Mass-Observation Archive

Worktown Collection (1937-40)

Box 52: Observations in Bolton in the early months of war, 1939-40

52/A Impact on outbreak of second world war

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 6-point question guidelines for observers about news and the war

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 6-point question guidelines for observers about aspect of the war

Untitled document, ts, 2pp, 10.9.39, AH (lacks pp1-3), a follow

"War General", ts, 7pp, BN/JC, brief comments about the war

"War and Conscription", ts, 1p, JC, brief comment

Untitled document, ts, 1p, JC, remarks about an unspecified speaker on the radio

"Beer-Drinking in Wartime", ts, 1p, rising prices, less for money

"Newspapers", ts, 1p, complaint about not being able to get the Telegraph regularly

"Nags Head: Lounge", ts, 1p, overheard comments about the war

"Schools", ts, 1p, 3.11.39, GT overheard remark about schooling

"War Talk", ts, 1p, 3.11.39, GT, the Crown and Cushion pub

"Talk on the Inner Circle", 1p, 3.11.39, topics schools, transport, the Army, Russia

"The City of Flint", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, JC

"News in general", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, JC

"Pub Counts", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, GT/JC

"News", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, BN

"Morale", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, BN

"Morale", ts, 1p, 5.11.39, BN

"Morale", ts, 2pp, 6.11.39, BN

"Morale", 27.11.39, overheard comment in the Crown and Cushion pub

"Photography in War-Time", ts, 1p, 6.11.39, JC, more people are having their photos taken

"All in Westling & Football. Bolton", ts, 1p, 9.11.39, BN, comment about lack of interest because of no football pools

"Hitler's escape", ts, 2pp, 9.11.39, JC, brief comments

"Militiamen", ts, 1p, 10.11.39, GT

"Inner Circle", ts, 1p, 10.11.39, GT/JC, soldiers' wives allowance, fish difficulties

"Armistice Day", ts, 1p, 10.11.39, GT, poppy selling

"Pay for Soldiers' wives", ts, 1p, JC, comments from women

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 14.11.39, JC, Choral Union rehearsal of "Messiah"

"Churchill and Greenwood", ts, 1p, 17.11.39, BN, overheard on a bus

"Prices" and "War Talk", ts, 1p. 17.11.39, GT

"Christmas Buying", ts, 1p, 23.11.39, GT, Marks and Spencers club

"Budget", ts, 1p, 23.11.39, GT, overheard comments

"Length of War", 23.11.39, JC, choir rehearsal and comments about the effect of war on a music student

"Rationing etc", ts, 1p, 25.11.39, GT, overheard comments

"Russia and Finland", ts, 1p, 26.11.39, JC, Russia's behaviour in the war

"Butter", ts, 1p, 26.11.39, GT, the difficulties of getting butter

"Soviet and Finland" and "Rationing", ts, 1p, 27.11.39, Morrison's radio broadcast mentioning Russia and Finland. Overheard comment from a woman trying to get more sugar

"Cost of War", ts, 1p, 28.11.39, JC, comments from a stockbroker

"Blackout Counts" and "Inner Circle", ts, 1p, 30.11.39

"Increase in Dole" and "Russia and Finland", ts, 1p, 30.11.39, JC, overheard comments

"Soviet and Finland", ts, 1p, 30.11.39, JC, comments from two women

"Torch Batteries", ts, 1p, 30.11.[39], GT, overheard coments in the Man and Scythe pub and Halfords

"Rumours", ts, 1p, 12.[39], GT, German planes over Euxton

"Inner Circle", ts, 1p, 1.12.39, washed out because of bad weather

"War Talk" and "Foreign Broadcasts", ts, 1p, 2.12.39, BN, the blackouts and overheard comments about listen to the 'Berlin Liar' on the radio

"Shop Counts" and " Pub Counts", ts, 1p, 2.12.39, GT/JC

"Church Counts", ts, 1p, 3.12.[39], GT/JC

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 3.12.39, JC, remarks made by an elderly lady about the war

"Conscription" and "Evacuation", ts, 1p, 4.12.39, GT, remarks about joining up and a story about evacuees in Northumberland

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 7.12.39, JC, overheard comments about Germany and the Soviet people

"War Talk", ts, 1p, 7.12.39, GT, overheard remarks

"Torch batteries", ts, 1p, JC, overheard complaints about women buying all the batteries whilst men are at work

"War Talk", ts, 1p, 8.12.39, GT, comment about gas mask

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 11.12.39, JC, unemployed woman from Scotland talking about the war

"Keeping Secrets", and "Poster Week", ts, 1p, 14.12.39, JC, air-raid warden's comments about the difficulty of keeping things from people, details of posters at St. George's Congregational Church and the Unitarian Church

"Drawing of Hitler", ts, 1p, 15.12.39, JC, incident at Burton's factory

"Street Lighting", ts, 1p, 16.12.39, JC, new street lighting

"The Graf Spree (sic)", ts, 2pp, 17.12.39 - 18.12.39, JC, comments from a woman listening to the BBC and from a vicar

"Soviet and Finland war", ts, 1p 17.12.39, JC comments from two men about the Finnish Army

"Hitler & the War", ts, 1p, 18.12.39, JC, remarks made by a chemist

"Christmas Decorations in War-time", ts, 1p, a waitress's comments on the lack of decorations

"Bolton", ts, 1p, 19.12.[39], BA, overheard comment in Bradshawgate

"Bolton", ts, 1p, 19.12.39, BA, walking home in the blackout

"War atmosphere. Bolton", ts, 2pp, 1.1.40, AH, soldiers and children in Deansgate and Davenport Street

"Personal Experience of observer while standing on Exchange Street taking notes", ts, 2pp, 4.1.40, JC

"Funny Story", ts, 1p, 7.1.40, GT

"Hamburg and Public Opinion", ts, 1p, 7.1.40, GT, conversation at Bolton Socialist Club

"War - general", ts, 1p, 8.1.40, JC, comments from women about a reduction in working hours

"Bolton War general", ts, 1p, 12.1.40, JC, overheard comments at the Post Office

"Propaganda", ts, 1p, 12.1.40, GT, inflation, economics and black-coated workers

"War Atmosphere, Bolton", ts, 1p, 21.1.40, GT, conversation at the Duckworths' home

"War Atmosphere, Bolton", ts, 1p, 22.1.40, GT, at the Duckworths

"War influence. Woolworth's", ts, 1p, 23.1.40, AH/GT, the sale of will forms in the stationery department

"Overheard Conversation: Pubs: Bolton", ts, 1p, 10.5.40, GT, the Crown and Cushion; the Joiners Arms and the Man and Scythe

"Crisis. War atmosphere. Bolton", ts, 1p, 21.5.40, AH, observer's visit to the Royal Infirmary eye clinic, no talk of war

"Bolton War incident", ts, 1p, 29.5.40, BA, two girls walking home at night hear an aeroplane

"Spy Scare: Bolton", ts, 3pp, 29.5.40, GT, incident involving observer and fears that Mass-Observers are spies

"Spy Scare. Bolton", ts, 2pp, 29.5.40, AH, observer suspected of spying

"Interviewing incident", ts, 3pp, 29.5.40, BA, observer accused of spying by man in the street

"Prestwich By-election", ts, 1p, 29.5.40, BA, polling day observations

"War atmosphere. Bolton", and "Morale", ts, 1p, 30.5.40, AH

"Bombing: Bolton", ts, 1p, 30.5.40, GT, plane heard late at night, reported in paper next day as being British

"War happenings: Bolton", ts, 1p, 30.5.40, GT, incident at the DeHaviland works, and sabotage at Burton's

"War talk: Worktown", ts, 1p, 31.5.40, GT, comments from various people including Housekeeper, Tart, Wife, Duckworth and Secretary Paulden

"Spy Stories: Bolton", ts, 1p, 1.6.40, JF

"Bolton", ts, 1p, 2.6.40, concern about the Italian threat

"Rumour: Manchester", ts, 1p, 3.6.40, GT, rationing of beer

"Rumours: Bolton", ts, 1p, 4.6.40, GT, killings in Paris

"Bolton war incident", ts, 1p, 5.6.40, BA, overheard talk in a fish and chip shop about internment and kingship

"Bolton war incident", ts, 1p, 6.6.40, BA, searchlights finding a plane over Bolton on successfive nights

"Bolton", ts, 1p, 6.6.40, BA, overheard comment in fish and chip shop about the blackout

"Bolton", ts, 1p, 6.6.40, BA, buying records

"Spy Talk, Bolton", ts, 1p, 7.6.40, GT, comments about a report in the Bolton Evening News

"Bolton Spy Scare", ts, 1p, 10.6.40, BA, story about two men and a woman arrested photographing the gas works

"Bolton communique", ts, 6pp, 11.6.40-25.6.40, AH, general impressions about people's attitude towards the war

"Bolton war atmosphere", ts, 2pp, 12.6.40, ah

"Bolton crisis: library count", ts, 2pp, 15.6.40

"Bolton war rumour", ts, 1p, 16.6.40, BA, story from Sheila Duckworth that France surrendered

"Rumours. Bolton", ts, 1p, 18.6.40, AH, about Queen Astrid, Leopold, and Mrs Chamberlain

"Bolton defence preparations", ts, 1p, 20.6.40, BA

"Bolton defence preparations", ts, 1p, 22.6.40, BA

"Bolton", ts, 1p, 22.6.40, BA, separate incidents involving a headmaster and a member of staff of the Daily Worker

"Rumour, Manchester", ts, 1p, 26.6.40, GT, about bombing and deaths in Bolton

"War Incident: Bolton", ts, 1p, 27.6.40, GT, comments about how young looking the soldiers are

"War Incident: Bolton", ts, 1p, 27.6.40, GT, enquiries in Halfords about mudguards

"Street Description", ts, 5pp, 30.6.40, BA

"Bolton war incident", ts, 1p, 2.7.40, BA, an incident in the Post Office

"Day Impressions in Bolton", ts, 2pp, 2.7.40, GT

"Bolton communique", ts, 1p, 4.7.40, AH, increase in war talk

"Spy story: Bolton", ts, 1p, 4.7.40, GT, Mrs Duckworth repeating some scandal about Albert Smith a WEA lecturer and pacifist

"Rumour: Bolton", ts, 1p, 4.7.40, GT, Germany declaring war on Ireland

"Bolton raid rumour", ts, 1p, 22.7.40, BA, bombing in Maryport

"Bolton behaviour reportage", ts, 11pp, 1.8.40-15.8.40, BA, people's behaviour at various locations

"Morale, Bolton", ts, 1p, 28.8.40, AH

"Bolton rumour", ts, 1p, 8.8.40, BA, bombings at Leigh and Kearsley

"Bolton incident", ts, 1p, 8.8.40, BA, soldiers marching up from Deansgate

"Bolton inicident", ts, 2pp, 9.8.40, BA, power failure, barrage balloon broke loose and caught the pylons

"Bolton morale", ts, 1p, 18.8.40., BA

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 24.8.[40], overheard comments in Deansgate before Halifax's speech

"General Morale", ts, 6pp, 24.6.41, CF

52/B Air raids

"Hitler Bombing; News", ts, 1p, 9.11.39, GT

"German Bomber", ts, 1p, 16.11.39, GT, rumours of planes and gunfire

"German Bomber", ts, 1p, 17.11.39, German plane over Great Lever

"Black-out", ts, 1p, 22.11.39, JC, Air-raid warden's comments on their sector's success with the black-out

"Air raids", ts, 162pp, 17.11.39-28.7.40, BA/GT, warnings, practices, overheards, jokes, direct and indirect comments about air raids and sightings of aeroplanes

Letter from W.J. Howard, the Chief Constable, Bolton, ts, 1p, about air raid precautions

Form "County Borough of Bolton Air Raid Wardens", ts, 1p, enrolment form

"Bolton - Indirects on air raid warning", ms, 1p, 20.6.40

52/C Channel Island refugees

Letter to THH from Alec and Brian, ts, 1p, 4.7.40, about evacuating dogs, refugees and the church helping with accommodation for refugees

Letter to Gandar Dower from Alec, ts, 2pp, 18.7.40, about refugees with a report on their situation and 11 indepth interviews with refugees:

"Interview 1", ts, 3pp, 2.7.40, AH, woman with two children

"Interview 2", ts, 2pp, 2.7.40, AH, woman with two children

"Interview 3", ts, 2pp, 2.7.40, AH, woman with four children

"Interview 4", ts, 10pp, 2.7.40, AH, six men

"Interview 5", ts, 2pp, 3.7.40, AH, woman with mother and baby sister

"Interview 6", ts, 1p, 5.7.40, AH, young woman

"Interview 7", ts, 3pp, 12.7.40, AH, woman with two children

"Interview 8", ts, 7pp, 12.7.40, AH, woman with four of her nine children

"Interview 9", ts,11pp, 15.7.40, AH, woman with three of her five children

"Interview 10", ts, 5pp, 17.7.40, AH, woman, son, her daughter and daughter's baby

"Interview 11", ts, 7pp, 20.7.40, AH, woman with three children

"Bolton crisis overheard", ts, 4pp, 25.6.40-29.6.40, BA/GT, references to the refugees

"Refugees: Bolton", ts, 1p, 30.6.40, GT, conversation between observer and Transport Inspector about refugees being billeted in the Municipal Secondary School

"Bolton refugees", ts, 1p, 1.7.40, BA, conversation about the refugees

52/D Wireless counts, news, newsreel and propaganda

Observer accounts

"Wireless counts", ts 6pp, 9.11.39-7.12.39, GT/JC/BN

"War General .. Radio Listening & Rationing", ts, 1p, 3.11.39, BN

"News in general", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, JC

"Radio News", ts, 1p

"BBC News", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, JC

"News", ts, 1p, 4.11.39, BN

"News", ts, 1p, 9.11.39-11.11.39, BN

"Hamburg Radio", ts, 1p, 31.10.39, GT

"Listening to Hamburg", ts, 2pp, 3.11.39, BN

"Foreign Broadcasts", ts, 6pp, 4.11.39-2.12.39, BN

"Organised Propaganda", ts, 1p, 28.12.39, AH

"Bolton war atmosphere. Newspapers", ts, 2pp, 12.6.40, AH

"War atmosphere. Bolton Newspaper sales", ts, 1p, 13.6.40, AH

"News reel. Bolton. Queen's Cinema, Bradshawgate", ts, 2pp, 29.6.40, AH

"News reel. Bolton. British Movietone. Embassy Cinema, Deansgate", ts, 2pp, 29.7.40, AH

"Wireless listening", ts, 1p, 25.7.40, AH

52/E Fuel and transport

Observer accounts

"Transport", ts, 7pp, 3.11.39-23.1.40, GT/BN

Untitled document, ms, 72pp, 18.11.42-3.12.42, DH, replies to questions about fuel

"Fuel Bolton", ms, 6pp, 3.12.42, JF, chart

52/F ARP and soldiers

Observer accounts

"Soldier's conditions", ts, 1p, 27.10.39, GT, Bill Naughton talking about soldiers complaining about the Army

Untitled document, ms, 4pp, 31.10, 39, conversation about billeting

"Police ARP meeting. Bolton", ts, 8pp, 26.6.40, AH

"ARP: Manchester, conversation", ts, 1p, 30.6.40, GT

"Bolton soldiers", ts, 2pp, 23.7.40, BA, marching through the town

"Bolton soldiers", ts, 1p, 29.7.40, BA, in the town

"Bolton ARP, soldiers etc", ts, 1p, 10.8.40, BA

52/G Overheards in war time

Observer accounts

Untitled document, ts, 1p, 19.12.39, JC, brief comment about Christmas and the blackout and going to the pictures

"General talk", ts, 1p, 2.8.40, AH, overheard comment

"General talk. Bolton", ts, 3pp, 2.8.40, AH, overheard conversations

"General talk. Bolton", ts, 1p, 2.8.40, AH, overheards

"Bolton overheards", ts, 5pp, 14.8.40, BA

"Royal Family: Bolton", ts, 1p, 8.6.40, GT, overheard

"Bolton Royal Family", ts, 1p, 28.6.40, BA, indirect

"Holidays: Worktown", ts, 1p, [4].6.40, GT, overheard comments

"Talk: Bolton: Holidays", ts, 1p, 4.7.40, GT, overheard

"Bolton holidays", ts, 1p, 28.[7].40, BA, Trinity Street Station

"Bolton holiday", ts, 1p, 29.[7].40, BA, telephone call to Ribble Bus Co, about bookings and conversation with cashier Embassy paybox about trade

"Holiday traffic. Bolton", ts, 1p, 29.7.40, AH

"Bolton holidays", ts, 1p, 30.7.40, BA, bus trips

"Bolton Woolworths count", ts, 1p, 6.7.40, BA

"Bolton drapers count", ts, 1p, 6.8.40, BA, Whittakers shop

"Fashion. Clothes. Bolton", ts, 2pp, 25.7.40. AH, women and men going in and coming out of the library

"Bolton astrology, superstition etc", ts, 2pp, 25.7.40, BA, occurences of references to superstition in shops, film titles , and people walking under or avoiding a ladder in Gt Moor St

52/H Gas mask counts

"Gas mask counts", ts, 11pp, 20.11.39-6.8.40, GT/JC/BA/AH

52/I Allotments

Observer accounts

"Bolton allotments etc", ts, 1p, 24.7.40, BA, Queens Park demonstration plot

"Bolton allotments", ts, 7pp, 27.7.40, BA, conversation with Parks Superintendent and meeting

"Bolton meeting", ts, 11pp, 8.8.40, BA, National Allotments Society

52/J Aspin Hall and the Musicians Union

Observer acounts

"Manager. Aspin Hall", ts, 5pp, 31.5.40, AH, interview about how the war has affected business

"Musicians Union Secretary, Bolton", ts, 4pp, 3.6.40, AH, the effect of the war on musicians

"Manager, Palais. Bolton", ts, 1p, 12.6.40, AH, interview

52/K Gert and Daisy and Gracie Fields

Observer accounts

"Gert and Daisy. Bolton", ts, 1p, 23.4.40, AH, note on interviews

"Gert and Daisy. Bolton", ts, 22pp, 23.4.40, AH/GT, brief interviews

"Bolton Gracie Fields", ts, 10pp, 9.8.40, BA, indirect comments

52/L Miscellaneous

Observer accounts

"Churchill and Greenwood", ts, 1p, 17.1[40], BN, overheard on bus

"Bolton overheard talk", ts, 5pp, 21.7.40, BA

"Registration Day: Bolton", ts, 1p, 6.4.40, GT, Labour Exchange

"Registration, Ratcliffe", ts, 1p, 15.6.40, AH, Labour Exchange

"M of L. Policy, Bolton", ts, 1p, 22.6.40, AH, Radcliffe Labour Exchange

"Budget Bolton", ts, 1p, 24.4.40, GT, brief comment

"Bolton budget", ts, 1p, 23.7.40, BA, comment in the Crown and Cushion pub

Untitled document, ts/ms, 1p, about France surrendering

"Evacuees: Bolton", ts, 1p, 4.7.40, GT, Sheila Duckworth brings note from school about offering a room to evacuees

"Poland Exhibition: Library", ts, 2pp, 20.7.40, BA

"Bolton Art Exhibition", ts, 2pp, 30.7.40, BA

"Bolton religion", ts, 1p, 21.7.40, BA, service at Claremont Baptist

"A war autograph album", ts, 3pp, 26.7.40, AH, extracts from the album

"Bolton pub talk", ts, 1p, 29.7.40, BA, the Crown and Cushion, mention of Stalin

"Bolton theatre", ts, 1p, 29.7.40, BA, second house at the Hippodrome

"Bolton jokes", ts, 1p, 29.6.40, BA about Hitler

"Bolton RSPCA", ts, 1p, 13.9.40, BA, about whether animal casualties were higher than before of the war

Newspaper cutting, "National Waste Paper Competition"