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A 19th century Peebles drapery business.

Fieldworkers
Date 1969
Track ID 5271
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1969.188.B3

Original Tape ID

SA1969.188

Summary

A 19th century Peebles drapery business.

When the parents of Robert Veitch [born 1889] married, his grandfather lent them £500 to start a drapery business. His mother trimmed hats and did dressmaking, sometimes working till 2.00 a.m. The business grew until they had 26 dressmakers (bodice makers, sleeve makers and skirt makers), working in the flat above the shop. They had two or three girls in a little room with a skylight, which they knew was against the Factory Act. When a factory inspector visited, the girls were sent down to the shop, as if they were shop assistants.

Item Subject/Person

Veitch, Robert

Item Location

County - Peeblesshire

Parish - Peebles

Village/Place - Peebles

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good