Romance and Celebrations
"I had a really good start to me bottom drawer" (Mavis)
Many
women got married while working at Rowntrees. These celebrations
provided a welcome break from the factory routine.
Certain “privileges” were offered to the
bride-to-be such as being able to entertain workmates.
Friends would bring presents and enjoy cake and tea
but, as Mavis recalls, practical jokes were also played:
“they would do something to you, or to your coat
or whatever…They tied me up and they put all balloons
on me coat…”
Despite needing to employ married women, Rowntrees
officially promoted a domestic ideal of ‘good’
housewives and mothers. The conflict between staying
at home and wanting to work was reflected in many women’s
lives. As Amy remembers “I said I was going to
finish Rowntrees when I married but I didn’t.
I went back to buy two bikes and I was there 46 years
after that.”
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