KINGTON, Herefordshire
- Edwards, W - Memories of Kington. ©1997 Kington History Society.
ISBN 0 9531103 0 3
A reprint of the 'recollections' of Mr W. Edwards, born in Spond, Kington in 1855,
first published in the Kington Times in 1938.
Here is one quite delicious quote, suggesting that whilst times might
have changed, some things stay the same...
"In the sixties there were several changes in the costumes
of men and women. For two seasons 1864-5 there were very hot summers, and the men
wore all-white suits, called the French fashion. The women continued to wear a number
of petticoats reaching their boot-tops. Then they adopted the never-to-be-forgotten cane
or steel springing crinolines. I must mention Lucy Walters and her sister as the most
notable girls, tall and good-looking, from the Broken Bank, daughters of old William
Walters. They were called Broad Gauge and Narrow Gauge, and Lucy needed all the
roadway. On a windy day it was a common sight to see these wide crinolines blow over
girls' heads, to the delight and yells of joy from the children."
[Extract from Article 7. 'More from the 1860's', pp39-46.]
The Kington History Society may be contacted c/o the Kington Library,
68 Bridge Street, Kington, Herefordshire, HR5 3DJ.
URL of this page: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/Kington/index.html