scope and ContentAudio file and summary (Word file) of interview with Peter Downing ex-employee of Richard Haworth and Company.
Peter Downing worked at Richard Haworth’s for 7 years as an apprentice joiner, following in the steps of his granddad and uncle, who both worked there too. Peter spent a lot of his time at Haworth’s going to Salford Building College, creating a long working day, but allowing him to gain valuable skills. A general description of some aspects of the mill is given, talking about weavers, and different tools. He speaks about those he worked with in a fond way, despite a lot of them being older and a bit strict. He eventually moved on to a firm called Seddon’s in order to get away from being seen as ‘the lad’ at work.
He also talks about holidays to Blackpool and the Isle of Man, learning to drive and to dance, and the high levels of employment in the past. Arthur Clark of ‘The Hollies’ is mentioned as having worked at the mill, and Peter relates that he was in the same class as him at school. The interview winds down with the thought that since the Council ripped Ordsall apart Peter is not in contact with people from his time at the mill anymore.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are the interviewee’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Working Class Movement Library
Peter Downing worked at Richard Haworth’s for 7 years as an apprentice joiner, following in the steps of his granddad and uncle, who both worked there too. Peter spent a lot of his time at Haworth’s going to Salford Building College, creating a long working day, but allowing him to gain valuable skills. A general description of some aspects of the mill is given, talking about weavers, and different tools. He speaks about those he worked with in a fond way, despite a lot of them being older and a bit strict. He eventually moved on to a firm called Seddon’s in order to get away from being seen as ‘the lad’ at work.
He also talks about holidays to Blackpool and the Isle of Man, learning to drive and to dance, and the high levels of employment in the past. Arthur Clark of ‘The Hollies’ is mentioned as having worked at the mill, and Peter relates that he was in the same class as him at school. The interview winds down with the thought that since the Council ripped Ordsall apart Peter is not in contact with people from his time at the mill anymore.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are the interviewee’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Working Class Movement Library
Extent1 audio file and 1 word file
LanguageEnglish
Persons keywordRichard Haworth and Company, Downing, Peter
SubjectWorkers, Oral history, Cotton workers, Cotton industry, Joiners, Apprentices
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfile
Normal locationDigital Resource - S:\Audio visual archive\Invisible Histories project