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Archiver > BEDFORD > 2006-02 > 1140146983


From: "Kirsten Friis Holm Hawkes" <>
Subject: RE: [BDF] Bonnet Sewers and Straw Plaiters
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 14:29:43 +1100
In-Reply-To: <c529b155dd2ce167556b4497da6a23e8@rogers.com>


This is a great description straw plaiters that Eve posted some time ago.
Kind regards
Kirsten


"In Bedfordshire one girl in three was employed as a straw plaiter. Plaiting
straw, in the basic form, was simple triple cross over like children's hair
plaits, but sometimes in very complicated patterns, with peaks and air
holes. It was made in the home or at village plait schools from split long
wheat straw to make ropes of plait, which was then sewn up into hats,
bonnets, straw baskets, and in the coarser form, into round skips for
packaging. It was a major occupation in Bedfordshire, east Bucks and West
Herts.

Luton was the centre of the hat making trade. The straw was collected and
sold to the plaiters by straw dealers or higglers, who also collected
finished plait to take to market. In 1860 an official report noted that a
'well ordered' family engaged in plaiting could 'obtain as much or more than
the husband who was at work on a neighbouring farm'. The home trade was
spoiled by cheap imports from Italy. Luton policemen used to wear straw
helmets in summer. And after the straw hat trade declined and cardboard was
used to make packing boxes, Luton was also the centre for that industry.

Because the straw plait girls could walk round the village and the fields
plaiting away (unlike lace makers, who sat at home on their stools), it was
entirely possible to get up to naughtiness while still apparently working
hard. The plait girls had a bit of a reputation for, friendliness, shall we
say. However, because the straw had to be dampened and kept damp to make it
supple enough to bend without breaking, they tended to wet the straw between
their lips - causing roughness in the end. One ungallant young man observed
that 'kissing a straw plaiter be like kissing the old cow's backside' (which
didn't stop him doing it.) "


-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Roberts [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, 17 February 2006 12:58 PM
To:
Subject: [BDF] Bonnet Sewers and Straw Plaiters

I may be inadvertently going over some old territory for long time listers,
but can anyone enlighten me to the occupations of "Bonnet Sewers" and "Straw
Plaiters" in Dunstable. Since, I have been searching my family members I
have noted these job descriptions for female family members several times
and I am puzzled as to what they relate to.

Thank you,
Chris in Ontario




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