This photo looks almost medieval but, amazingly, it is taken in Willingham – probably around 1890. We don’t know the exact location but the buildings in the background are probably Church St and the barn on Long Lane (still there). One hopes that the shanty thatched buildings are for animals, not people. Life goes on and the woman in ragged apron is hangout washing, probably washed in the big tub on the left. This photo is labelled “before the fire” and there is another with just rubble labelled “after the fire”. Such it was the way of life in old willingham.
February 2024
