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The
century begins
The
20th century was the
first to only have 99
years, for the beginning
of the 21st century
was widely believed
to begin on 1st January
2000.
The
Victorians were more
patient, and more intelligent
than us, about centuries.
They celebrated the
beginning of the 20th
century on the 1st January
1901, understanding,
correctly, that a century
has one hundred years.
Year one is year one:
there is no year zero.
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hop
pickers in Herefordshire
in 1903
This,
and other photographs
on this page were taken
by Alfred Watkins. These
are shown courtesy of
Herefordshire
Library Services |
The
migration of agriculture
labour is very old.
East Europeans are the
latest group to assist
local harvests. Hundreds
of years ago Welsh labour
harvested the Herefordshire
corn. Mostly they spoke
no English.
Gypsy's (here in Ledbury
early in the 20th century)
were also an essential
part of the seasonal
labour force. They were
much maligned but without
the migratory labour
force the agriculture
of the county would
not have functioned. |
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The fashionable young
women of Hereford were
wearing styles like this
in winter 1907.
image from the Hereford
Times a century ago |
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The desperate Darwell
had robbed the Saracen's
Head of a chisel, a
screwdriver and
fourpence in October
1907. 'The prisoner is
suspected of having
committed other daring
depredations at
Abergavenny.'
image from the Hereford
Times |
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Although
the 19th century was
a time of unprecedented
technological advance,
many of the poor continued
to live in appalling
poverty. This row
of hovels, at Kings
Thorn, to the south
of Hereford, was known
as 'the Barracks. |
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The
First World War
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Women
cutting poles in 1916,
during the first world
war.
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A
munitions factory was
built at Rotherwas,
on the south-eastern
edge of the city.
The
site had been purchased
in 1916 and work on
the rail link began
by July that year. By
November the plant was
employing 200 people
and manufacturing of
munitions continued
throughout the war. |
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Hereford
between the wars |
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After
the 'Great War' a
temporary cenotaph
was constructed in
Hereford's High Town. |
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The
old county gaol was open
for visitors for a while
after it closed in 1930 |
It
is now the site of a cinema
with a bus station to
the rear. Only the end
of one wing survives. |
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