Oral History collection: Garfield Kift interviewed by Sandra Thomas about Newton village in the 1920s and 1930s.

TH91i Track 1. [00:00:12] Community: Garfield Kift talking about Newton Village in the 1920's and 1930's. [00:00:50] Community: Pear Tree Cottage Newton. [00:01:20] Community: Largest pear tree in the garden - 2 men could not put their arms around the trunk. [00:02:12] Community: Describes the cottage in great detail. [00:07:20] Community: Finishes describing cottage. [00:07:36] Community: Went to school in Newton attached to St Peters Church. Now a restaurant called The School Room. [00:08:51] Community: Describes in detail the life of the school with teachers names and timetable. [00:09:21] Community: Went to Oystermouth School at 11 yrs old. [00:10:31] Social: Writing an essay for 'penmanship' classes. [00:11:14] Social: He was marked against the work of his father and grandfather. [00:11:50] Social: Describes social classes. [00:12:34] Social: Trip to Llanwrtyd Wells by train - won in school and went as a treat. [00:13:02] Social: Children of business people were not allowed to play with children of dockers etc. [00:13:35] Social: Lots of class distinction. [00:13:45] Community: Walk down to Caswell Valley as a trip singing around a camp fire. [00:14:39] Community: Could hire a Charabanc from Blackpill. It went to Oxwich, but people had to get out and push it up the hill. [00:15:30] Community: Up early to walk to Oxwich and watch the Norton motor bike trials. [00:16:22] Social: Every area had it's 'gangs'. Built tree houses in the woods. [00:16:45] Community: Everyone in village used to go up the farm and help with the harvest. Farmers wife would feed them and they ate in the fields. [00:17:37] Social: All the boys wore smocks in those days and the preacher used to give him a penny to hear him swear to prove he was a boy!. [00:18:50] Social: Went to Paraclete Hall for magic lanterns show. [00:19:20] Social: Because they went to a church school they had to go to church three times on Sundays. [00:19:56] Social: After church they would go to Langland and come back in time for wash up and dinner. No-one allowed to speak at the table. [00:20:43] Social: 1926 and the depression was a bad time. Father had an accident. Very poor family.Sick people got a meat ticket. 6d worth of meat lasted a week along with bones. [00:22:29] Social: Bakers let you buy half a loaf or a quarter, 2oz tea, one slice bacon (for the rich). [00:23:31] Social: Always had a Sunday dinner, whichever way it was done! Families and neighbours would swap newspapers to read. [00:24:38] Social: Means testing for Parish relief, inspector would come and check the family members. If they had 8 chairs and only 7 family, they had to sell a chair! . [00:26:38] Community: Norton and Mumbles had their own Parish, separate from Swansea. [00:27:43] Community: 5 farms in Newton. [00:28:21] Community: Used to help filling coal bags and delivering coal. [00:29:20] Community: Names the farmers and their farms. Characters. [00:29:30] Community: The Woolacotts of Newton. [00:31:40] Community: Talks about development of Newton Village - now built up and drainage installed. [00:33:20] Community: Describes the three wells that were in Newton, and the Windmill. [00:34:23] Community: The reservoir being built, two thirds of it underground, playing there, accident as a boy there - nearly lost his leg. [00:36:20] Community: Pear tree cottage now demolished, electric sub station was put there. [00:36:54] Community: Development of the Cemetery and Newton Road.