| Notes |
- Never Married
she had a Shoe Shop in Cottingham and this is described in the Cottingham Essays as:-
Hallgate - Mary Grantham's Shoe Shop - "Shoes and boots lined the walls of this gloomy, small, square shop in the centre of our village. The types of boots were mostly strong working men's affairs, as we had many market gardeners around. I don't remember Wellington boots; a thick leather sole and heel were enough to withstand rain and snow, and with a good sack over your back you could, and did, carry on your work in the fields.
People I remember had, on the whole, good feet, as soil and good leather boots could breathe. Soap was good, too, and large enamel bowls were kept handy for the mustard and soapy feet made ready for changing into leather slippers after work.
Most office workers or doctors wore button boots, highly polished with Cherry Blossom boot polish. Wealthy people kept a boot boy, and Mary Grantham kept good shoes and boots for these better class citizens.
We had, of course, a smarter shop, with carpet and chairs, where the Midland Bank is now. Mother took us three girls there for Sunday shoes, for Miss Grantham was very busy with goods for everyday wear. I was always amazed at the amount of boxes, - up to the ceiling. She had a small ladder to fetch the ones at the top. I wondered how she remembered where everything was.
She herself lived at the shop with her father. She dressed in black, with her hair piled high, and a shawl over her shoulders. She never smiled, and I remember her having an almost permanent sniff. But she knew her job, her boots were good and strong, and Mr Stroud mended them over and over again, going from house to house collecting and returning them every week". [3]
|
1866 - 1945 (79 years)
[2] 
