Shortly after leaving
school at 15 my aunt got me into William Ewart's mill, Crumlin Road , Belfast.
I was stationed in a section called the machine room, it was hell on earth, I
got near 5 GBP per week & it was a piecework based pay. When I got home in
the evening after a meal I just crashed out and life was nothing but sleep
& work. I will never forget my time spent there. It were cruel & very
like the old Dickens's style of life.A by
substance called pouce floated in the room much like linen snow, as one opened
a sandwich to eat during the scheduled break it hung on the bread like an old
man's beard, useless trying to remove it, all just ate up their bread with the
free dressing. Those who worked there for long spells all had damaged lungs,
because of these primitive conditions, & a lack of union backing. I wrote this song remembering it well
& pitying the children of this world who suffer worse, even in this day &
age. The picture depicted here show modern shops nearby, but to me it was the
bleakest place on earth.
G C C7I never knew
work F would be so Dm hard,
G7 I just can't C seem to compete,
G Schooldays were so
happy
F Mornings they were
sweet
C7 F Now I dread that
factory Dm gate
The D road to hell D7 I G hate G7
G Mornings used to be
so sweet
Now F I'm dead on my feet
F Dead on my
feet F/C
I laughed at my old
dad, man of steel
Never ever did he
complain,
A face scared in pain
Surely he could feel
Still I dread the
factory gates
And so do all my
mates
Morning used to be so
sweet
Now I'm Dead On My
Feet
Dead in my sleep
BAN CHILD LABOR
Hi, doing some family research and think my grandmother may have worked at the mill in the late 40s/early 50s. It was either this or the Edenderry Mill, my Mum is not not sure. Could you tell me when you worked there or if you know any records are kept of who work there? Any general information would be great. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy mum worked in both these mills, in the mid fifties, but always preferred working in Chip shops finishing in Woolworths. All the chips we could eat, ha ha but true.Me I worked Ewarts 1959-1960. Then entered Harland & Wolff, were It were just like a holiday camp, after the mill, I,m sure there will be records somewhere, it was all very Charles Dickens to me, looks to me from Google earth that they may well have sectioned of a piece of it for History, data etc, but thousands passed through these gates and most were thankful for the work, I got roughly 5 GBP, WEEKLY THERE & DROPPED TO 1.5 GBP, BUT THEN I HAD BEGAN AN APPRENTICESHIP IN THE YARD, AND THAT IN THOSE DAYS WAS LOOKED UPON AS VERY ESSENTIAL, TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.Cheers Stephen
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