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Manx Radio programme interview with the Garretts of Grenaby about their memories Grenaby

Audio Player:

Date(s): 1980s, 1990s

Creator(s): unknown maker

Scope & Content: David Callister of Manx Radio talks to the Garretts of Grenaby. John, George and Nancy Garrett of Grenaby talk about a ‘spring walk’ around Grenaby, guided by Harvey Briggs, in aid of Isle of Man Hospice.

During the conversation about their memories of Grenaby they mention farming; Charlie Preston’s ruined cottage (or tholtan) at Cronk Breck; Preston family; Willie Preston, shoemaker at Cronk Breck; scything and Jim Teare, blacksmith of Cross Fourways setting the scythe; fixing boots. They talk about ‘longtails’ when referring to rats and pocket-money for catching rats on the farm in the 1940s, ‘tuppence for a tail’ taken to the smithy in the Ballasalla; price of beer and drinking; wages for working at the mill; picking blackberries and strawberries at Rushen Abbey and elsewhere; fairies; story of ‘Johnny Big Foot’ or ‘Jackie Square Foot’ walking on Grenaby hill; superstition of not starting a new job on the farm on a Friday as ‘hangman’s day’; bad luck cutting a tramman tree (elder tree) down; Manx sayings that include Manx Gaelic; Tommy Leece, Manx speaker in Grenaby.

Interview continues with a look around the farmyard where they talk about the old ploughs and other farming implements in the yard; 1950s turnip docker; hens; thie veg on (Manx literally translates as ‘small house’ refers to outside toilet) on riverbank near Grenaby bridge; Grenaby smithy; motorcars he remembers when a schoolboy; farmers selling produce in Castletown every Friday and names of the farmers in the Grenaby area; farmworkers’ cottages in Grenaby and who lived there; cornmill with watermill and flaxmill along river near Preston’s ruined cottage; barn at Grenaby farm.

Administration / Biographical History: Audio cassettes from estate of Zillah Sayle includes Mariners Series, George Quayle of Lezayre, Tom Dodd, Captain Tom Corteen, Lewis Carran, Ambrose Maddrell, Garretts of Grenaby, Kerrowkeil Chapel gathering.

Language: English

Extent: 42 min. 7 sec.

Collection: Sound Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: SA 2019-0052/13

Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.

Subject tags : #UOSH

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