Alderton - Suffolk

In the early 1920s Alderton consisted mainly of The Street, a few detached houses and rows of small terraced cottages, the front door opening into the living room and stairs hidden behind a door in the kitchen. Every week the front steps were scrubbed to a pristine whiteness and woe betide anyone who trod on them. There were was no mains water supply, sewerage or electricity. Water was obtained from wells or pumps and one’s personal needs were met by a ‘privy’ located in an out building.

Lighting was by oil lamps and the kitchen range provided both heating and cooking facilities.

In addition to the local shops, there was a pork butcher and on Thursdays the pigs were slaughtered and many times a pig was seen dashing off down The Street followed by the butcher and his assistant.
On Fridays there were home made pork sausages, pork cheeses, pig’s fry and children’s delight ‘ scraps’ crunchy bits of fat at a halfpenny a bag!