Food Shopping

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During the early twentieth century food was usually bought daily because

• many families were poor and managed from day to day
• many homes had pests, such as mice or cockroaches
• refrigerators were not available, or affordable, for working class families
• shopping was bought in small amounts and carried home after work

‘Going shopping’ usually involved visiting a number of small local shops including the butchers, bakers and general grocers to buy food to last for the next day or two. Trips to central Walsall were considered unnecessary, except in special circumstances.

Witness

Referring to whether her mother ever went to Walsall town centre to do the shopping: “Probably, though I wouldn’t think it was a regular thing, it wasn’t necessary, everything you wanted was there on the Green.”

Mrs B, Lort's Buildings, Spout Lane, 1930s until 1950s)

Witness

“My mom bought the food fresh more or less every day, or every other day, so there was no real need for a fridge.”

(Mr L, Port Street, 1940s and 1950s)

Witness

“There was a meat safe, a food safe. It was a metal cabinet with mesh sides and that was in place of a fridge, because we didn’t have fridges in those days.”

(Mrs H, Farringdon Street, 1940s)

Perishable food was difficult to keep fresh. The top step of the cellar was a common place to store food that needed to be kept cool.

Delivery services were popular before families had a car. As well as having milk delivered, many families also had bread and other food items delivered to their home.

Witness

“The bread man came everyday… from Massey’s Bakery... The bread was always nice and fresh, it was a loaf, not wrapped, not sliced… Oh he’d pull the cart up outside… we normally had a pound loaf, or whatever it was, but occasionally my mom would go round the back of the van and get a couple of cream cakes off there.”

(Mr L, Port Street, 1940s and 1950s)

 

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