London Wash House (1970-1979)

Unissued / Unused material -
Bethnal Green, London.
CU street sign 'Ramsey Street' Pan across blocks of flats and housing development. Good shots of large scale washouse for use of local residents. Lots of old fashioned boilers and bubbling soapy water. Good interviews and voiceover from Cockney types telling of the companionship they have gained from washouses. One of the women has been using the wash house for over sixty years. Interesting social history.
(16 mm EKTA. Sep mag track in UN 4561 E)
FILM ID:3290.04
A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. www.britishpath...
FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT www.britishpath...
British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website. www.britishpat...

[@elisabethj.v.beardsell9853]

I will never take for granted my washing session . Kudos to those ladies and gents!

[@Dusty42096]

I hope they are doing ok.

[@lauraclark1520]

Wow old belt driven machines. I love watching these programmes. Must have been hard work for those women and men.

[@Knappa22]

Our needs are quite simple in life really. Food, shelter, hygiene, and interaction with others on a real and personal level. We can amass wealth and be convinced by advertising that we must have XYZ, but like this lady what we really need is the company of people we feel close to.

[@bertroost1675]

These women made better wives for men back then than 98% of all women under 55 today.

[@Zlervo]

I love the lady talking about elbow grease at about 2:21. I love her enthusiasm.

[@billscott9719]

My Nan.

[@nevittwoods1730]

I like main speaker & old joanna player with cigarette🚬🎹🎹🎹🎹

[@heatherstephens9295]

I don’t think it is said anymore but I was brought up to “use elbow grease” 😂😂😂

[@christophercooper6731]

I love the way that the Pathé channel is extremely specific about the type of film that was used, but it doesn't give a more precise date of when it was filmed.

[@lauren6889]

Fascinating in its awfulness, yet the strength and Real love of the women is breathtaking. Thankyou.

[@woodyspooner]

Like something from another world, it looked like hard work, but the people were happy. They literally rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. People of my grandparents' generation.

[@kevinwoplin9322]

My mum complained bitterly when the' Baths' at Latchmere in battersea closed! She said her white sheets were never as white, plus it was a social catch up and yes I went there once a week with my dad to have a bath as we had no bath room and an outside 'lav' until we moved in 1972

[@britvic4334]

That was lovely to read. My Nan always said,'These washing machines ruin my whites'. I don't know why, but no matter what I use, whites don't stay white anymore. That was so lovely to watch

[@bananabuttons6637]

So true. My whites eventually go grey no matter how careful I am. I was born in1979 and we are so spoilt compared to these hard working ladies.

[@thePhoenixxx1983]

That sounds like quite the helpful setup. Why do they not have these nowadays but with a little bit different equipment? That sounds so helpful. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@menopausalbarbie7467]

I used to go to the wash house with my mother when I was a child in the early 60's it closed in the early 70's 😥

[@jamesbomd3503]

love with the cigarette in his mouth Looked like he was conducting an orchestra complete legend

[@OofusTwillip]

Hard to believe it was still in use in the 1970s, when most people had machines at home, or went to modern laundrettes (laundromats).

[@112chapters3]

These purists

[@woohooboy]

Most middle- and upper-class families could afford them back then. The majority of working-class families in Britain (at that time) however either didn't have the money and/or space in their homes for a washing machine and still used these places to do their weekly laundry. The following decade saw a major shift take place with many working class folks starting to do the majority of their laundry at home and it continued into the 90's with launderettes beginning to fade in usage. Nowadays, launderettes are used mostly by people who live in the city and have no laundry facilities in their place of living.

[@112chapters3]

@@woohooboy yeah growing up I’m brum my mates mom had her finger in the mangle. Was permanently curled . Hottie she was

[@Efferpheasants]

@@woohooboy Certainly not a majority, nobody in their right mind would say live in a flat without washing facilities. These ladies found a social hub at the washhouse and provided a service to the local council for the ill,elderly and infirm residents as well as local businesses like small hotels.

[@woohooboy]

@@Efferpheasants - I grew up in a working class neighbourhood (in terrace houses no less) and no one had the space or money to buy a washing machine back then. In fact I was 11 when my family were finally able to afford one and until that point, my Mum did our weekly laundry at the local launderette. When we got our first washing machine, it was a small one that we had installed in our kitchen due to space limitation. Later when we moved, we had a separate laundry room that was big enough to accommodate a standard washing machine and seperate dryer. The council estates in my area has their own communal laundry rooms that were shared by its residents and only for their use. On the other hand if you were private renting (which my family was), the terrace houses more often than not weren't equipped with laundry facilities. In fact, the toilets were still outside. I was well into my teen years before the housing mandate was finally updated which meant the all plumbing has to be moved indoors. I can't tell you what a relief it was to finally have a toilet indoors and not have to either hold it until morning or make the brave venture at night to the backyard (in the dark no less) to use the toilet!

[@susanfryer1616]

Bless them darn sight happier than some people nowadays ❤

[@annenunney9907]

Absolutely

[@ABM750]

That was a lovely trip down memory lane

[@helenweatherby1694]

Fascinating. My grandmother Annie used to wear one of those wrap over pinafores.

[@Bacardi_Limon]

Probably no such thing as "Delicate" cycle. Watching the old machines spinning, spewing out hot water and suds was awesome.

[@freehugs8670]

incredible

[@shanahaim5935]

It’s interesting the perception that these women and mothers worked harder than todays mothers. When most mothers today are working full time AND also having to do the school run, cook dinner, make packed lunches, do two loads of laundry a day AND emotionally regulate children as opposed to smacking and beating them as was the method of discipline back then. Women had more children and they all played outside all day and siblings looked out for each other. Today’s mothers get no breathing space as generally children don’t play outside like before they are indoors and mothers have to entertain, read and do homework with the children. All after a long day of working

[@envsf03]

My Gran use to take us down Ironmonger Row baths and wash-house at Old Street, which i think is still there.

[@malphaidre]

It was upgraded to a health club which ruined it - I used to go regularly. Like York Hall in Bethnal Green.

[@envsf03]

that's a shame. my grandad used the Turkish hot rooms there.

[@anniefallon4352]

Yes I remember it well x

[@rozchristopherson648]

I’m 63. Graduated from high school in 1979. That laundry system seems antiquated for 1979.

[@derekarnold3665]

I agree the dates are wrong, most probably early sixties. By the 70s there were automatic coin-operated laundrettes all over London. You could take your washing in early morning and it would be ready for pick-up by lunch time.

[@harry130747]

By 1960, most people had a washing machine in the home and probably a spin dryer. Even before that, there were hand driven washing machines. The dates are way out.

[@mikemartin2957]

​@@derekarnold3665 the film was made in 1971 as in the extended version ( which sadly has no sound) there's a MK2 Cortina parked outside in the final moments of the film.

[@lornagoulbourne4535]

Same 😂

[@davedunne1]

managed to trace this on google it is now luxury flats.

[@intentionallyleftblank3016]

Everything’s so dang fancy now! 😢

[@motortraction]

They're all luxury flats. Wonder where all the luxury jobs are?

[@DavideoSolar]

Wealth transfer keeps grinding on.

[@apebass2215]

I wonder how many people who live in those flats are native Londoners.

[@bertroost1675]

@@apebass2215 It's all part and parcel

[@A2G999]

How fascinating ❤

[@SurvivorofHorror]

Back when women were hard as nails. Old School Grans who'd smack your ear hole if you were out of line.

[@gingerfellah5665]

Women are still as hard as nails…..they have to be

[@OrangeTabbyCat]

Was that good or bad?

[@SurvivorofHorror]

@OrangeTabbyCat it's was just the way it was.

[@johnhuntmorgan142]

These poor women were aged prematurely by this backbreaking work.....

[@jamesbomd3503]

About the time is very proud of these people now That they're on youtube

[@kathyirwin]

I felt that woman had a lot of sadness and hardship in her life while she put a brave face on it. This was her social outlet. Was her only independent outing every week? She really valued it.

[@CatherineLeighe]

Yes I would think so. They look worn out & didn’t have time nor money to do anything nice for themselves. Make no mistake folks this was a harsh life.

[@JaneDoe-rj4jn]

Man I’d love that giant press machine towards end!! So cool! I bet the sheets were nice and crisp.

[@maryj5593]

There was no fabric softener back then and those sheets were like sandpaper. You couldn't hang the washing out in the city because of the smoke from the coal fires and many of those ladies lived in tenements or flats. Back breaking chores,no rubber gloves and only the rich could afford to pay someone to do their housework. I remember we had a big metal electric machine called a 'Copper' for the washing,the worst part was having to rinse the laundry in cold water, from the age of 7 I had to help my mother and by the age of 9 I had to get on and do the weekly wash. Then I promised myself when I was a grown up I would have every labour saving item in my home. I am 70 now. Thank god for electricity and everything that has been invented to help us and save time

[@TheIamtheoneandonly1]

Cor blimey that accent! Serious Micky Flanagan vibes.

[@BevMattocks]

I remember one of these attached to the baths we used to go to from school in the late 1960s. Now demolished.

[@112chapters3]

I “still” used to spray starch on all my shirts when ironing….. all double cuffs like a G. I say still as I rarely wear more than shorts now. Feel overdressed wearing flip flops

[@richardgiles2484]

This only seems like yesterday 🙄

[@lesleylovell8933]

Oh I love a bit of east end humour 🥰

[@fasthracing]

Glorious lack of Elf & Safety

[@jemandjemand2362]

as if people in those times didnt had anything else to worry about-.- st u pid

[@MaikiTakiari]

When everything got scrubbed clean.😊

[@lornagoulbourne4535]

I used to go to the local wash house with my mum in the 70s , those were the days 😂

[@bananabuttons6637]

Back in the days when clothes were made to last. Being social is so important to us. I was born in 1979 but wish I was born a bit before. The world seems crazy these days.

[@englishincontext4025]

Yes, it wasn't just about the laundry, it was about community. Something which has been lost to the detriment of us all. There were also communal bath houses for people who had no bathing facilities at home. Woke kids have zero idea of how tough life can really be. So much is taken for granted because they are ignorant of the past.

[@michellebooth327]

Exactly,so well put and why they’re able to get away with the white privilege crap these days as most youngsters have NO idea what life was like and how hard it was in this country in the past.

[@marvy7118]

Love the guy with the cigarette - making the clothes smell ! Yuck

[@michellebooth327]

Go and cry in your safe space lol.

[@jamesbomd3503]

ever heard the term talk of the Wash House

[@Undermarysmantleforever]

Hard life made for strong women👏👏👏🌟

[@bertroost1675]

We say it's hard but most of history was hard to us. Dare I say we need a hard life to return, and soon.

[@harry130747]

They didn't live long. Seventy was a good age.

[@DebbietheYorkie]

I bet it smelt so clean in there. I wouldn’t have liked the steamy atmosphere though

[@ashleybellofsydney]

The British romantise poverty as if being poor is a good thing to be. The British class system is to so entrenched in England that the working as class can't even imagine being comfortable.

[@demelza32]

As an Australian living in the UK, it is so to an extent. If you open up your view you see that it is now a "worldwide" issue (including Australia), as money/materialism has been made more important than the earth and all that inhabit it. The rich people of the world may have material wealth, but do they understand the deeper meaning of being alive and what it really means to be happy from the inside out?

[@johnfinbarr1160]

Agreed, the Britain’s problems will only be solved when structural reform happens in society. By placing the citizen at the centre of the constitution and removing the monarchy and aristocracy which copper fastens the whole system with the economically failed anachronism of Empire. A republic will be start to renewal in Britain.

[@johnfinbarr1160]

@@demelza32bullshit. That’s how the rich get away with this complacency.

[@apebass2215]

I don't think they're romanticising poverty, they're acknowledging hard work. Having a strong work ethic was always very important to the working class because laziness can't be tolerated when you're relying on one another for survival.

[@johnfinbarr1160]

Bingo.

[@annenunney9907]

Rough and ready just like my nans and my mum and they were always laughing

[@Random-xw1fg]

How much did one wash cost???

[@bertroost1675]

5p

[@JafoolyPorchers]

Its a shame these don't exist anymore! Most are turned into homes or holiday lets outside of London and cities. So u cant even get an idea!? One day they will bring these back like all the old things we miss!

[@BN1960]

Like Rickets, smog and smallpox eh?

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

I don’t get how it looks so dirty when it’s supposed to be cleaning things

[@judybage4083]

The washouses like this one, we’re originally built to combat cholera and other disease. The water was boiling to ensure hygiene hence the long wooden poles to pull the washing from the machines and troughs. Of course some families clothes were dirtier than others so would often look dirty but mainly they were just worn and discoloured.

[@mojorisin8368]

Because you're a moron.

[@admiralcraddock464]

Ah the good old days

[@marybedward9381]

❤❤❤

[@jeffc8242]

Dang, I wish I understood English 🧐🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Random-xw1fg]

😂

[@markw999]

Original SteamPunk.

[@Trish-ql9kz]

Cor blimey, how long were these clothes being worn to need such hard scrubbing 😮

[@mgsa5722]

Was wondering too

[@jamesbomd3503]

It was known that the women that worked at the wash house their hands could handle extreme high temperatures of hot water That's where the term comes from wash house hands

[@louisbates673]

My Mum says that sometimes - "Hands like an auld washerwoman" 😂

[@Random-xw1fg]

Did people not have washing machines at home back then??

[@madabbafan]

If they could afford them, yes.

[@andrewallen9993]

In the US you could buy petrol powered washing machines as few places had electricity.

[@barkebaat]

Oh, you innocent child!

[@andrewallen9993]

@@barkebaat Imagine the incredible joy of the local housewives when the steam engine powered bath and wash house first opened and it was no longer necessary to do all the washing by hand!

[@janicebone6191]

Scrubbing clothes ,hand wrung then onto the pullyline from the top landing window.. all before school We moved out from a Battersea terrace to a council house with garden and an indoor bathroom...luxury...(compulsory purchase in the late 1960s)

[@bertroost1675]

This is like watching the 1800's in the modern era.

[@bhhardgr01]

Looks like 1950 russia...😮

[@sharonhyde7735]

Real human life, yes elbow grease

[@MaikiTakiari]

Women and men were hard workers back in the day unlike these days everything is easy and no elbow grease required.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

I love how this and in a previous older b&w Pathe newsreel - so many folks are puffing on cigarettes while handling their laundry…

[@jamesb.9155]

She said she's been coming doing laundry for nearb about 60 years which would be pre WWI. Those decrepit hot water guzzling machines are SO old!

[@andrewallen9993]

Well they lasted at least 60 years in public use. How long did your last washing machine work for?

[@uncouthboy8028]

One needs water to clean laundry.

[@dannil9878]

Does anyone understand the language She is speaking?

[@Betterthantelly]

Urdu.

[@dannil9878]

@@Betterthantelly really? Where do they speak that?

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

Martian.

[@carmelhughesparolya899]

English 😐

[@dannil9878]

@@carmelhughesparolya899 what, noooo!?

[@Sapphire-s-o4e]

Were the 70s really this grim?

[@harry130747]

That is not 1979. More like 1940s/50s judging by the dress. The machinery is early 20c.

[@seansmith445]

Nonsense

[@Her.Serene.Feline.Cuteness.]

It's obvious from the look or quality of the film that it's from the late 1960s to mid 1970s..

[@Her.Serene.Feline.Cuteness.]

4:11 Late 1960s clothing and hairstyle.

[@jrbs]

Look at London now 😡

[@itsweb1584]

Great isn’t it. Poor old woman aren’t having to get two busses to wash their husbands clothes for hours upon hours a day.

[@Knappa22]

What are they doing now?? Working silly hours in some office to service a colossal mortgage (and to help generate billions for some distant billionaire), farming their kids out to childcare and breakfast/afterschool clubs and feeling permanently guilty about it; amassing huge amounts of (largely useless) stuff they believe they must have because an advertisement told them so. Catching a bus to do some washing doesn’t seem all that bad.

[@apebass2215]

​​@@itsweb1584no, instead they're isolated from their communities. Poor people still take buses to do their washing at laundrettes, but it tends to be their clothing and their children's clothing, no husband to be found.

[@mrboyban]

It sounds more like a fairy tale, in comparison to the women that nowadays can't even flush the toilets after they used it.

[@weaponofmassconstruction1940]

So recent and so vile.

[@e.jenima7263]

It was better than your clothing being filthy and better than doing ALL your laundry by hand and catching Cholera.

[@harry130747]

It was normal. Nobody knew anything else so they were contented.

[@mgsa5722]

But this place looks slimy, grimey and very shabby. Filthy even

[@KB-uu4fy]

Mmmmmm personally, looking at the cars at the beginning and the way the ladies are dressed, I would put this in the 60’s max. And I was around then 👍

[@harry130747]

Yes there was a Ford Cortina Mark 1. However the rest of the video predated that by some time. A hotch potch of stuff strung together,