INTRODUCTION
Dedication
Foreword
The shops
Money in Witham, 1910-1939
THE QUOTATIONS
The day begins
Supplying the shops
Hard work
Delivery
Customers (1)
Customers (2)
Other ways of shopping
The end of the day
Foreword (re-written in 2000)
This publication consists of memories of Witham people, word for word. It relates to shops in Witham between about 1910 and 1939. Most of the people worked in the shops; others were customers. It has of course only been possible to reproduce a fraction of what 1 have been told, and I apologise for numerous omissions.
I first compiled the booklet in 1983, and in the year 2000 I am still working on the history of Witham. With the passage of time it has become even more important to save what we can remember of the past. And this applies to souvenirs of all sorts, not just words. Today's ordinary things soon become history. It is often the smallest items that are the most interesting in years to come, because they are the rarest - old shopping lists, letters, carrier bags, kitchen tools .... There are many organisations which try to preserve such things for the future, for other people to look at and enjoy. Most will take them on loan if the owner does not wish to make them a gift. Two of them are mentioned below.
As I write, there are discussions in progress about working towards a Witham museum. Contact details are:
Witham Town Council, Town Hall, 61 Newland Street, Witham, Essex, CM8 2BT, England.
Phone: +44 (0) 1376 520627
Email: audreyharrington@witham-t-council.demon.co.uk
The Essex Record Office at Chelmsford has specialised facilities for keeping papers, and it is mostly because of the E.R.O. that I have been able to enjoy collecting information about Witham for more than thirty years. When they receive documents they may be able to let the owner have copies. Material can be made available to the public straight away, or kept private for a specified time. There is also a Sound Archive for recorded material including reminiscences. Contact details are:
Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH, England.
Phone: (+44) (0) 1245 244 644.
Email: ero.enquiry@essexcc.gov.uk. Web: www.essexcc.gov.uk/ero/