Their husbands would work in the mines, at the
brickworks or on the land so the cockle women were
expected to run the household as well
link
brickworks or on the land so the cockle women were
expected to run the household as well
link
Cockles have been harvested off Llansaint in
Carmarthenshire, Wales for centuries. But the tradition
of women supplementing the household income by gathering
by hand and then transporting the shellfish on
donkeys came to an end in 1973
link
link
It was back breaking work and during the summer
months women from Llansaint, Carmarthenshire,
Wales would work two tides - which would take
at least 10 hours a day.
link
Cockle woman, Exmouth in Devon, 1906
link
Carmarthenshire, Wales for centuries. But the tradition
of women supplementing the household income by gathering
by hand and then transporting the shellfish on
donkeys came to an end in 1973
link
The last three women to make a living
this way were Elizabeth Jones, Gwyneth Phillips
and Gwen Bevan. Mrs Bevan's son Fred took this
photo shortly before they retired
linkthis way were Elizabeth Jones, Gwyneth Phillips
and Gwen Bevan. Mrs Bevan's son Fred took this
photo shortly before they retired
link
It was back breaking work and during the summer
months women from Llansaint, Carmarthenshire,
Wales would work two tides - which would take
at least 10 hours a day.
link
John Henry Mole (1814-86):
'Cockle Pickers', 1871
link'Cockle Pickers', 1871
John Stabb, Ilfracombe, Street vendors,
Welsh cockle girls, ca. 1900
link
During the latter half of the nineteenth and early
decades of the 20th century, female cockle-gatherers were
regular stall-holders at urban markets in south Wales. Others sold
their harvest from door to door in industrial and coastal villages in
both north and south. Cockles, boiled and removed from their
shells, were usually carried in a wooden pail, balanced
on the vendor’s head, while the untreated variety were
carried in a large basket on the arm
link
Welsh cockle women
link
link
Welsh cockle girls, ca. 1900
link
During the latter half of the nineteenth and early
decades of the 20th century, female cockle-gatherers were
regular stall-holders at urban markets in south Wales. Others sold
their harvest from door to door in industrial and coastal villages in
both north and south. Cockles, boiled and removed from their
shells, were usually carried in a wooden pail, balanced
on the vendor’s head, while the untreated variety were
carried in a large basket on the arm
link
Women selling cockles
at Carmarthen Market, Wales ca. 1930
linkat Carmarthen Market, Wales ca. 1930
Eugene de Blaas (1843-1931):
'Gathering Cockles at the Seashore'
link'Gathering Cockles at the Seashore'
Welsh cockle women
link
Three Irish cockle-pickers with baskets, at the coast
by John J. Clarke (1879-1961)
National Library of Ireland
by John J. Clarke (1879-1961)
National Library of Ireland
link
Swansea-born artist Evan Walters (1893-1951) has
here portrayed one of the local cockle women. The sitter for
this portrait was not in fact a cockle woman, but a relative of
the artist named Sarah Goss.Wearing the very necessary layers of
warm clothing, worn to resist the sometimes fierce shoreline winds
and also the flat-crowned black straw hat which could bear the weight
of a cockle pail or basket. Sometimes women became cockle-pickers
to earn money if their husbands fell prey to illness or injury in
the local coal mines or heavy industries
link
here portrayed one of the local cockle women. The sitter for
this portrait was not in fact a cockle woman, but a relative of
the artist named Sarah Goss.Wearing the very necessary layers of
warm clothing, worn to resist the sometimes fierce shoreline winds
and also the flat-crowned black straw hat which could bear the weight
of a cockle pail or basket. Sometimes women became cockle-pickers
to earn money if their husbands fell prey to illness or injury in
the local coal mines or heavy industries
link
'Cockle Pickers' by Jean Marion (1937-)
link
Cockle woman, Exmouth in Devon, 1906
link
2 comments:
What a wonderful site you have. I really enjoyed looking at it. The pictures of the cockle women and surroundings are beautiful! I look forward to seeing more. Thank you! Carole. www.worldcostumedolls.com
Thank you so much - and welcome! thank you for the link to your blog...they are really sweet those tiny, tiny dolls you make -I would never know how to make such minature dolls...or have the patience!! Wonderful!
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