Clothes Worn in the Valleys

Here is a description by a Penygraig man of a 'typical' miner's cottage in the early 20th century:

Horsehair sofas and high-backed chairs in the parlour ... the mantle piece was made of slate ... above it stood a wooden over mantle with a centre mirror and small statues with knickknacks. On the wall enlarged photographs of parents, grandparents . . . Boer War generals or King Edward VII or Mr. Gladstone ... Comfortable chairs were scorned as a weakness and arm chairs, like the beds, were made for Spartans (people used to hard living). Iron bedsteads with brass decoration and wire mattresses cost Ł2.10.0d. double, Ł1.10.0d. single ... Eiderdowns were too expensive, so extra warmth in winter was provided by heavy quilts made in West Wales or else home-made patchwork quilts ..

The same source is also interesting for the fashions in clothes of the period. Here is a description of some of the fashions worn:

Men still wore Welsh flannel shirts ... Best or 'Sunday suits, of dark cloth ... No one went hatless; the bowler or cap for most people ... Everyone wore boots; Shoes for men were considered effeminate ... In the early 1900s infant boys still wore frocks until they were "breeched' at three or four years of age, and Until they were seven or eight might be decked Out on Sundays in sailor suits ... Older boys Wore heavy nailed boots, long thick stockings, breeches fastened at the knee, waistcoats, belted jackets, caps ... Female clothing was also heavy and cumbersome (awkward).

Women wore long frocks, dresses or shirts over corsets or stays and abundant underclothing. High necked blouses and 'picture' hats decked with flowers were in fashion in the summer. Generally the only difference between the clothing of women and girls was that the girls were allowed brighter colours ... Shawls were much used . . . babies were carried 'Welsh fashion' in a large warm flannel shawl tucked around the mother's waist...

The food eaten at this time was fairly basic and although the quantity of food eaten by people was less than we eat today, it would seem from recent studies by experts that the quality and balance of their diet was much healthier than ours today. One hot meal would be eaten each day when the miner returned home from the pit. Welsh cawl (soup) was popular or otherwise a meat and potato dinner. Our Ebbw Vale source is also very good for the food of the period 1900-1914 and its price:

Milk was 1 1/2 d a pint, butter 10 1/2d to 1/ld a lb, eggs 1 d, sugar 1 lb for 3 1/2d, tea l0d to 1/10 a lb, large loaves 5 1/2d, small 3d, pork pies 2d, cooked ham 1/ 6d to 1 / 1Od a lb, oranges 1/2d to Id each, Gold Flake cigarettes were 10 for 3d, Lucky Star 6 for Id. Bananas 2 for 1 1/2d ... 1/2d and Id bars of plain chocolate ... Id ribbons of liquorice ... 1/2d paper bags of sherbet ... ice-cream in 1/2d or Id wafers ... Fish and chips shops selling fried fish 2d and 4d and chips ld and 2d.