A changing workforce
In the first couple of decades of the new century, most of the clothes were made locally.
Walter's shop, now the doctor's surgery, employed several dressmakers.
There were three tailors in the village and several boot makers and repairers.
The larger houses such as Blatchborough, West Down, Berridon Hall, Cleverdon House, the Vicarage and Selworthy House (just in Putford parish) employed gardeners and a chauffeur, also they often employed young ladies who lived in.
In the period between 1920 and 1945, six part time postmen delivered mail throughout the parish.
Several men worked on the roads, cracking stones and carting for the local quarry. These were rolled in by Mr. Tom Turner's steam rollers.
As cars became more common, mechanics were employed by the local garages.
A number of men were employed by local builders although only a few new houses were built between the wars, several of the older type houses were improved.
Most of the farms relied on oil lamps for lighting and water from the local wells.
Some rainwater would be stored for the cattle and washing day.
After the last war with piped water and electricity becoming available things improved.
Between 1945 and 1970 many homes had bathrooms installed.
Since then the advent of electric cookers and fridges, deep freezes, washing machines, dish washers, vacuum cleaners, heaters altered life significantly.