Norfolk's rural industries from 1950 - 1975 in pictures.
1. Mr R Saltiel of Wacton, one of the few wood craftsmen in East Anglia making furniture by hand, puts the finishing touches to a Hall Chest in his workshop. Picture taken 3rd November 1950. Photo from Archant Library.
2. Workmen sawing up mahogany log in Hardwood Mill (Taylors, Wroxham) Taken the 18th September 1967. Photo from Archant Library.
3. Charles O'Connor, knife grinder, pushed his hand-craft machine from town to town earning his living as he travelled the British Isles. Still with the same old faithful machine he carries out his work, calling from house to house to sharpen anything from knives to lawn mowers, but he now travels in a more modern way. The machine that has served him and his customers so well is mounted on top of a lorry which takes him about Britain considerably more quickly than in the past. 'I've spent the past few weeks in North Wales', he said, ' A lovely spot is Wales. Soon I'll be off to Devon and Cornwall and after that to Jersey in the Channel Islands.' Dated 14 April 1961. Photo from Archant Library.
4. Man fitting bristles to brush heads, at Briton Brush Co. Ltd. on Export drive, Wymondham. Picture taken 15th November 1949. Photo from Archant Library.
5. Mr Joseph Smalls an 84 year old basket maker from North Creake, at work on a straw armchair. Date unknown. PHoto from Archant Library.
6. Swill basket making at Great Yarmouth. Dated 16th November of an unknown year. Photo by Gould.
7. Mr B. Copeman and Mr. C. Starr making bundles of brushwood, one of the preliminary tasks in the production of fascine mattresses. Dated 14th April 1975. Photo from JH Lynn.
8. Reed harvesting at Ranworth on Mr. Francis Cator's estate. The reeds are being cut with the aid of a motorised scythe. In the picture are three brothers, Albert ( left ), William ( second left ) and Herbert Grapes, who expect to cut nearly 4000 fathoms this season - six bunches make a fathom. Also in the picture is Mr. Alfred Whittaker ( right ). Dated 18th February 1966. Photo from Archant Library.
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